Analytical instruments, biosensors and methods thereof

• US 20030000833A1
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Instrumentation Lab Co (Instrumentation Lab)
• Original Assignee: Instrumentation Lab Co (Instrumentation Lab)
• Inventors: Mansouri, Sohrab, Cosofret, Vasile, Xu, Clarke
• Granted Patent: US 6,872,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/402
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/002 Electrode membranes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/38 Cleaning of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/492 Determining multiple analytes

Abstract

An electrochemical sensor system and membrane and method thereof for increased accuracy and effective life of electrochemical and enzyme sensors.

Claims

1. A method for removing interfering agents from a polymeric membrane layer comprising:

providing an electrochemical sensor comprising an electrode and a composite membrane said composite membrane comprising at least one polymeric membrane;

providing an electrical source in electrical contact with said electrode; and

applying an electrical potential to said electrode sufficient to cause at least a portion of the interfering agents in said composite membrane to be removed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical potential comprises a range of about 0.1 to 0.8 V versus an on-board reference electrode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said range of electrical potential is applied for about 10 to 200 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical potential comprises about 0.4 V versus an on-board reference electrode and is applied for about 50 seconds.

5. A method for restoring the functional properties of an electrochemical sensor, said method comprising:

providing an electrochemical system, said electrochemical sensor system comprising;

an electrochemical sensor card comprising at least one electrochemical sensor, said electrochemical sensor comprising an electrode and a composite membrane said composite membrane comprising at least one polymeric membrane;

an electrochemical sensor apparatus in electrical contact with the electrochemical sensor card, the electrochemical sensor apparatus configured to measure electrical signals from the electrochemical sensor card and to provide an electrical potential to the electrochemical sensor; and

a reservoir containing an electropolymerizable monomer in a solution in fluid communication with the electrochemical sensor card;

contacting the electrochemical sensor with the solution; and

applying an electrical potential of sufficient strength and sufficient duration to cause at least a portion of the electropolymerizable monomer in the solution to polymerize onto the polymeric membrane.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

adding the electropolymerizable monomer to a calibrating solution to form an electropolymerizable monomer solution.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said electrical potential comprises a range of about 0.1 to 0.8 V versus an on-board reference electrode.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said range of electrical potential is applied for about 30 seconds to one hour.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said electrical potential comprises about 0.5V versus an on-board reference electrode and is applied for about 3 minutes.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

applying an additional electrical potential to the electrode of sufficient strength and sufficient duration to remove at least a portion of interfering agents in said polymeric membrane.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the electrical potential is applied in the range of about 0.1 to 0.8V and for a duration about 10-200 seconds.

15. The method of claim 13. wherein said electrical potential comprises a range of about 0.1 to 0.8 V versus an on-board reference electrode.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said range of electrical potential is applied for a range of time from about 30 seconds to 1 hour.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said electrical potential comprises about 0.5V versus an on-board reference electrode and is applied for about 3 minutes.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

applying an additional electrical potential of sufficient strength and sufficient duration to the electrode to cause removal of at least a portion of the interfering agents in said polymeric membrane.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the electrical potential is applied in the range of about 0.1 to 0.8V for a duration about 10-200 seconds.

12. A method for restoring the functional properties of an electrochemical sensor cartridge comprising:

connecting an electrochemical sensor cartridge comprising an electrochemical sensor to an electrochemical sensor apparatus , the electrochemical sensor comprising an electrode and a composite membrane comprising at least one polymeric membrane;

contacting the electrochemical sensor with an electropolymerizable monomer solution; and

applying an electrical potential of sufficient strength and sufficient duration to cause at least a portion of the electropolymerizable monomer solution to polymerize onto the polymeric membrane.

14. The method of claim 13., further comprising:

adding an electropolymerizable monomer to a calibrating solution to form said electropolymerizable monomer solution.