Implantable glucose sensors: choosing the appropriate sensing strategy.

The special requirements for implantable glucose sensors which differ from laboratory analysers and in vitro probes include continuous operation without drift, compatibility with in vivo body conditions, electrical and toxicological safety and patient acceptability. We have studied the effect of oxygen tension, operating temperature and pH, and the stability of various potentially implantable amperometric glucose sensors so as to aid the choice of the technologies most suitable for in vivo application.