Methods and apparatus for measuring analytes

• US 10,809,226 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2018
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rearick, Todd, Davey, Melville, Beauchemin, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis, Robert R
• Application Number:
  US15/920,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20180313786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 702 85, 702 90, 702 91, 702100, 702104, 435 4- 4052, 4352871, 4352872, 436 8- 19, 422 681- 98, 2502521, 32475001, 324601, 324130
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4145 specially adapted for biomolecules, e.g. gate electrode with immobilised receptors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4165 for pH meters
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 30/00 ICT specially adapted for sequence analysis involving nucleotides or amino acids

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and system are provided to calibrate a sensor array with a plurality of sensors. The method can include sweeping a voltage of a reference electrode from a first voltage to a second voltage, where the reference electrode is in fluid communication with the sensor array. The output voltage of each of the plurality of sensors can be monitored at one or more voltages within the first and second voltages. An overall average gain of the plurality of sensors can be calculated at each of the one or more voltages. Further, an acquisition window for the sensor array can be determined. The acquisition window can include a maximum distribution of sensors that provides a maximal overall average gain at a particular reference electrode voltage.

Claims

1. An analyte detection system, comprising:

a plurality of sensors forming an array of sensors;

a reference electrode configured to communicate with the sensor array; and

an array controller to communicate with the sensor array, the array controller further configured to;

sweep voltage supplied to the reference electrode from a first voltage to a second voltage;

monitor an output voltage of each of the plurality of sensors at one or more voltages within the first and second voltages; and

determine an overall average gain of the plurality of sensors at each of the one or more voltages.

2. The analyte detection system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an acquisition window for the sensor array, wherein the acquisition window comprises a maximum distribution of sensors that provide a maximal overall average gain at a particular reference electrode voltage.

3. The analyte detection system of claim 1, wherein the array controller is further configured to determine a voltage range of the reference electrode, within the first and second voltages, that provides a maximal overall average gain.

4. The analyte detection system of claim 1, wherein the array controller is further configured to sweep a voltage window within the voltage range of the reference electrode that provides a maximal overall average gain.

5. The analyte detection system of claim 4, wherein the array controller is further configured to determine a maximum distribution of sensors that provide the maximal overall average gain at the particular reference electrode voltage.