Biosensor with improved reading resolution

• US 7,510,642 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific Systems LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Huang, Yin-Chun, Wang, Kuo-Jeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Noguerola; Alex
• Application Number:
  US10/739,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 20440301-40315, 205/777.5, 205/778, 205/792, 702/19, 702/22, 702/23
• US Class Current: 205/777.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875

Abstract

A method for improving a reading resolution of a biosensor is provided. The present invention includes applying a specimen on a chip of a biosensor, and a voltage-time discharge curve is established in response to a specific component in the specimen detected by the chip. Using a voltage V₀ of a sampling time t₀ of the voltage-time discharge curve as a central voltage, and selecting a plurality of respective voltages of sampling times close to the sampling time t₀. Obtaining an average voltage of the central voltage V₀ and these selected respective voltages to serve as an output voltage of the sampling time t₀. Determining a respective average voltage corresponding to each sampling time of the voltage-time discharge curve before the time of discharge ending based on the former step, to serve as the output voltage of the each sampling time. The each output voltage is converted to a set of digital signals. A reading of the concentration of the specific component in the specimen is determined in accordance with these digital signals.

Claims

1. A method for improving a reading resolution of a biosensor, comprising:

providing a specimen on a chip of a biosensor, wherein the chip generates a peak voltage in response to a specific component of the specimen;

selecting a voltage-time discharge curve corresponding to the peak voltage in accordance with a mapping table of peak voltage versus voltage-time discharge curve;

using a voltage V₀ of a sampling time t₀ of the voltage-time discharge curve as a central voltage, and selecting a plurality of respective voltages whose sampling times are close to the sampling time t₀, thereby obtaining an average voltage of the central voltage V₀ and the plurality of respective voltages to serve as an output voltage corresponding to the sampling time t₀;

obtaining an average voltage corresponding to each sampling time of the voltage-time discharge curve before the time of discharge ending to serve as an output voltage of each sampling time based on the former step;

converting the output voltage for each sampling time of the voltage-time discharge curve into a set of binary digital signals; and

determining a reading of a concentration of the specific component in accordance with the sets of binary digital signals before the time of discharge ending.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage for each sampling time of the voltage-time discharge curve is an integer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of respective voltages comprises three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ close to the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ comprise two voltages prior to the central voltage V₀ and one voltage behind the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ comprise one voltage prior to the central voltage V₀ and two voltages behind the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ are prior to the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ are behind the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific component to be determined depends on an enzyme of the chip.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sampling interval is in the range of milliseconds.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sampling time is in the range of microseconds.

11. An apparatus for improving a reading resolution of a biosensor, comprising:

means for providing a specimen on a chip of a biosensor, wherein the chip generates a peak voltage in response to a specific component of the specimen;

means for selecting a voltage-time discharge curve corresponding to the peak voltage in accordance with a mapping table of peak voltage versus voltage-time discharge curve;

means for using a voltage V₀ of a sampling time t₀ of the voltage-time discharge curve as a central voltage, and selecting a plurality of respective voltages whose sampling times are close to the sampling time t₀, thereby obtaining an average voltage of the central voltage V₀ and the plurality of respective voltages to serve as an output voltage corresponding to the sampling time t₀;

means for obtaining an average voltage corresponding to each sampling time of the voltage-time discharge curve before the time of discharge ending to serve as an output voltage of each sampling time based on the former step;

means for converting the output voltage for each sampling time of the voltage-time discharge curve into a set of binary digital signals; and

means for determining a reading of a concentration of the specific component in accordance with the sets of binary digital signals before the time of discharge ending.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the voltage for each sampling time of the voltage-time discharge curve is an integer.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of respective voltages comprises three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ close to the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ comprise two voltages prior to the central voltage V₀ and one voltage behind the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ comprise one voltage prior to the central voltage V₀ and two voltages behind the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ are prior to the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the three voltages V₁, V₂, and V₃ are behind the central voltage V₀ in the voltage-time discharge curve.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the specific component to be determined depends on an enzyme of the chip.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sampling interval is in the range of milliseconds.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sampling time is in the range of microseconds.