Small volume in vitro analyte sensor

• US 8,114,271 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heller, Adam, Feldman, Benjamin J., Say, James, Vreeke, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noguerola, Alex
• Application Number:
  US12/568,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20100012510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 20440301-40315, 205/777.5, 205/778, 205/792
• US Class Current: 205/792
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15144 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for retracting the piercing unit into the housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/001 Enzyme electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/004 mediator-assisted
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/006 for glucose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/904 acting on CHOH groups as donors, e.g. glucose oxidase, lactate dehydrogenase (1.1)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 : Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 : Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 : Electrodes

Abstract

A sensor designed to determine the amount and concentration of analyte in a sample having a volume of less than about 1 μL. The sensor has a working electrode coated with a non-leachable redox mediator. The redox mediator acts as an electron transfer agent between the analyte and the electrode. In addition, a second electron transfer agent, such as an enzyme, can be added to facilitate the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the analyte. The redox mediator is typically a redox compound bound to a polymer. The preferred redox mediators are air-oxidizable.

The amount of analyte can be determined by coulometry. One particular coulometric technique includes the measurement of the current between the working electrode and a counter or reference electrode at two or more times. The charge passed by this current to or from the analyte is correlated with the amount of analyte in the sample. Other electrochemical detection methods, such as amperometric, voltammetric, and potentiometric techniques, can also be used.

The invention can be used to determine the concentration of a biomolecule, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid, such as blood or serum. An enzyme capable of catalyzing the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the biomolecule is provided as a second electron transfer agent.

Claims

1. A method for determining a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid of a patient, comprising the steps of:

creating an unassisted flow of the body fluid from the patient, wherein the body fluid comprises whole blood;

transporting by capillary action or by wicking at least a portion of the body fluid into an in vitro analyte sensor configured and arranged to determine the concentration of the analyte from 1000 mL or less of body fluid, wherein the in vitro analyte sensor comprises a sample chamber comprising a working electrode and a counter or a reference electrode;

holding the portion of the body fluid within the sample chamber of the analyte sensor in a non-flow-through manner and in contact with the electrodes; and

determining by coulometry the concentration of the analyte in the body fluid within 1 minute after transporting the body fluid into the analyte sensor,

wherein a signal generated by electrolysis of a buffer solution comprising 6 mM analyte is at least about four times greater than a signal generated by electrolysis of a buffer solution comprising no analyte.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyte sensor is configured and arranged to determine the concentration of the analyte from 500 mL or less of body fluid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyte sensor is configured and arranged to determine the concentration of the analyte from 200 mL or less of body fluid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyte sensor comprises a measurement zone that is configured and arranged to hold 200 mL or less of body fluid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyte sensor comprises a measurement zone that is configured and arranged to hold 100 mL or less of body fluid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein creating an unassisted flow of a body fluid comprises piercing a portion of the skin of a forearm of the patient to cause an unassisted flow of a body fluid from the patient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyte sensor is configured and arranged to determine a concentration of the analyte from 100 mL or less of the body fluid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transporting a portion of the body fluid comprises transporting no more than 1000 mL of body fluid into the analyte sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein creating an unassisted flow of a body fluid comprises creating an unassisted flow of no more than 1000 mL of a body fluid from the patient.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein creating an unassisted flow of a body fluid comprises creating an unassisted flow of no more than 500 mL of body fluid from the patient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein creating an unassisted flow of a body fluid comprises creating an unassisted flow of no more than 200 mL of a body fluid from the patient.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample chamber comprises a counter electrode and wherein the working electrode and the counter electrode are a facing electrode pair.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor further includes an enzyme on the working electrode.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the enzyme is immobilized on the working electrode.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the enzyme is glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor further includes a redox mediator on the working electrode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the redox mediator is immobilized on the working electrode.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the redox mediator is an air-oxidizable redox mediator.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the redox mediator carries electrons directly to the working electrode.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the redox mediator comprises an osmium complex, a ferrocyanide, or a ferricyanide.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyte is glucose.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the working electrode is constructed of a material selected from gold, carbon, platinum, ruthenium dioxide and palladium.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the working electrode is separated from the counter or reference electrode by a distance of less than 200 micrometer.