Methods and Apparatuses Relating to Dermal Biochemical Sensors

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present invention comprise an analyte sensing patch, comprising a substrate, and a sensing agent disposed on the substrate such that analyte can encounter the sensing agent through a side of the patch disposed adjacent the skin of a subject but not through a side of the patch disposed away from the skin of the subject. Example embodiments of the present invention comprise an analyte sensing patch, comprising a substrate, a sensing material disposed on the substrate in a first region thereof, an adhesive disposed on the substrate in a second region thereof, wherein the second region surrounds the first region, wherein the sensing agent undergoes a change in a discernible characteristic responsive to encounter with a predetermined analyte.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An analyte sensing patch, comprising
 (a) a substrate that is impermeable to an analyte; and   (b) a sensing agent disposed on a first side of the substrate, in a first region of the first side of the substrate, wherein the sensing agent undergoes a change in a discernible characteristic responsive to encounter with the analyte;   (c) an adhesive disposed on the first side of the substrate in a second region of the first side of the substrate, wherein the second region surrounds the first region;   and (d) one or more control regions of the patch, wherein a control region exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to the characteristic of the sensing agent upon exposure to a predetermined amount of the analyte;   wherein the sensing agent comprises an enzyme and a dye.   
     
     
         2 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a polymer suitable for transdermal patches. 
     
     
         3 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         4 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 1 , further comprising a reader external to the patch that detects the change in the discernible characteristic. 
     
     
         5 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 4 , wherein the discernible characteristic comprises color, and wherein the reader comprises a color meter. 
     
     
         6 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing agent is adhesive to tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 1  further comprising an identifier mounted with the patch such that the identifier is discernible by a reader of the patch. 
     
     
         8 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 7 , wherein the identifier is associated with a calibration corresponding to the patch. 
     
     
         9 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount is greater than zero. 
     
     
         10 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 1 , comprising first and second control regions, where the first control region exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to the characteristic of the sensing agent upon exposure to a first predetermined amount of the analyte, and where the second control region exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to the characteristic of the sensing agent upon exposure to a second predetermined amount of the analyte, where the first predetermined amount is different from the second predetermined amount. 
     
     
         11 . An analyte sensing patch, comprising
 (a) a substrate that is impermeable to an analyte; and   (b) a sensing agent disposed on a first side of the substrate, in a first region of the first side of the substrate, wherein the sensing agent undergoes a change in a discernible characteristic responsive to encounter with the analyte;   (c) an adhesive disposed on the first side of the substrate in a second region of the first side of the substrate, wherein the second region surrounds the first region; and   (d) one or more control regions of the patch, wherein a control region exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to the characteristic of the sensing agent upon exposure to a predetermined amount of the analyte;   wherein the sensing agent comprises an alcohol oxidase, peroxidase, and a chromogenic substance.   
     
     
         12 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 11 , further comprising a reader external to the patch that detects the change in the discernible characteristic. 
     
     
         13 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 11  further comprising an identifier mounted with the patch such that the identifier is discernible by a reader of the patch. 
     
     
         14 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 13 , wherein the identifier is associated with a calibration corresponding to the patch. 
     
     
         15 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 11 , comprising first and second control regions, where the first control region exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to the characteristic of the sensing agent upon exposure to a first predetermined amount of the analyte, and where the second control region exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to the characteristic of the sensing agent upon exposure to a second predetermined amount of the analyte, where the first predetermined amount is different from the second predetermined amount. 
     
     
         16 . An analyte sensing patch, comprising
 (a) a substrate that is impermeable to an analyte; and   (b) a sensing agent disposed on a first side of the substrate, in a first region of the first side of the substrate, wherein the sensing agent undergoes a change in a discernible characteristic responsive to encounter with the analyte;   (c) an adhesive disposed on the first side of the substrate in a second region of the first side of the substrate, wherein the second region surrounds the first region; and   (d) one or more control regions of the patch, wherein a control region exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to the characteristic of the sensing agent upon exposure to a predetermined amount of the analyte;   wherein the analyte comprises ethanol.   
     
     
         17 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 16 , further comprising a reader external to the patch that detects the change in the discernible characteristic. 
     
     
         18 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 16  further comprising an identifier mounted with the patch such that the identifier is discernible by a reader of the patch. 
     
     
         19 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 18 , wherein the identifier is associated with a calibration corresponding to the patch. 
     
     
         20 . The analyte sensing patch of  claim 16 , comprising first and second control regions, where the first control region exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to the characteristic of the sensing agent upon exposure to a first predetermined amount of the analyte, and where the second control region exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to the characteristic of the sensing agent upon exposure to a second predetermined amount of the analyte, where the first predetermined amount is different from the second predetermined amount.