METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING THE HYDRATION OF SENSORS

• US 20110010105A1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hoss, Udo, Schultz, Peter, SHAH, RAJIV, Morgan, Wayne A., Henke, James L., Soundararajan, Gopikrishnan, Choy, David Y., Reghabi, Bahar
• Granted Patent: US 9,759,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/006 for glucose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/327 Biochemical electrodes , e.g. electrical or mechanical details for in vitro measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/403 Cells and electrode assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/416 Systems G01N27/27 takes precedence

Abstract

A sensor system includes a sensor and a sensor electronics device. The sensor includes a plurality of electrodes. The sensor electronics device includes a connection detection device, a power source, and a delay circuit. The connection detection device determines if the sensor electronics device is connected to the sensor and transmits a connection signal. The delay circuit receives the connection signal, waits a preset hydration time, and couples the regulated voltage from the power source to an electrode in the sensor after the preset hydration time has elapsed. Alternatively, the sensor electronics device may include an electrical detection circuit and a microcontroller. The electrical detection circuit determines if the plurality of electrodes are hydrated and generates an interrupt if the electrodes are hydrated. A microcontroller receives the interrupt and transmits a signal representative of a voltage to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising:

a sensor, the sensor including a plurality of electrodes; and

a sensor electronics device that is coupled to the sensor and includes;

a power source to apply a voltage signal to the sensor;

an electrical characteristic measuring device that measures an electrical characteristic of the sensor and transmits a hydration signal if the electrical characteristic is below a set criterion;

a detection circuit that receives the hydration signal and generates an interrupt after receipt of the hydration signal; and

a microcontroller that receives the interrupt from the detection circuit and transmits a signal representative of a voltage to the sensor to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) which transmits a stabilization sequence of voltages to the sensor.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the power source is an AC power source and the electrical characteristic measuring device measures an impedance.

3. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the power source is a DC power source and the electrical characteristic measuring device measures a resistance.

4. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller receives a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of a measurement of a physiological characteristic of a subject into which the sensor is inserted.

5. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of electrodes is a counter electrode, and the DAC transmits the stabilization sequence of voltages to the counter electrode through an operational amplifier.

6. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the DAC applies the stabilization sequence of voltages directly to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes in the sensor.

7. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the set criterion is a threshold measurement.