Electrocatalytic glucose sensor for long-term in vivo use.

A catheter shaped electrocatalytic glucose sensor for in vivo application has been developed to determine the glucose level in blood and control the insulin dosage in a closed loop system for diabetes therapy. The principle of measurement is based on the electrochemical oxidation of glucose at a membrane-covered platium electrode. For various potential steps, the impedance obtained at two different frequencies is a function of the glucose concentration. A series of implantations in the vena cava of sheep demonstrated the potential feasibility of the sensor. It was possible to determine the glucose concentration in sheep for more than 130 days with tolerable deviations from glucose reference measurements. The mean error was 2.5 mmol/l. The catheter was explanted after 211 days and histological examination revealed a good biocompatibility of all materials used.