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AssigneeMolecular Devices, LLC
InventorsHerking Song, Dean G. Hafeman
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The present invention relates to a system for detecting, in a reliable, precise and highly sensitive manner, biochemical agents such as enzymes that catalyze a redox potential change. One electrode is used to measure redox potential changes in an aqueous electrolyte containing the biochemical agents. Another electrode is used to deliver a feedback current to the electrolyte in response to measured Changes in electrolyte redox potential. The amount of feedback current or charge delivered through the electrode to the electrolyte is sufficient in magnitude to maintain a constant redox potential. Quantitation of the amount of feedback current or charge necessary to maintain the constant redox potential may then be used to determine the amount of biochemical agents present. Alternatively, the redox potential need not be kept constant, but instead may be allowed to reach a new steady-state. Thus, the current, or charge, conducted by a feedback electrode to maintain a new steady-state potential in the presence of an enzymatic reaction may be used to quantitate the amount of enzymatic activity present. The present invention provides precision in the quantitation results, high sensitivity in the enzyme detection, and a wider dynamic range for quantitation of the biochemical agent.
A method for detecting biochemical agents that catalyze a redox potential change comprising the steps of:
A method for detecting biochemical agents that catalyze a redox potential change comprising the steps of:
A circuit for detecting biochemical agents that catalyze a redox potential change comprising a first electrode and a second electrode for electrochemical communication with an electrolyte containing the biochemical agents, means operatively associated with the first electrode for measuring a change in redox potential of the electrolyte, and means operatively associated with both the means for measuring a change in redox potential of the electrolyte and the second electrode for delivering coulometric feedback to the electrolyte in response to a measured change in redox potential of the electrolyte.
A circuit for detecting biochemical agents that catalyze a redox potential change comprising a semiconductor, an insulator on at least one surface of the semiconductor to insulate the semiconductor from an aqueous electrolyte containing the biochemical agents, a metalized sensing region on a surface of the insulator for electrochemical communication with the aqueous electrolyte, a controlling electrode for electrochemical communication with the aqueous electrolyte near the metalized sensing region, means for applying a bias potential to the semiconductor, means for illuminating an area on the semiconductor under the metalized sensing region to produce a photocurrent in an external circuit connected to the semiconductor, means for measuring the photocurrent, and means operatively associated with both the means for measuring the photocurrent and the controlling electrode for delivering coulometric feedback to the aqueous electrolyte in response to the measured photocurrent.
A method for detecting biochemical agents that catalyze a redox potential change comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.