Methods and apparatus using galvanic immunoelectrodes
First Claim
1. A method for measuring the level of a complementary immunochemical reactant in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first electrode and a second electrode, the electrodes having surfaces and generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution;
binding a selected immunochemical reactant to the surface of the first electrode;
electrically interconnecting the first and second electrodes;
immersing the electrodes in a conductive aqueous solution containing the complementary immunochemical reactant to the bound immunochemical reactant;
measuring the galvanic current generated by the immersed electrodes as a function of time;
calculating the level of the complementary immunochemical reactant in the solution by comparing the measured current with a standard current;
wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for detecting immunochemical reactions and levels of antigens and antibodies in serum. A selected immunochemical reactant is bound to the surface of a first electrode. A second electrode is provided such that the electrodes generate a galvanic current when electrically interconnected and immersed in conductive aqueous solution. The electrodes are electrically interconnected and immersed into a conductive aqueous solution containing the complementary immunochemical reactant to the bound immunochemical reactant. The galvanic current generated by the immersed electrodes is measured as a function of time. The level of the complementary immunochemical reactant in the solution is calculated by comparing the measured current with a standard current.
44 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for measuring the level of a complementary immunochemical reactant in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first electrode and a second electrode, the electrodes having surfaces and generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; binding a selected immunochemical reactant to the surface of the first electrode; electrically interconnecting the first and second electrodes; immersing the electrodes in a conductive aqueous solution containing the complementary immunochemical reactant to the bound immunochemical reactant; measuring the galvanic current generated by the immersed electrodes as a function of time; calculating the level of the complementary immunochemical reactant in the solution by comparing the measured current with a standard current; wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for measuring the level of a complementary immunochemical reactant in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising:
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a first electrode having a surface and having a selected immunochemical reactant bound to its surface and a second electrode, the electrodes generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; an electrical interconnection between the first and second electrodes; means for measuring the galvanic current generated by the first and second electrodes as a function of time when immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; means for comparing the measured galvanic current with a standard current and calculating the level of the complementary immunochemical reactant; wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactant. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A device for measuring the level of a plurality of complementary immunochemical reactants in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising:
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a plurality of first electrodes, each first electrode having a surface and different immunochemical reactant bound to its surface, and a common electrode, each first electrode generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected with the common electrode and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; an electrical interconnection between each first electrode and the common electrode; means for measuring the galvanic current generated by each first electrode and common electrode as a function of time when immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; means for comparing each measured galvanic current with a standard current and calculating the level of each complementary immunochemical reactant to each bound immunochemical reactant; wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactants. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification