HIGHLY DURABLE DUAL USE CATHETER FOR ANALYTE SENSING AND DRUG DELIVERY

摘要

This invention pertains to the concept of creating a strip that contains one or more amperometric biosensing electrodes and integrating this strip into the outer wall of a hollow catheter (cannula). The electrodes can be used for continuous sensing of an analyte such as glucose and the hollow lumen can be used concurrently for delivery of a drug such as insulin. There is a risk for electrode films to break apart during impact. However, if there is a metallic foil beneath (underlying) the thin film metal electrodes, durability and fatigue resistance are markedly improved. The term "foil" indicates a metal layer that is 2-15 μm in thickness. Foils can be created by rolling, hammering, electroplating, printing, or vacuum-deposition. A foil-polymer laminate is suitable as a substrate because it permits low-cost patterning and assembly into a durable, fatigue- resistant sensor.