Ultrafiltrate sampling device for continuous monitoring

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Physiology

Background:

• Continuous monitoring of subcutaneous fluid offers insights into metabolic processes.
• Existing methods for fluid collection can be invasive or provide limited temporal resolution.
• Analysis of interstitial fluid allows for the detection of various biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and describe a novel, light, and portable device for continuous subcutaneous fluid sampling and storage.
• To enable pulse-free, low-flow rate collection of ultrafiltrate from subcutaneous tissue.
• To demonstrate the potential for continuous analysis of biomarkers in collected subcutaneous fluid.

Main Methods:

• The device utilizes a hollow-fibre probe for ultrafiltration.
• A long tube serves for sample storage, driven by a vacuum tube.
• A flow restriction enables a constant, pulse-free flow rate as low as 100 nl/min.

Main Results:

• The device successfully collected and stored subcutaneous fluid over a 24-hour period.
• The collected ultrafiltrate was free from large molecules, suitable for continuous analysis.
• The device demonstrated potential for monitoring glucose via biosensor integration and other analytes.

Conclusions:

• The developed device provides a non-invasive method for continuous subcutaneous fluid collection and storage.
• This technology facilitates the analysis of metabolic events and biomarkers over time.
• Potential applications include real-time glucose monitoring and tracking of various physiological and pharmacological substances.