Electrochemical sensor with dual purpose electrode
First Claim
1. An integral electrode assembly for use in a transcutaneous reverse-iontophoresis diagnostic system wherein chemical signals are extracted through the surface of a patient'"'"'s skin by application of an electrical field, said assembly comprising:
- (a) a pair of electrically connected iontophoretic electrodes adapted for applying electrical current to the skin to extract chemical signals therefrom;
(b) a first sensing electrode positioned adjacent one of the iontophoretic electrodes for detecting the chemical signals extracted thereby;
wherein the first sensing electrode is electrically connected with said iontophoretic electrode such that said iontophoretic electrode serves as a counter electrode therefor and defines a first sensor electrode pair.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an electrode assembly for use in a transdermal analyte sensor operating in an alternating polarity mode in which a single electrode element provides both the counter electrode and iontophoretic electrode functions. By combining both the functions of the iontophoretic and counter electrode, the surface area of the electrode with respect to each function may be made larger. In turn this increases the ability of the electrode to deliver the required electrical field over a larger area when operating in the iontophoretic mode as well as increasing the ability of the counter electrode to compensate for the larger sensing electrode facilitated by this new design.
507 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An integral electrode assembly for use in a transcutaneous reverse-iontophoresis diagnostic system wherein chemical signals are extracted through the surface of a patient'"'"'s skin by application of an electrical field, said assembly comprising:
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(a) a pair of electrically connected iontophoretic electrodes adapted for applying electrical current to the skin to extract chemical signals therefrom; (b) a first sensing electrode positioned adjacent one of the iontophoretic electrodes for detecting the chemical signals extracted thereby; wherein the first sensing electrode is electrically connected with said iontophoretic electrode such that said iontophoretic electrode serves as a counter electrode therefor and defines a first sensor electrode pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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9. A method of determining the concentration of a chemical signal in a mammalian subject using the transcutaneous reverse-iontophoresis diagnostic system of claim 22, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) contacting the first surfaces of the first and second ionically conductive materials to the skin of the mammalian subject; (b) providing a current between the iontophoretic electrode pair to extract the chemical signal through the skin and into the first ionically conductive material; (c) providing a potential between the first sensor electrode pair sufficient to drive an electrochemical conversion of the chemical signal contained within the first ionically conductive material and measuring the electrical current generated by this electrochemical conversion of chemical signal; and (d) correlating the measured current in step (c) to a concentration of chemical signal in the subject. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification