Electrochemical-sensor design
First Claim
1. An electrochemical test sensor adapted to assist in determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample, the sensor comprising:
- a base that assists in forming an opening for introducing the fluid test sample;
a working electrode with an exposed portion not insulated from sample by dielectric material being coupled to the base;
a counter electrode being coupled to the base, the counter electrode and the working electrode being adapted to be in electrical communication with a detector of electrical current; and
a sub-element being coupled to the base, a major portion of the counter electrode being located downstream relative to the opening and at least a the exposed portion of the working electrode, the sub-element being located upstream relative to the working electrode such that when electrical communication occurs between only the sub-element and the working electrode there is insufficient flow of electrical current through the detector to determine the concentration of the analyte in the fluid test sample a first current profile is produced in response to electrical communication between the sub-element and the working electrode, and a second current profile is produced in response to electrical communication between the sub-element, the portion of the counter electrode, and the working electrode, the first current profile having a first decay factor and the second current profile having a second decay factor, the first decay factor being distinguishable from the second decay factor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochemical test sensor adapted to assist in determining the concentration of analyte in a fluid sample is disclosed. The sensor comprises a base that assists in forming an opening for introducing the fluid sample, a working electrode being coupled to the base, and a counter electrode being coupled to the base, the counter electrode and the working electrode being adapted to be in electrical communication with a detector of electrical current, and a sub-element being coupled to the base. A major portion of the counter electrode is located downstream relative to the opening and at least a portion of the working electrode. The sub-element is located upstream relative to the working electrode such that when electrical communication occurs between only the sub-element and the working electrode there is insufficient flow of electrical current through the detector to determine the concentration of the analyte in the fluid sample.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. An electrochemical test sensor adapted to assist in determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample, the sensor comprising:
-
a base that assists in forming an opening for introducing the fluid test sample; a working electrode with an exposed portion not insulated from sample by dielectric material being coupled to the base; a counter electrode being coupled to the base, the counter electrode and the working electrode being adapted to be in electrical communication with a detector of electrical current; and a sub-element being coupled to the base, a major portion of the counter electrode being located downstream relative to the opening and at least a the exposed portion of the working electrode, the sub-element being located upstream relative to the working electrode such that when electrical communication occurs between only the sub-element and the working electrode there is insufficient flow of electrical current through the detector to determine the concentration of the analyte in the fluid test sample a first current profile is produced in response to electrical communication between the sub-element and the working electrode, and a second current profile is produced in response to electrical communication between the sub-element, the portion of the counter electrode, and the working electrode, the first current profile having a first decay factor and the second current profile having a second decay factor, the first decay factor being distinguishable from the second decay factor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22)
-
-
7. A method of determining whether a sufficient quantity of evaluating a fluid test sample that has been introduced to an electrochemical test sensor, the method comprising the acts of:
-
providing the electrochemical test sensor adapted to assist in determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample, the sensor comprising a base that assists in forming an opening for introducing the fluid test sample, a working electrode with an exposed portion not insulated from sample by dielectric material being coupled to the base, a counter electrode being coupled to the base, and a sub-element being coupled to the base, a major portion of the counter electrode being located downstream relative to the opening and at least a the exposed portion of the working electrode, the sub-element being located upstream relative to the working electrode; introducing the fluid test sample to the test sensor; measuring current at a plurality of time periods to obtain a plurality of current measurements;
anddetermining whether a sufficient quantity of the fluid test sample has been introduced to the electrochemical test sensor and, if not, notifying a user that an insufficient quantity of the fluid test sample has been introduced a decay factor from the plurality of current measurements. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
23. An electrochemical sensor for detecting the concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample, comprising:
-
a base having a counter electrode and a working electrode, the working electrode having an exposed portion for exposure to the fluid test sample, the counter electrode having an exposed-upstream portion and an exposed-downstream portion for exposure to the fluid test sample; a reaction layer on a surface of the the working electrode including an enzyme which reacts with the analyte to produce electrons that are transferred to the working electrode; and a cover adapted to be coupled to the base to assist in forming a capillary space, the capillary space having an opening for introducing the fluid test sample therein, the capillary space forming a flow path for the fluid test sample, the counter electrode and the working electrode being situated in the capillary space so that the exposed-downstream portion of the counter electrode is located downstream of the opening from the exposed portion of the working electrode and the exposed-upstream portion of the counter electrode is upstream of the exposed portion of the working electrode, the area of the exposed-upstream portion of the counter electrode being less than about 10% than that of the exposed portion of the working electrode. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
-
26. An electrochemical test sensor adapted to assist in determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample, the sensor comprising:
-
a base that provides a flow path for the fluid test sample; a cover adapted to be coupled to the base to form a capillary space, the capillary space having an opening for introducing the fluid test sample therein; a sub-element having an exposed portion situated in the flow path; a working electrode having an exposed portion situated in the flow path; and a counter electrode having an exposed portion situated in the flow path, the exposed portion of the sub-element being located upstream relative to the opening of the exposed portion of the counter electrode such that electrical communication occurs between only the sub-element and the working electrode before the working electrode is in electrical communication with the counter electrode as the fluid sample flows along the flow path, wherein a first current profile is produced in response to the electrical communication between only the sub-element and the working electrode and a second current profile is produced in response to the electrical communication between the working electrode and the counter electrode, the first current profile being indicative of a short fill. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A method of evaluating a fluid test sample that has been introduced to an electrochemical test sensor, the method comprising the acts of:
-
providing the electrochemical test sensor adapted to assist in determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample, the sensor including a base that provides a flow path for the fluid test sample, a cover adapted to be coupled to the base to form a capillary space, the capillary space having an opening for introducing the fluid test sample therein, a sub-element having an exposed portion situated in the flow path, a working electrode having an exposed portion situated in the flow path, and a counter electrode having an exposed portion situated in the flow path, the exposed portion of the sub-element being located upstream relative to the opening of the exposed portion of the counter electrode such that electrical communication occurs between only the sub-element and the working electrode before the working electrode is in electrical communication with the counter electrode as the fluid sample flows along the flow path, introducing the fluid test sample to the test sensor; and determining whether a sufficient quantity of the fluid test sample has been introduced to the electrochemical test sensor and, if not, notifying a user that an insufficient quantity of the fluid test sample has been introduced. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification