Methods and devices for determining sensing device usability
First Claim
1. A method of applying a correction factor to a signal, comprising the steps of:
- providing a device comprising;
a first electrical pad;
a second electrical pad;
a first polymer layer contacting the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad; and
a second polymer layer contacting the first polymer layer and not the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad, wherein the first polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix and a plasticizer, and wherein the second polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and an organic salt;
obtaining an initial current value associated with the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer that is measured when the device is manufactured, wherein a usability threshold level of the device is at least five times greater than the initial current value;
applying a potential across the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad;
measuring an electrical property associated with the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer based on the potential applied, wherein the measured electrical property predictably changes over time based on exposure of the device to environmental conditions, and wherein the electrical property comprises current, resistance, impedance, conductivity, or a combination thereof;
determining whether the electrical property exceeds the usability threshold level;
when the electrical property does not exceed the usability threshold level, determining the correction factor associated with the measured electrical property; and
applying the correction factor to the signal generated by a sensor to produce a corrected signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for determining device usability, e.g., for point of care assay devices. In one embodiment, the invention is to a method of determining device usability in a sensing device, including the steps of: providing a device comprising a first electrical pad; a second electrical pad; and a first polymer layer contacting at least a portion of the first and the second electrical pads and a second polymer layer contacting the first polymer layer and not the first and second electrical pads; applying a potential across the first and the second electrical pads; measuring an electrical property associated with the first and the second polymer layers; and determining whether the measured electrical property associated with the first and the second polymer layers has exceeded a threshold level associated with the device usability.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of applying a correction factor to a signal, comprising the steps of:
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providing a device comprising;
a first electrical pad;
a second electrical pad;
a first polymer layer contacting the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad; and
a second polymer layer contacting the first polymer layer and not the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad, wherein the first polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix and a plasticizer, and wherein the second polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and an organic salt;obtaining an initial current value associated with the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer that is measured when the device is manufactured, wherein a usability threshold level of the device is at least five times greater than the initial current value; applying a potential across the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad; measuring an electrical property associated with the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer based on the potential applied, wherein the measured electrical property predictably changes over time based on exposure of the device to environmental conditions, and wherein the electrical property comprises current, resistance, impedance, conductivity, or a combination thereof; determining whether the electrical property exceeds the usability threshold level; when the electrical property does not exceed the usability threshold level, determining the correction factor associated with the measured electrical property; and applying the correction factor to the signal generated by a sensor to produce a corrected signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of applying a correction factor to a signal, comprising the steps of:
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providing a device comprising;
a first electrical pad;
a second electrical pad;
a first polymer layer contacting the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad; and
a second polymer layer contacting the first polymer layer and not the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad, wherein the first polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix and a plasticizer, and wherein the second polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and an organic salt;obtaining an initial current value associated with the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer that is measured when the device is manufactured, wherein a usability threshold level of the device is at least five times less than the initial current value; applying a potential across the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad; measuring an electrical property associated with the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer based on the potential applied, wherein the measured electrical property predictably changes over time based on exposure of the device to environmental conditions, and wherein the electrical property comprises current, resistance, impedance, conductivity, or a combination thereof; determining whether the electrical property exceeds the usability threshold level; when the electrical property does not exceed the usability threshold level, determining the correction factor associated with the measured electrical property; and applying the correction factor to the signal generated by a sensor to produce a corrected signal.
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8. A method of applying a correction factor to a signal, comprising the steps of:
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providing a device comprising a first electrical pad;
a second electrical pad;
a first polymer layer contacting at least a portion of the first electrical pad; and
a second polymer layer contacting at least a portion of the second electrical pad and at least a portion of the first polymer layer, wherein the first polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix and a plasticizer, and wherein the second polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and an organic salt;obtaining an initial current value associated with the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer that is measured when the device is manufactured, wherein a usability threshold level of the device is at least five times greater than the initial current value; applying a potential across the first and the second electrical pads; measuring an electrical property associated with the first and the second polymer layers based on the potential applied, wherein the measured electrical property predictably changes over time based on exposure of the device to environmental conditions, and wherein the electrical property comprises current, resistance, impedance, conductivity, or a combination thereof; determining whether the electrical property exceeds the usability threshold level; when the electrical property does not exceed the usability threshold level, determining the correction factor associated with the measured electrical property; and applying the correction factor to the signal generated by a sensor to produce a corrected signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of applying a correction factor to a signal, comprising the steps of:
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providing a device comprising a first electrical pad;
a second electrical pad;
a first polymer layer contacting at least a portion of the first electrical pad; and
a second polymer layer contacting at least a portion of the second electrical pad and at least a portion of the first polymer layer, wherein the first polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix and a plasticizer, and wherein the second polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and an organic salt;obtaining an initial current value associated with the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer that is measured when the device is manufactured, wherein a usability threshold level of the device is at least five times less than the initial current value; applying a potential across the first electrical pad and the second electrical pad; measuring an electrical property associated with the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer based on the potential applied, wherein the measured electrical property predictably changes over time based on exposure of the device to environmental conditions, and wherein the electrical property comprises current, resistance, impedance, conductivity, or a combination thereof; determining whether the electrical property exceeds the usability threshold level; when the electrical property does not exceed the usability threshold level, determining the correction factor associated with the measured electrical property; and applying the correction factor to the signal generated by a sensor to produce a corrected signal.
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Specification