Method for determining the electrochemical characteristic of a test strip
First Claim
1. A method for determining an electrochemical characteristic associated with a test strip, comprising:
- applying a cyclic electric potential to the test strip to stabilize the electrochemical characteristic of an enzyme reagent on the test strip;
conducting a quality assurance test with an inspection electric potential on the test strip; and
subjecting the test strip to a reverse electric potential adapted to substantially restore the test strip back to an original condition before the inspection electric potential is applied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a non-destructive means to determine electrochemical characteristics in biosensor test strips, including first applying a cyclic oxidative and reductive electric potential onto the inspection pads connecting to the reference electrode and working electrode, on which lies a drop of enzyme reagent solution, to homogenize the electrochemical characteristics of the biosensor test strips, and then applying an inspection electric potential within a short period of time over the inspection pads connecting to the reference electrode and working electrode to measure its electrical resistance to identify any abnormal biosensor test strips if present. Afterwards, embodiments of the present invention applies a reverse electric potential, having the same time interval as the inspection electric potential, onto the inspection pads connecting to the reference electrode and working electrode to prevent degradation on mediators such as potassium ferricyanide.
2 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for determining an electrochemical characteristic associated with a test strip, comprising:
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applying a cyclic electric potential to the test strip to stabilize the electrochemical characteristic of an enzyme reagent on the test strip; conducting a quality assurance test with an inspection electric potential on the test strip; and subjecting the test strip to a reverse electric potential adapted to substantially restore the test strip back to an original condition before the inspection electric potential is applied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for determining an electrochemical characteristic associated with a first test section of a test strip, comprising:
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applying a cyclic electric potential to the first test section of the test strip to stabilize the electrochemical characteristic of an enzyme reagent on the test strip; conducting a quality assurance test with an inspection electric potential on the first test section; and subjecting the first test section to a reverse electric potential adapted to substantially restore the first test section back to an original condition before the inspection electric potential is applied, wherein the test strip further comprises a second test section, and the first test section can be separated from the test strip through an associated pre-break line. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A test strip comprising at least one test section for measuring blood glucose in a blood sample, the test section comprising:
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a working electrode; a reference electrode; an enzyme reagent placed between the working electrode and the reference electrode; a first inspection pad electrically connected to the working electrode; a second inspection pad electrically connected to the reference electrode; a first contact pad electrically connected to the working electrode; and a second contact pad electrically connected to the reference electrode, wherein the first contact pad and the second contact pad are applied with a cyclic electric potential to stabilize an electrochemical characteristic of an enzyme reagent on the test strip, and the first inspection pad and the second inspection pad are applied with an inspection electric potential to measure an electrical resistance of the enzyme reagent, the test strip comprises more than one test sections, the first inspection pads of the different test sections are electrically connected with each other, and the second inspection pads of the different test sections are electrically connected with each other. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification