Abstract: The present invention is directed towards apparatuses and methods for the automated measurement of blood analytes and blood parameters for bedside monitoring of patient blood chemistry. Particularly, the current invention discloses a programmable system that can automatically draw blood samples at a suitable programmable time frequency (or at predetermined timing), can automatically analyze the drawn blood samples and immediately measure and display blood parameters such as glucose levels, hematocrit levels, hemoglobin blood oxygen saturation, blood gases, lactate or any other blood parameter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards apparatuses and methods for the automated measurement of blood analytes and blood parameters for bedside monitoring of patient blood chemistry. Particularly, the current invention discloses a programmable system that can automatically draw blood samples at a suitable programmable time frequency (or at predetermined timing), can automatically analyze the drawn blood samples and immediately measure and display blood parameters such as glucose levels, hematocrit levels, hemoglobin blood oxygen saturation, blood gases, lactate or any other blood parameter.

Abstract: A method and a device for a delivery of a chemical substance to the body of the patient are provided. The device includes an infusion catheter configured to be inserted into a tissue, a catheter securing element configured to be adhered to the skin of the patient and further configured to secure the infusion catheter to the skin, a drug delivery pump configured to infuse a drug into the infusion catheter for delivery to a drug infused region on the body of the patient, and a treatment element configured to apply a treatment to the drug infused region to improve pharmacodynamics of the drug during a period of delivery of the drug to the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to systems, apparatuses, and methods for obtaining a fluid sample from a patient. In particular, the present invention relates to a various types of fluid access interfaces for enabling contact between a patient blood sample and blood parameter sensors for the measurement of physiological parameters and blood constituents.

Abstract: The present invention is a programmable, automated device for measurement and analysis of blood analytes and blood parameters. The device components are preferably combined in a single housing and either programmed to initiate automatic, periodic blood sampling or initiate automatic blood sampling via operator input or in response to a predefined event or in response to a signal from another instrument. The device operates automatically to draw blood samples and analyze the drawn blood samples to obtain the desired blood readings.

Abstract: Apparatus (20, 100) for assaying a target analyte in a localized tissue region (22) that may include the target and other analytes comprising: a light source (34, 104) that illuminates the region with light at each of a plurality of wavelengths at which light is absorbed and/or scattered by tissue in the region wherein light at a least one of the wavelengths is absorbed or scattered by the target analyte; a signal generator (40) that generates signals responsive to intensity of the light from the light source (34, 104) at different locations in the localized region (22); and a controller (32, 102) that: receives the generated signals; processes the signals to determine an extinction coefficient for light in the localized region at each wavelength; and determines the concentration of the target analyte responsive to a solution of a set of simultaneous equations having as unknown variables concentrations of a plurality of analytes in the region (22), one of which is the target analyte, wherein each equation in

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method of measuring a blood parameter and, in particular, a glucose measurement system controlled by a novel controller. In one embodiment, the system has a controller, a pump, flush solution in a first reservoir, IV solution in a second reservoir, a first valve, a second valve, and a plurality of tubing placing the pump, reservoirs, and valves in fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for assaying an analyte in blood in a patient's blood vessel comprising: a light provider comprising at least one light source that illuminates a tissue region in which a blood vessel is located with light that stimulates photoacoustic waves in the region; at least one acoustic transducer that generates signals responsive to the photoacoustic waves; a controller that receives the signals and processes them to determine which are responsive to photoacoustic waves that originate in the blood vessel and uses the determined signals to assay the analyte; wherein, the light provider and at least one transducer define a field of view that overlaps the blood vessel, said field of view having a central region and a lateral extent greater than about 4 mm.

Abstract: Apparatus for stimulating photoacoustic waves in a region of a body and generating signals responsive to the stimulated waves comprising: a light source (27) that provides light that stimulates photoacoustic waves (54) in the region; a light pipe (26) having an output aperture (80) and at least one input aperture, which light pipe receives the light from the light source at the at least one input aperture and transmits the received light to illuminate the region from the output aperture; and at least one acoustic transducer (22) that generates signals responsive to acoustic energy from the photoacoustic waves that is incident on the optical output aperture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards apparatuses and methods for the automated measurement of blood analytes and blood parameters for bedside monitoring of patient blood chemistry. Particularly, the current invention discloses a programmable system that can automatically draw blood samples at a suitable programmable time frequency (or at predetermined timing), can automatically analyze the drawn blood samples and immediately measure and display blood parameters such as glucose levels, hematocrit levels, hemoglobin blood oxygen saturation, blood gases, lactate or any other blood parameter.

Abstract: A method of monitoring at least one fluid compartment of a body comprising: illuminating the skin with light that stimulates photoacoustic waves in the skin; and using the photoacoustic waves to measure change in the volume of the fluid compartment.

Abstract: A substantially automatic blood parameter testing apparatus for obtaining a blood sample and determining the concentration of at least one analyte is connected to a venous or arterial access line and further comprises a pump fixedly attached to a tube originating from the vascular access point; a valve fixedly attached to the tube and located above the pump mechanism; at least one measurement element; a needleless port; and an electronic meter. In addition, the automated blood parameter testing apparatus may be integrated into a complete system, further including a monitor and a central monitoring station.

Abstract: The present invention is an integrated, test substrate handling apparatus for the measurement and analysis of blood analytes and blood parameters. The test substrate handling apparatus includes multiple test substrate components combined in a single unit. It advances a test substrate for measurement of blood parameters via programmed, periodic blood sampling or via operator input.

Abstract: The present invention is a programmable, automated device for the measurement and analysis of blood analytes and blood parameters. The device components are combined in a single apparatus and either programmed to initiate automatic, periodic blood sampling or initiate automatic blood sampling via operator input. The device operates automatically to draw blood samples at suitable, programmable frequencies to analyze the drawn blood samples and obtain the desired blood readings.

Abstract: Apparatus for assaying an analyte in a patient's body comprising: at least one sensor unit mountable to a region of the patient's skin comprising at least one light source that illuminates a tissue region below the skin with light that generates photoacoustic waves therein and at least one acoustic transducer that generates signals responsive to the photoacoustic waves; and a control unit configured to be mounted to a different part of the body and comprising a controller for controlling the at least one light source and at least one acoustic transducer and receiving the signals generated by the at least one acoustic transducer.

Abstract: A sticker for attaching a photoacoustic sensor or portion thereof to the skin of a patient comprising: a substrate; an adhesive layer on the substrate suitable for adhering the sticker to the skin; apparatus for attaching the sticker to the photoacoustic sensor; and at least one device for presenting an identifying ID code.

Abstract: Apparatus for assaying an analyte in blood in a blood vessel below a patient's skin comprising: at least one light source controllable to transmit light into tissue below the skin through at least one first region on the skin; at least one light detector that receives a portion of the transmitted light that reaches at least one second region on the skin after propagating through the blood vessel and generates signals responsive to the received light; and a controller; wherein the controller controls the at least one light source to transmit light at least one wavelength that interacts with blood and at least one wavelength that interacts with the analyte and uses the signals responsive to the light that interacts with the blood to determine a location for the blood vessel and the determined location and signals responsive to the light to assay the analyte.

Abstract: A method of determining an optical parameter or function thereof for a liquid, the method comprising: flowing the liquid through a flow cell; transmitting a pulse of light into the liquid in the flow cell; generating a signal responsive to energy that the material emits responsive to a portion of the light from the light pulse that is absorbed by the liquid; and using the signal to determine the optical parameter or function thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for assaying an analyte in a body comprising: at least one light source implanted in the body controllable to illuminate a tissue region in the body with light at at least one wavelength that is absorbed by the analyte and as a result generates photoacoustic waves in the tissue region; at least one acoustic sensing transducer coupled to the body that receives acoustic energy from the photoacoustic waves and generates signals responsive thereto; and a processor that receives the signals and processes them to determine a concentration of the analyte in the illuminated tissue region.

Abstract: A method of assaying an analyte in a body part comprising: illuminating the body part with at least one pulse of light at each of first and second wavelengths that stimulates photoacoustic waves in a first, target, region and a second, reference, region of the body part, wherein the reference region interfaces with the target region and has at least one known optoacoustic property and wherein light at the first wavelength is absorbed by the analyte; sensing pressure in the photoacoustic waves from the target and reference regions stimulated by the light at the first and second wavelengths; and using the sensed pressures and the at least one known optoacoustic property to assay the analyte in the target region.