Automated system for continuously and automatically calibrating electrochemical sensors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for monitoring sensor system performance for in vitro diagnostic testing of patient samples, comprising:
- (a) providing a plurality of sensors and one or more internal reference solutions in a replaceable cartridge for use in a sensor system, said internal reference solutions comprising a plurality of analytes each having a known concentration;
(b) determining a first response of one sensor of the plurality of sensors to one of the plurality of analytes in a first internal reference solution in between testing of patient samples;
(c) determining a second response of the one sensor of the plurality of sensors to the one of the plurality of analytes in the first internal reference solution;
(d) taking action in response to the determining in steps (b) and (c) to provide continued testing of patient samples by initiating a cleaning cycle if the first response to the analyte in step (b) is substantially similar to the second response to the analyte in step (c) and the first and the second responses are substantially dissimilar to the response of the sensor to the known concentration of the analyte;
(e) optionally signaling for replacement of said cartridge when the action of step (d) fails to provide continued testing of patient samples.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochemical sensor system that continuously monitors and calibrates the sensors included in the system. The invention also includes a method for determining failure patterns of a sensor and incorporating into an electrochemical sensor system the ability to recognize the failure pattern and initiate remedial action.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A method for monitoring sensor system performance for in vitro diagnostic testing of patient samples, comprising:
-
(a) providing a plurality of sensors and one or more internal reference solutions in a replaceable cartridge for use in a sensor system, said internal reference solutions comprising a plurality of analytes each having a known concentration; (b) determining a first response of one sensor of the plurality of sensors to one of the plurality of analytes in a first internal reference solution in between testing of patient samples; (c) determining a second response of the one sensor of the plurality of sensors to the one of the plurality of analytes in the first internal reference solution; (d) taking action in response to the determining in steps (b) and (c) to provide continued testing of patient samples by initiating a cleaning cycle if the first response to the analyte in step (b) is substantially similar to the second response to the analyte in step (c) and the first and the second responses are substantially dissimilar to the response of the sensor to the known concentration of the analyte; (e) optionally signaling for replacement of said cartridge when the action of step (d) fails to provide continued testing of patient samples. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14)
-
-
7. A method for monitoring performance of a sensor for analyzing patient fluid samples during the use life of the sensor, the method comprising:
-
(i) containing the sensor and a first and another internal reference solutions in a replaceable cartridge; (ii) verifying the sensor performance during the use life of the sensor in between analysis of patient fluid samples using the first internal reference solution to evaluate the sensor performance; (iii) automatically verifying the sensor performance using said first or another internal reference solution in the event of a failure to verify in step (ii), comprising (a) determining a first measurement by the sensor of a known concentration of an analyte in said first or another internal reference solution, (b) determining a second measurement by the sensor of the known concentration of the analyte in said reference solution in which a measurement was determined in step (a), (c) taking action based on the determined measurements of steps (a) and (b), to provide continued testing on patient fluid samples, and (d) signaling for replacement of said cartridge when taking action in step (c) fails to provide continued testing on patient fluid samples; (iv) verifying the sensor performance before analyzing a patient fluid sample and thereafter verifying the sensor performance according to steps (ii) and (iii); and
,(v) accepting the sensor for analysis of patient fluid samples if the second measurement is dissimilar to the first measurement and the second measurement is substantially similar to the known concentration of the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification