Electrochemical cell

• US 9,075,004 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Hodges, Alastair McIndoe, Beck, Thomas William, Johansen, Oddvar
• Primary Examiner(s): Noguerola, Alex
• Application Number:
  US14/094,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20140083850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 20240301-40315, 202/424, 202/242, 202409-412, 422/82.01, 205/775, 205/777.5, 205/792
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/004 mediator-assisted
• 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 27/403 Cells and electrode assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for determining the concentration of a reduced form of a redox species. For example, a device can include a working electrode and a counter electrode spaced by a predetermined distance so that reaction produces from the counter electrode arrive at the working electrode. An electric potential difference can be applied between the electrodes, and the potential of the working electrode can be selected such that the rate of electro-oxidation of the reduced form of the species is diffusion controlled. Current as a function of time can be determined, the magnitude of the steady state current can be estimated, and a value indicative of the diffusion coefficient and/or of the concentration of the reduced form of the species can be obtained from the change in current with time and the magnitude of the steady state current. Other embodiments of apparatuses, devices, and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A hollow electrochemical cell comprising:

a cell housing having an upper surface, a lower surface in spaced parallel relation with the upper surface, a sample inlet disposed in one of the spaced upper or lower surfaces, and a hollow interior,

a working electrode and a counter electrode at least partially facing each other from the upper and lower surfaces within the interior of the cell and in a diffusion zone, and

at least one additional electrode disposed in the diffusion zone and upstream of the working electrode and the counter electrode with respect to a sample flow through the diffusion zone in which the volume of the hollow interior is 1.5 microliters or less.

2. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the additional electrode is co-planar with the counter electrode.

3. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 2, wherein the additional electrode is an additional working electrode.

4. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the additional electrode is co-planar with the working electrode.

5. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 4, wherein the additional electrode is an additional working electrode.

6. A hollow electrochemical cell comprising:

a cell housing having an upper surface, a lower surface spaced in relation to the upper surface, a sample inlet disposed in one of the upper and lower surfaces, and a hollow interior;

a working electrode and a counter electrode at least partially facing each other from the spaced upper and lower interior surfaces within the interior of the cell in a diffusion zone; and

two additional electrodes disposed in the diffusion zone and at a predetermined distance from the working electrode and the counter electrode, at least one of the two additional electrodes being disposed upstream of the working electrode and the counter electrode with respect to a sample flow through the diffusion zone wherein the volume of the hollow interior of the cell is 1.5 microliters or less.

7. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 6, wherein the predetermined distance is less than 500 μ

m.