Regeneration of biosensors
First Claim
1. A method of regenerating a biosensor of the type having a signal generating portion, wherein said biosensor is responsive to a property of or to the presence of a component in a biological fluid, and has a flow passage in which said signal generating portion is located and through which fluid is passed at selectable flow rates, the method comprising:
- (a) passing a background flow of fluid through the flow passage without response generating components;
(b) introducing a sample aliquot into said background flow at a selected point in time; and
(c) increasing the flow rate of the background fluid at a point in time when at least a fraction of said sample aliquot has entered said flow passage in said sensor, such that the rate of increase of the flow rate of the background fluid occurs essentially simultaneously with the entry of the sample aliquot in the flow passage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises a method of regenerating a biosensor. It involves passing a background flow of fluid without reactive components through the flow passage. At a selected point in time a sample aliquot is injected into said background flow. At a point in time when a signal from said sensor is obtained the flow rate of the background fluid is increased. The invention also comprises a system for continuous monitoring of analytes in a biological fluid, the system having increased life by virtue of inherent regeneration of sensors employed. It comprises a biosensor (26, 30, 32), a sampling device (4) for providing a sample of said biological fluid, and means (10, 15, 18, 24) for passing a flow of a background fluid through said flow passage at selectable flow rates, means (20, 50, 55) for injecting said sample into said flow of background fluid, and means (50, 55) for increasing the flow rate of said combined flow. Means for achieving a washing action at the signal generating portion are provided.
303 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of regenerating a biosensor of the type having a signal generating portion, wherein said biosensor is responsive to a property of or to the presence of a component in a biological fluid, and has a flow passage in which said signal generating portion is located and through which fluid is passed at selectable flow rates, the method comprising:
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(a) passing a background flow of fluid through the flow passage without response generating components;
(b) introducing a sample aliquot into said background flow at a selected point in time; and
(c) increasing the flow rate of the background fluid at a point in time when at least a fraction of said sample aliquot has entered said flow passage in said sensor, such that the rate of increase of the flow rate of the background fluid occurs essentially simultaneously with the entry of the sample aliquot in the flow passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification