Techniques to improve the performance of electrochemical sensors
AssigneeEli Lilly and Company
InventorsKirk W. Johnson, John J. Mastrototaro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of improving the utility of electrochemical glucose sensors by decreasing either or both their settling time and their sensitivity to interfering compounds. In particular, the settling time of an electrochemical glucose sensor is improved by pretreating the operating electrode with a negative electric current at a constant current density. The sensor's sensitivity to intefering compounds is reduced by operating the sensor at a reduced voltage while the glucose concentration measurement is being made.
Claims31
A method of reducing the settling time of an electrochemical sensor having one or more electrodes, comprising:
- pretreating the electrochemical sensor after placement in a medium by applying a controlled electric current to one or more of the electrodes of the sensor before using the sensor to measure the presence or concentration of a substance of interest;
- wherein the controlled current is applied at a density and for a time to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 25 minutes.
A method of measuring the concentration of glucose in a liquid medium, comprising the steps of:
- contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor having an electrode;
- pretreating the electrode by applying a controlled electric current to the electrode at a current density and for a time to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 25 minutes;
- and subsequently
- operating the sensor by applying a constant electric potential to the electrode;
- measuring the rate of current change as H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is produced from glucose, oxygen and water at the electrode;
- and
- translating the rate of current change to a value of glucose concentration.
A method of measuring the concentration of glucose in a liquid medium, comprising the steps of:
- contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor, said sensor having a working electrode, a counter electrode and a reference electrode;
- applying an electric potential greater than about 0.10 V and less than about 0.40 V to the working electrode;
- measuring the rate of current change as H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is produced from glucose, oxygen and water at the working electrode of the sensor;
- and
- translating the rate of current change to a value of glucose concentration.
A method of measuring the concentration of glucose in a liquid medium, comprising the steps of:
- contacting a glucose-containing medium with an electrochemical sensor having an electrode;
- pretreating the electrode by applying a controlled electric current to the electrode at a density and for a time to reduce the settling time of the electrode to less than about 25 minutes;
- and subsequently
- operating the sensor by applying a constant electric potential greater than about 0.1 V and less than about 0.40 V to the working electrode of the sensor;
- measuring the rate of current change as H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is produced from glucose, oxygen and water at the working electrode of the sensor;
- and
- translating the rate of current change to a value of glucose concentration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.