US5411647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Techniques to improve the performance of electrochemical sensors
Assignee: Tecpharma Licensing AG
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Filing: 1994-01-25
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Granted: 1995-05-02
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Expires: 2014-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of improving the utility of electrochemical glucose sensors by decreasing either or both their settling time and their sensitivity to interfering compounds. In particular, the settling time of an electrochemical glucose sensor is improved by pretreating the operating electrode with a negative electric current at a constant current density. The sensor's sensitivity to intefering compounds is reduced by operating the sensor at a reduced voltage while the glucose concentration measurement is being made.
Inventors
- 👤 Kirk W. Johnson
- 👤 John J. Mastrototaro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N31/00; C; C12; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12Q1/001; C12Q1/005; C12Q1/006; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/28; G01N27/30; G01N27/38; G01N27/327; G01N27/3271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of reducing the settling time of an electrochemical sensor having one or more electrodes, comprising: pretreating the electrochemical sensor after placement in a medium by applying a controlled electric current to one or more of the electrodes of the sensor before using the sensor to measure the presence or concentration of a substance of interest; wherein the controlled current is applied at a density and for a time to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 25 minutes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of reducing the settling time of an electrochemical sensor having one or more electrodes, comprising: pretreating the electrochemical sensor after placement in a medium by applying a controlled electric current to one or more of the electrodes of the sensor before using the sensor to measure the presence or concentration of a substance of interest; wherein the controlled current is applied at a density and for a time to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 25 minutes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which the pretreating comprises applying a constant electric current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 in which the electric current is applied to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 15 minutes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the current density is a constant current density between about 0.1 mA/cm 2 and about 1.0 mA/cm 2 during said pretreatment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the constant current density is approximately 0.5 mA/cm 2 during said pretreatment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the current is applied at a constant density for between about one minute and about ten minutes during said pretreatment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the current is applied at a constant density for approximately two minutes during said pretreatment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the current is a negative current.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of measuring the concentration of glucose in a liquid medium, comprising the steps of: contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor having an electrode; pretreating the electrode by applying a controlled electric current to the electrode at a current density and for a time to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 25 minutes; and subsequently operating the sensor by applying a constant electric potential to the electrode; measuring the rate of current change as H 2 O 2 is produced from glucose, oxygen and water at the electrode; and translating the rate of current change to a value of glucose concentration.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of measuring the concentration of glucose in a liquid medium, comprising the steps of: contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor having an electrode; pretreating the electrode by applying a controlled electric current to the electrode at a current density and for a time to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 25 minutes; and subsequently operating the sensor by applying a constant electric potential to the electrode; measuring the rate of current change as H 2 O 2 is produced from glucose, oxygen and water at the electrode; and translating the rate of current change to a value of glucose concentration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 in which the pretreating comprises applying a constant electric current.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 in which tile electric current is applied to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 15 minutes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the current density is a constant density between about 0.1 mA/cm 2 and about 1.0 mA/cm 2 during said pretreatment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein tile constant density is approximately 0.5 mA/cm 2 during said pretreatment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the current is applied at a constant density for between about one minute and about ten minutes during said pretreatment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the current is applied at a constant density for approximately two minutes during said pretreatment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the current is a negative current.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said contacting step comprises contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor having a platinum black working electrode, a platinum black counter electrode, and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of measuring the concentration of glucose in a liquid medium, comprising the steps of: contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor, said sensor having a working electrode, a counter electrode and a reference electrode; applying an electric potential greater than about 0.10 V and less than about 0.40 V to the working electrode; measuring the rate of current change as H 2 O 2 is produced from glucose, oxygen and water at the working electrode of the sensor; and translating the rate of current change to a value of glucose concentration.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of measuring the concentration of glucose in a liquid medium, comprising the steps of: contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor, said sensor having a working electrode, a counter electrode and a reference electrode; applying an electric potential greater than about 0.10 V and less than about 0.40 V to the working electrode; measuring the rate of current change as H 2 O 2 is produced from glucose, oxygen and water at the working electrode of the sensor; and translating the rate of current change to a value of glucose concentration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the applied electric potential is approximately +0.35 V.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the glucose-containing medium also contains interfering compounds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the glucose-containing medium also contains acetaminophen as an interfering compound.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the working electrode is the anode, and the counter electrode is the cathode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said contacting step comprises contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor having a platinum black working electrode, a platinum black counter electrode, and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of measuring the concentration of glucose in a liquid medium, comprising the steps of: contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor having an electrode; pretreating the electrode by applying a controlled electric current to the electrode at a density and for a time to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 25 minutes; and subsequently operating the sensor by applying a constant electric potential greater than about 0.1 V and less than about 0.40 V to the working electrode of the sensor; measuring the rate of current change as H 2 O 2 is produced from glucose, oxygen and water at the working electrode of the sensor; and translating the rate of current change to a value of glucose concentration.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of measuring the concentration of glucose in a liquid medium, comprising the steps of: contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor having an electrode; pretreating the electrode by applying a controlled electric current to the electrode at a density and for a time to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 25 minutes; and subsequently operating the sensor by applying a constant electric potential greater than about 0.1 V and less than about 0.40 V to the working electrode of the sensor; measuring the rate of current change as H 2 O 2 is produced from glucose, oxygen and water at the working electrode of the sensor; and translating the rate of current change to a value of glucose concentration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 24 in which the pretreating comprises applying a constant electric current.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 24 in which the electric current is applied to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 15 minutes.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the current density is a constant current density between about 0.1 mA/cm 2 and about 1.0 mA/cm 2 during said pretreatment.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the constant current density is approximately 0.5 mA/cm 2 during said pretreatment.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the current is applied at a constant density for between about one minute and about ten minutes during said pretreatment.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the applied electric potential is approximately +0.35 V.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said contacting step comprises contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor having a working electrode with glucose oxidase deposited thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4935105A
Cited
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