Methods and systems for forming reagent with reduced background current

• US 20090148593A1
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Huang, Dijia, Charlton, Steven C., Jung, Sung-Kwon
• Granted Patent: US 8,454,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/58
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/001 Enzyme electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 11/02 Anodisation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

Systems and methods for electrochemically oxidizing components of a test-sensor reagent prior to deposition on a test sensor comprise at least a first electrode and a second electrode for contacting the test-sensor reagent. The first electrode and the second electrode may have hollow interior portions for contacting the test-sensor reagent to produce a modified test-sensor reagent having a reduced background current.

Claims

1. A method for the electrochemical oxidation of a test-sensor reagent, the method comprising the acts of:

providing the test-sensor reagent having oxidizable species;

flowing the test-sensor reagent through a system having a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein a reduction reaction may occur at the first electrode and an oxidation reaction may occur at the second electrode;

applying a current to at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode; and

oxidizing the oxidizable species so as to produce a modified test-sensor reagent with a reduced background current.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a counter electrode, the counter electrode comprising platinum, carbon, gold, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium or combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is a working electrode, the working electrode comprising platinum, carbon, gold, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are hollow and the test-sensor reagent flows through interior portions of the first electrode and the second electrode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system further includes a third electrode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third electrode is a reference electrode, the reference electrode comprising silver, silver chloride, mercury chloride or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the third electrode is hollow and the surface of an interior portion of the third electrode is modified by chlorination.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizable species include impurities from the components of the test sensor-reagent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizable species include components of the test-sensor reagent.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of flowing the test-sensor reagent through the system occurs via gravity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of flowing the test-sensor reagent through the system occurs by a controlled flow.

12. A system for electrochemically oxidizing components of a test-sensor reagent prior to deposition on a test sensor, the system comprising:

a receptacle for holding an amount of the test-sensor reagent; and

a first electrode and a second electrode for contacting the test-sensor reagent, the first electrode and the second electrode having hollow interior portions,

wherein oxidation occurs at at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode to produce a modified test-sensor reagent having a reduced background current.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first electrode is a counter electrode, the first electrode comprising platinum, carbon, gold, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium or combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the second electrode is a working electrode, the working electrode comprising platinum, carbon, gold, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium or combinations thereof.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a third electrode.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the third electrode is a reference electrode, the third electrode comprising silver, silver chloride, mercury chloride or combinations thereof.

17. The system of claim 12, further including a valve to assist in controlling the flow of the test-sensor reagent.

18. The system of claim 12, further including tubing for connecting the receptacle, the first electrode and the second electrode.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the test-sensor reagent flows through the first electrode prior to flowing through the second electrode.

20. A method for forming a test sensor, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a base, a second layer and a plurality of electrodes, the base and the second layer assisting in forming a channel for receiving a fluid sample; and

placing a modified reagent on the test sensor in close relationship with at least one of the plurality of electrodes, the modified reagent having been oxidized to reduce the background current thereof.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the modified reagent is prepared by flowing a test-sensor reagent through a system comprising a first electrode and a second electrode and applying a current to at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode to oxidize any oxidizable species in the test-sensor reagent.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein second layer is a spacer, a lid or a combination thereof.