Other

The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

James W Winkelman

Manfred Grumberg

Oren Zinder

Jacob Schreibman

Carey Reid Merritt

Milenko J Tanasijevic

Michael Bennett

Ruth Silberman-Hazony

The systems, methods, and devices described herein generally involve monitoring and/or quantification of various analyte levels in a biological fluid using one or more implantable sensors. In various aspects, systems, methods, and devices described herein can provide for the in situ calibration and/or cleaning of such sensors when implanted in the patient. The systems and devices disclosed herein can, for example, continuously or serially measure analytes within a biological fluid in vivo (e.g., without extracting the biological fluid from the patient) and periodically calibrate and/or clean the sensor without using finger sticks or additional, invasive calibration techniques. By way of non-limiting example, systems and devices disclosed herein can enable continuous monitoring of analyte concentrations (e.g., glucose) in subcutaneous interstitial fluid for several hours to a few days.

Systems, devices and methods for in situ calibration of implantable sensors

A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematocrit simultaneously with the centrifugation of whole blood. A centrifuge separates the whole blood into its erythrocytes and its fluid portion. A video camera measures the levels of whole blood, erythrocytes and the fluid portion of the blood and records the time of the formation of an interface between the erythrocytes and fluid portion. A monitor displays the results of the recording. Also disclosed are the method steps performed.

Method and apparatus for determining erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematocrit

The method of rapidly separating plasma or serum from red blood cells comprising the steps of mounting a pair of spaced apart tubes coaxially related to one another head-to-head with a sharp-ended hollow needle disposed generally along the tube axes and between them, arranging the tubes in a vertical position one above the other in a centrifuge with the tubes closed with self-sealing stoppers, providing a partial vacuum in the upper tube, rotating the tubes at high speed about an axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of the tubes and needle, after separation of the red blood cells from the plasma and serum causing the tubes while still being rotated to be moved relative to one another such as to cause the needle to enter both tubes through the stoppers, separating the tubes while still being rotated by the centrifuge whereby to remove the needle from both tubes.

Apparatus for separating plasma or serum from the red cells with a blood sample

Red cells are separated from plasma or serum of whole blood by arranging an evacuated tube sealed by a self-sealing stopper above and preferably coaxial with a tube containing a blood sample and sealed by a self-sealing stopper. A hollow double ended needle is held by a fixture and is disposed between and coaxial with the tubes and the tubes are placed in the fixture in a vertical position in a centrifuge and rotated about and spaced from an axis parallel to the axis of the tubes and needle. After the red cells are separated from the serum and/or plasma the tubes are pushed toward one another so that the needle penetrates both stoppers and the serum and/or plasma is drawn into the upper tube. The tubes and needle are separated while still being rotated so that the whole blood components are separated as required.

Apparatus and method for separating plasma or serum from the red cells

New compounds are described of the formula: ##STR1## wherein Z is selected from ##STR2## each x is selected from ##STR3## n is an integer from 1-10; each Y is selected from hydrogen, --NH.sub.2, --COQ, --COOQ, --COONHQ, --COOH, --OH, W, halogen and Q; wherein each Q is independently selected from substituted and unsubstituted lower alkenyl and lower alkyl and wherein the substitutuents are selected from --NH.sub.2 halogen, --OH, and --COOH; D is selected from hydroxy, hydrogen and --NH.sub.2 ; and W is selected from ##STR4## wherein each R is independently selected from hydrogen and lower alkyl; R' is selected from ethylene, propylene, isopropylene and phenylene; M is selected from chlorine and hydroxy; A is selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, and phenyl; (B) is selected from ##STR5## --CO--, --NHCO--, --O--, --COO--, --N.dbd.N--, or represents a confugate bond; L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 are selected from hydroxy substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkenyl, or phenyl; providing L.sub.2 can be a conjugate bond. These compounds have specific utility in a process, for measuring c-reactive protein by binding with c-reactive protein and acting to release metal ions and/or inhibit the flow of the metal ion complex under electrochemically measurable conditions.

Compounds and process for measuring c-reactive protein

Apparatus and methods for in vivo determination of red and white blood cell characteristics from a flow of red and white blood cells in mucous membranes are provided wherein image capturing means are employed to optically isolate images from a flow of blood cells and transmit those images to an image receiving means for encoding into electronic signals. The images are also filtered through light filters and subsequently transmitted to a computer for evaluation and analysis. The results of this analysis are then made available for display either on a CRT or hard copy printer.

Growing community of inventors

Brookline, MA, United States of America

James W Winkelman