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Biotech / Medical : BJCT-BIOJECT-needle less injection product -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: geewiz who wrote (99)	12/29/1997 10:23:00 PM
From: Marc Kahn	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 534

Art, Your question about glucose monitoring technologies which will provide competition for the Bioject / Elan Joint Venture spurred me into doing some research. I found 3 different approaches for non-invasive (or less-invasive) blood glucose monitoring, which are being developed. They are near-infrared light, electro-osmosis extraction of interstitial fluid, and needle extraction of interstitial fluid. Near infrared light is totally non-invasive. It works by shining a certain frequency of light through the subject's tissue. A sensor on the other side is able to detect blood glucose by its "optical signature". It seems to be fairly reliable, although I found mention of some concern about its accuracy toward the low end of the blood sugar range (hypoglycemia). The equipment required to perform this test is too large for it to be applicable to a portable device with continual monitoring. Companies which are developing devices utilizing this technology are: CME Telemetrix cmetele.com BioControl Technology Futrex futrex.com Electro-osmosis extraction of interstitial fluid is the basis of the Gluco-Watch, a product of Cygnus. To me, this looks like the most formidable competition for JV, because it is a portable device offering relatively continuous monitoring. Check out these web-sites for info: castleweb.com libertynet.org The downsides of this technology which I was able to find are that they are having trouble with accuracy if the subject is perspiring heavily, and that it sometimes causes skin irritation. Needle extraction of interstitial fluid is the basis of the Bioject / Elan JV device. Other companies developing devices utilizing this technology include: Integ integonline.com SpectRX spectrx.com Neither of the devices being developed by these 2 companies offer continual monitoring. I have found no reference to any accuracy problems with direct sampling of interstitial fluids. Bioject / Elan JV's device is the only one of those I found offering continual, portable, and reliably accurate monitoring. Best wishes for the new year to you and all other followers of this thread. Regards, Marc Kahn