Methods and apparatus for measuring analytes

• US 8,776,573 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• 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:
  US13/333,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20120265474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/1.02
• 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 may 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. A method for calibrating a sensor array with a plurality of sensors, the method comprising:

sweeping a voltage of a reference electrode from a first voltage to a second voltage, wherein the reference electrode is in fluid communication with the sensor array;

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

calculating an overall average gain of the plurality of sensors at each of the one or more voltages; and

determining 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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sweeping the voltage of the reference electrode comprises sweeping the voltage of the reference electrode within an operating range of the sensor array.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sweeping the voltage of the reference electrode comprises sweeping the voltage of the reference electrode at a predetermined voltage increment from the first voltage to the second voltage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculating the overall average gain comprises dividing a sum of individual gain values for each of the plurality of sensors by the number of sensors in the plurality of sensors.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the acquisition window comprises determining a voltage range of the reference electrode, within the first and second voltages, that provides the maximal overall average gain.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining the voltage range comprises determining the voltage range of the reference electrode with the highest overall average gain or the voltage range of the reference electrode that produces the overall average gain within a predetermined gain range.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the acquisition window comprises sweeping a voltage window within the voltage range of the reference electrode that provides the maximal overall average gain.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sweeping the voltage window comprises determining a maximum distribution of sensors that provide the maximal overall average gain at the particular reference electrode voltage, and wherein the particular reference electrode voltage is within the voltage range of the reference electrode that provides the maximal overall average gain.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, calibrates a sensor array with a plurality of sensors, the computer program logic comprising:

first computer readable program code that enables a processor to sweep a voltage of reference electrode from a first voltage to a second voltage, wherein the reference electrode is in fluid communication with the sensor array;

second computer readable program code that enables a processor to monitor an output voltage of each of the plurality of sensors at one or more voltages within the first and second voltages;

third computer readable program code that enables a processor to calculate an overall average gain of the plurality of sensors at each of the one or more voltages; and

fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor 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.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the first computer readable program code comprises:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a process to sweep the voltage of the reference electrode within an operating range of the sensor array.

11. The computer program product code of claim 9, wherein the first computer readable program code comprises:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to sweep the voltage of the reference electrode at a predetermined voltage increment from the first voltage to the second voltage.

12. The computer program product code of claim 9, wherein the third computer readable program code comprises:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a process to divide a sum of individual gain values for each of the plurality of sensors by the number of sensors in the plurality of sensors.

13. The computer program product code of claim 9, wherein the fourth computer readable program code comprises:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine a voltage range of the reference electrode, within the first and second voltages, that provides the maximal overall average gain.

14. The computer program product code of claim 13, wherein the fifth computer readable program code comprises:

sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine the voltage range of the reference electrode with the highest overall average gain or the voltage range of the reference electrode that produces the overall average gain within a predetermined gain range.

15. The computer program product code of claim 13, wherein the fourth computer readable program code comprises:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to sweep a voltage window within the voltage range of the reference electrode that provides the maximal overall average gain.

16. The computer program product code of claim 15, wherein the fifth computer readable program code comprises:

sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine the maximum distribution of sensors that provide the maximal overall average gain at the particular reference electrode voltage, and wherein the particular reference electrode voltage is within the voltage range of the reference electrode that provides the maximal overall average gain.

17. A system comprising:

a reference electrode;

a sensor array with a plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor array is in fluid communication with the reference electrode; and

an array controller coupled to the sensor array, wherein the array controller is configured to;

sweep a voltage of 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;

calculate an overall average gain of the plurality of sensors at each of the one or more voltages; and

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.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the array controller is configured to determine a voltage range of the reference electrode, within the first and second voltages, that provides the maximal overall average gain.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the array controller is configured to sweep a voltage window within the voltage range of the reference electrode that provides the maximal overall average gain.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the array controller is configured to determine a maximum distribution of sensors that provide the maximal overall average gain at the particular reference electrode voltage, and wherein the particular reference electrode voltage is within the voltage range of the reference electrode that provides the maximal overall average gain.