DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN ELECTROC ATALYTIC GLUCOSE SENSOR FORDIABETES THERAPY

For the continuous measurement of glucose levels in vivo, an electroca talytic glucose sensor has been developed. Electrochemical determinati on of the glucose concentration is effected by measurement of the impe dance, which at given potentials is directly dependent on the glucose concentration in the solution. For evaluation and determination of lon g-term stability, the sensor was first implanted in the carotid artery in the form of a flow-through cell, and was later inserted into the v ena cava of a sheep in the form of a catheter. Sensor response was che cked periodically by performing glucose tolerance tests. During the im plantation period, we also tested the sensitivity of the sensor toward s various blood components and medicaments. By adapting sensor calibra tion, it proved possible to suppress these cross-sensitivity effects. The flow-through cell type of sensor remained functional for up to 71 days post-implantation. So far, data for the cathetertype sensor cover an indwelling time of up to 30 days.