Abstract: A method for providing a therapeutic effect to a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises positioning a catheter at the treatment site. The catheter includes a heating element and a fluid delivery lumen that is coupled to an exit port within a distal region of the catheter. The method further comprises passing the therapeutic compound through the delivery lumen and the exit port at a flow rate. The heated therapeutic compound is provided to the treatment site. The method further comprises exposing at least a portion of the treatment site and at least a portion of the delivered heated therapeutic compound to ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasound radiating member.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for use with a noninvasive optical measurement system, such as a thermal gradient spectrometer, for improved determination of analyte concentrations within living tissue. In one embodiment, a wearable window is secured to a patient's forearm thereby isolating a measurement site on the patient's skin for determination of blood glucose levels. The wearable window effectively replaces a window of the spectrometer, and thus forms an interface between the patient's skin and a thermal mass window of the spectrometer. When the spectrometer must be temporarily removed from the patient's skin, such as to allow the patient mobility, the wearable window is left secured to the forearm so as to maintain a consistent measurement site on the skin. When the spectrometer is later reattached to the patient, the wearable window will again form an interface between the spectrometer and the same location of skin as before.

Abstract: A method for treating an occlusion comprises positioning a catheter at a treatment site in a patient's vasculature. A blockage is located at the treatment site. The method further comprises performing a medical treatment at the treatment site. The medical treatment is configured to reduce the blockage. The method further comprises making a plurality of measurements at the treatment site.

Abstract: A central venous catheter comprises an ultrasound assembly. In one arrangement, the radiating member is used to remove a blockage from the central venous catheter. In another arrangement, inserting an ultrasound assembly into a central venous catheter. The ultrasound assembly comprises an ultrasound radiating member mounted on an elongate support structure. The method further comprises positioning the ultrasound assembly within the central venous catheter such that the ultrasound radiating member is adjacent to a deposited material formed on a portion of the central venous catheter. The method further comprises supplying an electrical current to the ultrasound radiating member to expose the deposited material to ultrasonic energy. The method further comprises passing a therapeutic compound through the central venous catheter to expose the deposited material to the therapeutic compound simultaneously with ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: A catheter system for delivering ultrasonic energy and a therapeutic compound to a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises a tubular body having an energy delivery section. The catheter system further comprises a fluid delivery lumen extending at least partially through the tubular body. The catheter system further comprises a semi-permeable membrane positioned along a portion of the fluid delivery lumen. The membrane has an increased porosity when exposed to ultrasonic energy. The catheter system further comprises an inner core configured for insertion into the tubular body. The inner core comprises an elongate electrical conductor having a plurality of flattened regions. Each flattened region has a first flat side and a second flat side opposite the first flat side. The inner core further comprises a plurality of ultrasound radiating members mounted in pairs to the flattened regions of the elongate electrical conductor.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining a concentration of an analyte in a material sample. The method includes providing a sample element with a sample chamber at least partially defined by at least one window formed from a material having greater than about 1% wavelength-domain variation in absorbtivity of electromagnetic radiation incident thereon. The method further includes employing the sample element with an analyte detection system which determines the concentration of the analyte with clinically acceptable accuracy.

Abstract: An adapter presents a sample of bodily fluid, such as whole blood, including an analyte to an analyzer window of a non-invasive monitor. The adapter comprises a base material that comprises a first side and a second side. The adapter also comprises a sample accommodating volume extending between an opening in the second side of the base material and an opening in the first side of the base material.

Abstract: An analyte detection system is configured to measure concentrations of at least first and second analytes in a single material sample supported by a sample element. The measurement of a second analyte can be conditioned on a quantitative or qualitative result of the first measurement. In one embodiment, the first analyte is glucose and the second analyte is a ketone. According to such an embodiment the ketone is measured if the result of the glucose measurement exceeds a previously-specified value or falls outside of a previously-specified range.

Abstract: A system for management of a chronic medical condition generally comprises a plurality of networked physical and/or virtual elements configured to cooperate to aid in management of a chronic medical condition of a patient. The system is configured to provide a primary caregiver with current data relating to the patient's medical condition, and to allow the caregiver to provide appropriate changes to the patient's treatment via an analyte detection meter. The meter is generally configured to calculate a treatment dosage by combining a plurality of patient-affected and caregiver-affected variables. One embodiment relates to a system for management of a diabetic condition in which the primary caregiver is provided with glucose concentration data as well as other information relating to a diabetic condition. The primary caregiver can then make appropriate changes to correction factors to be implemented in an analyte detection meter which is configured to calculate an insulin dosage.

Abstract: A sample element includes first and second substantially parallel faces separated by an intermediate member. The parallel faces and the intermediate member at least partially define a sample chamber configured to hold a volume of fluid. The sample element further includes an optical path extending through the parallel faces and the intermediate member, such that electromagnetic radiation can propagate through the sample chamber. The sample element further includes an identifying compound disposed within or on at least one of the parallel faces. The identifying compound has at least one indexed optical absorbance feature, such that spectral analysis of electromagnetic radiation propagated through the sample chamber yields the indexed optical absorbance feature. Detection of the indexed optical absorbance feature in electromagnetic radiation propagated through the sample chamber indicates to an analyte detection system whether the sample element is configured for use with the analyte detection system.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for use with a noninvasive optical measurement system, such as a thermal gradient spectrometer, for improved determination of analyte concentrations within living tissue. In one embodiment, a wearable window is secured to a patient's forearm thereby isolating a measurement site on the patient's skin for determination of blood glucose levels. The wearable window effectively replaces a window of the spectrometer, and thus forms an interface between the patient's skin and a thermal mass window of the spectrometer. When the spectrometer must be temporarily removed from the patient's skin, such as to allow the patient mobility, the wearable window is left secured to the forearm so as to maintain a consistent measurement site on the skin. When the spectrometer is later reattached to the patient, the wearable window will again form an interface between the spectrometer and the same location of skin as before.

Abstract: A method calibrates a monitor that comprises a non-invasive blood constituent monitor and a traditional measurement system. The non-invasive blood constituent monitor includes a thermal gradient inducing element an analyzer window. A traditional monitor output representing a property of a blood constituent is generated by the traditional measurement system. A non-invasive monitor output representing the property of the whole blood constituent is generated by the non-invasive constituent monitor. The traditional monitor output and the non-invasive monitor output are compared to estimate an amount of error. The non-invasive monitor output is corrected by the amount of error.

Abstract: An adapter presents a sample of bodily fluid, such as whole blood, including an analyte to an analyzer window of a non-invasive monitor. The adapter comprises a base material that comprises a first side and a second side. The adapter also comprises a sample accommodating volume extending between an opening in the second side of the base material and an opening in the first side of the base material.

Abstract: A spectroscopic sample holder comprises a microporous sheet. The microporous sheet has a top surface, a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface, and at least one side surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces. The side surface forms an exposed transit opening configured to contact a material sample and distribute the contacted material sample into the microporous sheet. The spectroscopic sample holder further comprises a first planar support member positioned on, and substantially parallel to, the top surface of the microporous sheet. The spectroscopic sample holder further comprises a second planar support member positioned on the bottom surface of the microporous sheet, and oriented substantially parallel to the first planar support member.

Abstract: An analyte detection system for analysis of a body fluid is provided, comprising an analysis portion and a sample collection portion which is configured to be removably coupled to the analysis portion. The analysis portion comprises a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation and a source of electromagnetic radiation. The source is positioned with respect to the detector such that electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source is received by the detector. The sample collection portion comprises a housing, a lance and a sample chamber. The lance is mounted within and moveable with respect to the housing. The sample chamber is configured to be positionable, upon coupling of the sample collection portion to the analysis portion, with respect to the source and detector such that at least a portion of any electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source passes through the sample chamber prior to being received by the detector.

Abstract: An analyte detection system includes a first wearable module, a detector, and a processor. The first wearable module has an optical input through which electromagnetic radiation may enter said first wearable module. The first wearable module is configured to be worn on and engage a living wearer's body such that electromagnetic radiation omitted by the body of the wearer can enter the first wearable module via the optical input. The detector is in optical communication with the optical input. The processor is in communication with the detector. The processor is configured to estimate the concentration of an analyte in the wearer's tissue based on the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system includes an infrared radiation source, a detector, and a sample element. The sample element includes an elongate member, a first sample cell wall, a second sample cell wall, a cover, and a sample supply passage. The first sample cell wall in part defines a first sample cell. The first and second sample cell walls comprise materials that transmits a substantial portion of radiation in a range of wavelengths between about 6 &mgr;m and about 12 &mgr;m. The cover at least partially defines at least one of the first sample cell and the second sample cell. The sample supply passage comprises a first branch and a second branch. The first branch of the sample supply passage extends from the opening to the first sample cell. The second branch of the sample supply passage extends from the first sample cell to the second sample cell.

Abstract: A method calibrates a monitor that comprises a non-invasive blood constituent monitor and a traditional measurement system. The non-invasive blood constituent monitor includes a thermal gradient inducing element an analyzer window. A traditional monitor output representing a property of a blood constituent is generated by the traditional measurement system. A non-invasive monitor output representing the property of the whole blood constituent is generated by the non-invasive constituent monitor. The traditional monitor output and the non-invasive monitor output are compared to estimate an amount of error. The non-invasive monitor output is corrected by the amount of error.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for use with a non-invasive optical measurement system, such as a thermal gradient spectrometer for improved determination of analyte concentrations within living tissue. In a preferred embodiment, a site selector is secured to a patient's forearm thereby isolating a measurement site on the patient's skin for determination of blood glucose levels. The site selector attaches to a thermal mass window of the spectrometer and thus forms an interface between the patient's skin and the thermal mass window. When the spectrometer must be temporarily removed from the patient's skin, such as to allow the patient mobility, the site selector is left secured to the forearm so as to maintain a consistent measurement site on the skin. When the spectrometer is later reattached to the patient, the site selector will again form an interface between the gradient spectrometer and the same location of skin as before.