Implantable Sensor Probes for Reactive Species Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable sensors face degradation due to reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species generated by the immune system, leading to reduced longevity and functionality, as existing technologies lack methods for detecting and mitigating these degradative species.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating selective degradative species probes with distinct absorption and emission properties into the sensor, either within the analyte indicator or a polymer graft, to detect, identify, and neutralize reactive species, thereby reducing degradation of the sensor components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor is implanted in the body of a living animal, then the sensor can measure analytes in real-time, but the sensor is attacked by the immune system and degraded by reactive oxygen species
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces probe molecules as intermediaries that specifically react with reactive oxygen species (superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals) to form detectable products. These probes act as mediators between the harmful ROS and the sensor system, allowing detection and quantification of ROS without directly damaging the analyte indicator molecules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates ROS probes and scavengers into the sensor structure before implantation. The probes are pre-positioned to detect ROS as they form, and scavengers are pre-loaded to neutralize ROS before they can degrade the analyte indicator. This preliminary preparation prevents degradation before it occurs.
2Productivity
If the sensor operates continuously in the body, then real-time analyte monitoring is achieved, but the sensor longevity is reduced due to immune system attack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where ROS probes continuously monitor the ROS environment around the sensor. When ROS levels are detected, the system can respond by activating scavengers or adjusting sensor operation. This feedback loop allows continuous monitoring while managing ROS exposure to extend sensor life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful ROS byproducts of immune system activity into useful information. By using ROS probes to detect and quantify ROS, the harmful degradation process becomes a source of diagnostic information about the immune response, while simultaneously enabling protective measures to extend sensor longevity.
3Measurement precision
If degradative species probes are incorporated into the sensor, then degradative species can be detected and identified, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple ROS probes that can detect different types of reactive oxygen species (superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals) within a single sensor system. This multi-functional approach allows comprehensive ROS detection without requiring separate sensors for each species, managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fluorescent probe molecules that generate optical signals as copies or representations of ROS presence. Instead of directly measuring chemical ROS concentrations, the system creates optical copies (fluorescence signals) that can be detected remotely, simplifying the measurement process while maintaining precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively extends the longevity of implantable sensors by selectively detecting and mitigating degradative species, thereby maintaining sensor functionality and accuracy over time.
Implementation Method 1
one or more selective degradative species probes, each of which has distinct characteristic absorption and emission properties so as to detect different degradative species
Implementation Method 2
one or more selective degradative species probes, each of which has distinct characteristic absorption and emission properties
Implementation Method 3
fluorescent indicator molecules may reversibly bind glucose and, when irradiated with excitation light
Implementation Method 4
when irradiated with excitation light (e.g., light having a wavelength of approximately 378 nm), emit an amount of light (e.g., light in the range of 400 to 500 nm)
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor (e.g., an optical sensor) that may be implanted within a living animal (e.g., a human) and may be used to measure an analyte (e.g., glucose or oxygen) in a medium (e.g., interstitial fluid, blood, or intraperitoneal fluid) within the animal. The sensor may include a sensor substrate, electrode or housing, an analyte indicator covering at least a portion of the sensor, and one or more probes that identify degradative species in an environment of the sensor.