Analyte detection via electrochemically transported and generated reagent
First Claim
1. An analyte detecting device, comprising:
- at least one test solution compartment comprising a test solution, wherein the test solution comprises at least one analyte;
at least one precursor solution compartment comprising a precursor solution, wherein the precursor solution comprises at least one reagent precursor compound;
at least one first electrode in contact with the test solution in the at least one test solution compartment;
at least one second electrode in contact with the precursor solution in the at least one precursor solution compartment; and
at least one electrical power source electrically connected across the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode; and
at least one cell separator between the at least one test solution compartment and the at least one precursor solution compartment, wherein the permeability of the at least one cell separator increases upon application of at least one quantity of electrical power between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electrochemical devices, methods, and systems for detecting and quantifying analytes are disclosed. A chemical detection reagent is locally generated in a test solution by electrochemical reaction of a precursor compound caused to migrate into the test solution from a precursor solution separated from the test solution by a cell separator. This approach provides precise metering of the reagent, via the charge passed, and avoids the need to store a reagent solution that may be chemically unstable. In one embodiment, the starch concentration in a colloidal solution can be measured via spectroscopic detection of a blue complex formed by the interaction of starch with iodine produced, on demand, by electrochemical oxidation of iodide ion. The approach may also be used to characterize certain types of analytes. The invention is amenable to automation and is particularly useful for on-line monitoring of production processes, including the inclusion of feed back loop mechanisms for process control.
5 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An analyte detecting device, comprising:
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at least one test solution compartment comprising a test solution, wherein the test solution comprises at least one analyte; at least one precursor solution compartment comprising a precursor solution, wherein the precursor solution comprises at least one reagent precursor compound; at least one first electrode in contact with the test solution in the at least one test solution compartment; at least one second electrode in contact with the precursor solution in the at least one precursor solution compartment; and at least one electrical power source electrically connected across the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode; and at least one cell separator between the at least one test solution compartment and the at least one precursor solution compartment, wherein the permeability of the at least one cell separator increases upon application of at least one quantity of electrical power between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A starch detecting device, comprising:
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a test solution compartment comprising a test solution, wherein the test solution comprises starch; a precursor solution compartment comprising a reagent precursor solution, wherein the precursor solution comprises iodide ions; an anode in contact with the test solution; a cathode in contact with the precursor solution; and an electrical power source electrically connected across the anode and the cathode; and a cell separator between the test solution compartment and the precursor solution compartment, wherein the permeability of the separator increases upon application of at least one quantity of electrical power between the anode and the cathode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification