Methods and systems for measuring and using the oxidation-reduction potential of a biological sample

• US 9,360,446 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aytu Bioscience, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aytu Bioscience, Inc.
• Inventors: Bar-Or, Raphael, Bar-Or, David, Rael, Leonard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wallenhorst, Maureen
• Application Number:
  US14/061,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20140121158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 436/63, 436/149, 436/150, 436/904, 435/29, 514/5.9, 514/789
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/16 Blood plasma; Blood serum umbilical cord blood A61K35/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/26 by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4161 measuring the voltage and using a constant current supply, e.g. chronopotentiometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4168 Oxidation-reduction potential, e.g. for chlorination of water water analysis G01N33/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/7009 Oxidative stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48 Biological material, e.g. blood, urine G01N33/02, G01N33/26, G01N33/44, G01N33/46 take precedence; Haemocytometers counting blood corpuscules distributed over a surface by scanning the surface G06M11/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48707 by electrical means G01N33/49, G01N33/493 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/49 Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80

Abstract

Methods and systems for measuring and using the oxidation-reduction characteristics of a biological sample are provided. The system generally includes a test strip and a readout device. A fluid sample is placed in the test strip, and the test strip is in turn operatively connected to the readout device. The readout device provides a controlled current that is sent across the fluid in the sample chamber. In addition, the readout device identifies an inflection point or transition time at which the voltage between contacts of the test strip is changing at the highest rate. The oxidation-reduction capacity of the sample is taken as the integral of the current profile from the time at which current begins to be supplied to the sample to the identified transition time.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing, evaluating or monitoring a subject for brain injury, comprising:

a. measuring a capacity oxidation-reduction potential (cORP) of the subject, wherein measuring the cORP of the subject comprises;

passing a current through a fluid sample obtained from the subject; and

monitoring a voltage across the fluid sample while passing the current through the fluid sample over at least a first period of time;

determining a quantity of charge passed to the fluid sample during the first period of time to obtain the cORP of the subject;

b. comparing the measured cORP to a reference value to determine a brain injury status of the subject, wherein the reference value is one of;

1) a normal reference value, wherein a measured cORP value that is less than the normal reference value indicates a risk of a brain injury; and

2) a brain injury reference value, wherein a measured cORP value that is greater than the brain injury reference value indicates an absence of a brain injury; and

c. treating the subject based on the brain injury status of the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference value is a normal reference value taken from a sample obtained from a subject having no brain injury.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference value is a brain injury reference value taken from a sample obtained from a subject having a brain injury.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference value is a self reference value taken from the subject at an earlier time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the brain injury status of the subject is that the subject has a brain injury.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of treating is selected from the group consisting of medication, surgery and rehabilitation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the brain injury status of the subject is that the subject does not have a brain injury.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of treating is not providing treatment for a brain injury.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the cORP of the subject further includes identifying an inflection point in the monitored voltage across the fluid sample.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first period of time extends from a start time to the identified inflection point.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the quantity of charge passed to the fluid sample is determined by integrating the current over the first period of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the start time is a time at which the monitored voltage has stabilized.

13. A method for diagnosing, evaluating or monitoring a subject for a brain injury condition, comprising:

a. measuring a capacity oxidation-reduction potential (cORP) of the subject, wherein measuring the cORP of the subject comprises;

passing a current through a fluid sample obtained from the subject; and

monitoring a voltage across the fluid sample while passing the current through the fluid sample over at least a first period of time;

determining a quantity of charge passed to the fluid sample during the first period of time to obtain the cORP of the subject; and

b. comparing the measured cORP to a reference value for the brain injury condition to determine a brain injury condition status of the subject, wherein the reference value is one of;

1) a normal reference value, wherein a measured cORP value that is less than the normal reference value indicates a risk of a brain injury condition; and

2) a brain injury reference value, wherein a measured cORP value that is greater than the brain injury reference value indicates an absence of a brain injury condition.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein measuring the cORP of the subject further includes identifying an inflection point in the monitored voltage across the fluid sample.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first period of time extends from a start time to the identified inflection point.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the quantity of charge passed to the fluid sample is determined by integrating the current over the first period of time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the start time is a time at which the monitored voltage has stabilized.