System for differential determination of a proteolytic enzyme level in a bodily fluid

A system for the electrochemical determination of the evolution of the concentration or activity of at least one proteolytic enzyme for detecting a deficiency or abnormal activity thereof in a small sample of bodily fluid, wherein the system includes:

• (a) a plurality of assorted electrochemical sensors, each sensor having a shape of a tongue of small dimensions and carrying at least one reference electrode and one working electrode, and a measuring aperture intended to receive the sample of bodily fluid, and a specific reagent for a given proteolytic enzyme is immobilised on the one working electrode of each sensor, wherein the composition of the specific reagent includes at least one chemical substrate, wherein an end link of the chemical substrate can be cut by the proteolytic enzyme to release leaving groups, wherein each sensor of the plurality of assorted sensors includes a material mark corresponding to a specific enzyme;
• (b) a measuring apparatus including a plurality of connecting slots for receiving the plurality of assorted electrochemical sensors, and the measuring apparatus further includes an electronic circuit, powered by an energy source, that imposes, between the electrodes of the sensors, an electric current whose intensity or voltage may or may not be variable, and the electronic circuit is disposed to receive, in return, an electric signal representative of the release of the leaving groups;
• and
• (c) an electronic apparatus including software, the electronic apparatus processing a signal transmitted by the measuring apparatus to display on a display screen an indication representative of the release of the leaving groups as a function of time, and
• wherein each mark is formed by a raised portion located along a unique axis of the corresponding sensor and each connecting slot includes a notch complementary to a corresponding raised portion in order to prevent any inversion of the sensors in the slots.

A system for the electrochemical determination of the evolution of the concentration or activity of at least one proteolytic enzyme for detecting a deficiency or abnormal activity thereof in a small sample of bodily fluid, wherein the system comprises:

• (a) a plurality of assorted electrochemical sensors, each sensor having a shape of a tongue of small dimensions and carrying at least one reference electrode and one working electrode, and a measuring aperture intended to receive the sample of bodily fluid, and a specific reagent for a given proteolytic enzyme is immobilised on the one working electrode of each sensor, wherein the composition of the specific reagent includes at least one chemical substrate, wherein an end link of the chemical substrate can be cut by the proteolytic enzyme to release leaving groups, wherein each sensor of the plurality of assorted sensors includes a material mark corresponding to a specific enzyme;
• (b) a measuring apparatus including at least one connecting slot for receiving a sensor, and the measuring apparatus further includes an electronic circuit, powered by an energy source, that imposes, between the electrodes of the sensors, an electric current whose intensity or voltage may or may not be variable, and the electronic circuit is disposed to receive, in return, an electric signal representative of the release of the leaving groups;
• and
• (c) an electronic apparatus including software, the electronic apparatus processing a signal transmitted by the measuring apparatus to display on a display screen an indication representative of the release of the leaving groups as a function of time, and
• wherein each mark comprises a raised portion located along a unique axis of the corresponding sensor and each connecting slot includes a notch complementary to a corresponding raised portion in order to prevent any inversion of the sensor, wherein the plurality of assorted electrochemical sensors includes a first sensor including a first material mark and a second sensor including a second material mark, wherein the first material mark is located along a central axis of the first sensor and the second material mark is located along an axis offset from a central axis of the second sensor,
• wherein the first sensor includes a first chemical substrate and the second sensor includes a second chemical substrate that is a different substrate than the first chemical substrate.