Patent ID: 8126554

Claim:
A method for monitoring diuretic therapy comprising: optically sensing a physiological concentration of an analyte in a bodily fluid of a patient with a chronically implanted chemical sensor, the chemical sensor comprising: a sensing element comprising a potassium ion selective complexing moiety, the potassium ion selective complexing moiety selected from the group comprising cryptands, crown ethers, bis-crown ethers, calixarenes, noncyclic amides, and hemispherands; an excitation assembly configured to illuminate the sensing element; a detection assembly configured to receive light from the sensing element; an opaque cover layer disposed over a side of the sensing element; and a battery in communication with the excitation assembly, wherein all components of the chemical sensor are implanted within the patient; communicating data regarding the physiological concentration of the analyte to an implanted pulse generator; and altering the delivery of the diuretic therapy to the patient based in part on the physiological concentration of the analyte.