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Abstract

An implantable device for sensing in vivo the level of at least one blood constituent in mammalian vascular tissue has at least one source of radiation from infrared through visible light, arranged to direct the radiation at the tissue where it is affected by interaction with the tissue, and a plurality of detectors. Each detector has associated with it a filter transparent to a discrete narrow band of radiation, and each detector provides an output signal representative of detected radiation in that narrow band. The detectors are located with respect to the tissue to receive radiation affected by the tissue. The invention also encompasses a device for measuring and controlling the level of a blood constituent, such as glucose, in a mammal, and includes an implantable infrared source and sensor module for directing infrared radiation through vascular tissue and for sensing the infrared radiation after it has passed through the tissue and generating an output signal representative of the sensed infrared radiation. The device includes a processor module responsive to the output signal from the infrared source and sensor module which performs spectral analysis of the output signal and derives from that analysis a control signal representative of the level of the blood constituent. The device further includes an insulin pump for dispensing doses of insulin in response to the control signal for blood glucose regulation.

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First Claim