Method of analyzing the time-varying electrical response of a stimulated target substance
First Claim
1. A method for determining characteristics of a system under test (SUT) comprising the steps of:
- providing, by an excitation means, a time-varying current-mode electrical excitation to a system under test, which time varying signal comprises a periodic or quasi-periodic waveform;
detecting, by a detection means, the conjugate electrical response elicited from the system under test by the excitation;
converting the detected response from an analog signal into a digital response signal by means of an analog-to-digital conversion means, controlled by a synchronous sampling clock controlling means; and
performing at least one predetermined analysis of the digital response signal to determine at least one characteristic of the system under test;
wherein the characteristics of the excitation signal are adjustable, said characteristics including;
the amplitude of the excitation that is comprised of one or more waveforms that are generated either by analog circuitry means, or digital circuitry means;
the duration of each portion of a waveform, where a portion of a waveform is bounded at each of it'"'"'s end points by either zero crossing corresponding to a change of relative polarity, or by a zero amplitude value;
the relative phase, with respect to a separate reference clock signal, of each waveform comprising the excitation signal.
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Abstract
A time varying electrical excitation(s) is applied to a system containing biologic and/or non-biologic elements, whereupon the time-varying electrochemical or electrical response is detected and analyzed. For biologic specimens, the presence, activity, concentration or relative quantity, and certain inherent characteristics of certain target substances (hereinafter referred to as “target analytes”) within, or comprising, the specimen of interest may be determined by measuring either the current response induced by a voltage-mode excitation, or the voltage response induced by a current-mode excitation. Labeling or marker techniques may be employed, whereby electrochemically active auxiliary molecules are attached to the substance to be analyzed, in order to facilitate or enhance the electrochemical or electrical response. The method may also be employed to test non-biologic systems comprising an electrochemical cell or a battery of cells, wherein complex pulse type excitation signals are applied to the cell and the resultant time varying polarization voltage information is extracted and analyzed to determine at least one characteristic of the cell(s) condition or state.
129 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for determining characteristics of a system under test (SUT) comprising the steps of:
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providing, by an excitation means, a time-varying current-mode electrical excitation to a system under test, which time varying signal comprises a periodic or quasi-periodic waveform; detecting, by a detection means, the conjugate electrical response elicited from the system under test by the excitation; converting the detected response from an analog signal into a digital response signal by means of an analog-to-digital conversion means, controlled by a synchronous sampling clock controlling means; and performing at least one predetermined analysis of the digital response signal to determine at least one characteristic of the system under test; wherein the characteristics of the excitation signal are adjustable, said characteristics including; the amplitude of the excitation that is comprised of one or more waveforms that are generated either by analog circuitry means, or digital circuitry means; the duration of each portion of a waveform, where a portion of a waveform is bounded at each of it'"'"'s end points by either zero crossing corresponding to a change of relative polarity, or by a zero amplitude value; the relative phase, with respect to a separate reference clock signal, of each waveform comprising the excitation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus disposed to perform electrical and electrochemical measurements comprising at least:
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an excitation driver; an excitation receiver; a response sensing preamplifier; a synchronous sampling means; and suitable means of interconnection to a system or device under test, whereby an excitation signal may be forced to flow through said system or device, and the resultant conjugate response signal detected and conveyed to the preamplifier operatively connected to a synchronous sampling means. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification