Voltammetric detection of metabolites in physiological fluids

• US 20070105232A1
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cranfield University
• Original Assignee: Cranfield University
• Inventors: Saini, Selwayan, Malecha, Michael, Bessant, Conrad, Lee-Davey, Jon
• Application Number:
  US10/562,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20070105232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/95
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/144444 Glucose

Abstract

For the determination of analytes in body fluids, voltammetry using a simple, non-selective, electrode sensor system has been found to work. The signal is desirably processed by a technique such as neural network analysis, which can permit plural analytes to be determined simultaneously.

Claims

1. A method for determining one or more analytes in a body fluid comprising immersing in said fluid a set of electrodes comprising a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode;

applying a varying potential to the working electrode and measuring the electrochemical outcome, thereby providing an output signal related to the composition of the fluid.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said fluid is selected from interstitial fluid, whole blood, plasma, urine and saliva.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said fluid is interstitial fluid.

4. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the application of the varying potential is preceded by the application of one or more electrode cleaning pulses.

5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the output signal is analysed to provide data about the concentration of one or more analytes.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the output signal is analysed to provide data about the concentration of plural analytes.

7. A method according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the analysis employs a multivariate calibration technique.

8. A method according to any preceding claim wherein fluid is made more alkaline or acidic prior to determination.

9. A method according to any preceding claim wherein said electrodes are film electrodes provided on a substrate.

10. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the electrodes are provided within a capillary element which is partly immersed in the fluid whereupon fluid rises into the element by capillary action to contact the electrodes.

11. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the electrodes are coated with a semipermeable film that permits passage of the analyte(s) but not proteins.

12. Apparatus for carrying out the method of any preceding claim, comprising an electrode assembly and capillary means for conveying fluid for analysis to the electrodes.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the capillary means contain means for rendering the fluid more alkaline or acidic.