Patent ID: 8246541
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A microdialysis system comprising: a microdialysis probe comprising a semipermeable membrane, wherein the microdialysis probe is implantable into a surrounding environment; a supply pump for supplying a perfusate to the microdialysis probe via perfusate tubing, the perfusate comprising real-time detectable tracer molecules, whereby, when the perfusate is pumped through the microdialysis probe, a portion of the tracer molecules are exchanged across the semipermeable membrane of the microdialysis probe into the surrounding environment, and analyte molecules from the surrounding environment are exchanged across the semipermeable membrane of the microdialysis probe into the microdialysis probe, thereby producing a dialysate; dialysate tubing for carrying the dialysate from the microdialysis probe such that the dialysate flows through the dialysate tubing; means for generating real-time tracer concentration data for the tracer molecules in the dialysate as the dialysate is flowing through the dialysate tubing; means for generating real-time flow rate data for the dialysate as the dialysate is flowing through the dialysate tubing, wherein the dialysate flows through the means for generating real-time tracer concentration data and the means for generating real-time flow rate data sequentially; and a control circuit in communication with the means for generating real-time tracer concentration data and the means for generating real-time flow rate data, wherein the control circuit is for determining a real-time tracer concentration for the dialysate in the dialysate tubing based on the real-time tracer concentration data and for determining a real-time flow rate of the dialysate in the dialysate tubing based on the real-time flow rate data.