For glucose detection; electrochemistry

Inventors

Diamond, Steven • Forest, Martin • Rad, Darius • Wei, Baoguo

Assignees

Agamatrix Inc

Abstract

A method and apparatus for provide a stable voltage to an electrochemical cell used for measurement of an analyte such as glucose in a liquid sample. The apparatus uses a circuit in which multiple switching positions provide both calibration information for use in calibration of electronic components in the circuit and error checking functionality.

Core Innovation

The document describes an apparatus and system for electrochemical measurement in which a circuit applies a stable voltage to an electrochemical test cell received within the apparatus. The stable voltage is provided through a working-side circuit connected to a working electrode connector and a counter-side circuit connected to a counter electrode connector, and a microcontroller receives input from the working-side circuit and the counter-side circuit to provide output of an amount of analyte in a liquid sample disposed within the electrochemical cell.

The working-side circuit comprises a first operational amplifier with output and inverting input connected to the working electrode connector, and a microcontroller-controllable first signal input connected to the non-inverting input. The working-side circuit further includes a working-side signaling line connected to the first signal input or a second working-side signaling line connected between the output of the first operational amplifier and the working electrode connector, or both.

On the counter side, the circuit includes a voltage reference, second and third operational amplifiers, and first and second switches controllable by a microprocessor. The second operational amplifier acts as a current sensing device or current to voltage converter (I/V), and the second switch is disposed in a loop connecting the inverting input and the output to alter gain by opening or closing.

The document also describes a method that provides the stable voltage to the electrochemical test cell by inserting the cell into an apparatus having the voltage-application circuit, performing hardware diagnosis and calibration, introducing a liquid sample, and recalibrating after introduction of the liquid sample. An electrochemical assay is then performed for an analyte in the liquid sample, and the microcontroller provides output indicative of an amount of analyte, including embodiments where the analyte is glucose.

Claims Coverage

The partial content contains three independent claims, each centered on a microcontroller-controlled circuit architecture applying a stable voltage to an electrochemical test cell via working and counter connectors, with counter-side switching that alters operational amplifier gain and enables measurement output for an analyte; the method additionally specifies calibration, recalibration, and offset determination under switch states.

Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is the microcontroller-driven electrochemical voltage application circuit to a test cell using working- and counter-side electronics, including a counter-side current sensing/I/V stage with a gain-altering switch loop, and an assay output for an analyte; the method claim further requires hardware diagnosis and calibration with recalibration after sample introduction and offset determination based on comparisons of observed reference voltage and potentials under defined switch open/closed conditions.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found