EP0255291A1
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EP
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Method and apparatus for electrochemical measurements
Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH
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Filing: 1987-07-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A method for measurement or detection of a component of an aqueous liquid sample, said method comprising: placing a sample, possibly containing the component to be analysed, into a reaction zone in a reaction cell, said reaction cell comprising at least two electrodes having an impedance which renders them suitable for amperometric or voltammetric processes, and said reaction zone comprising a thin layer of reaction liquid of thickness less than about 0.2 millimeter overlying one of said electrodes, said electrode being capable of electrochemically reacting with an oxidisable or reducible substance, reacting said component, if present, directly or indirectly with a redox reagent in said zone, thereby to form in said zone directly or indirectly a quantity corresponding in amount to the amount of said component present in said zone, of an electrochemically oxidisable or reducible substance capable of electrochemically reacting with said electrode, and being different from said redox reagent, and electrochemically detecting or estimating the quantity of said oxidisable or reducible substance in said zone as an index of said component to be measured or detected.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Jeffrey Birch
- 👤 Ian William Burns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:08
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12Q1/001; C12Q1/004; G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/28; G01N27/30; G01N27/327; G01N27/3271; G01N27/416; G01N27/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for measurement or detection of a component of an aqueous liquid sample, said method comprising: placing a sample, possibly containing the component to be analysed, into a reaction zone in a reaction cell, said reaction cell comprising at least two electrodes having an impedance which renders them suitable for amperometric or voltammetric processes, and said reaction zone comprising a thin layer of reaction liquid of thickness less than about 0.2 millimeter overlying one of said electrodes, said electrode being capable of electrochemically reacting with an oxidisable or reducible substance, reacting said component, if present, directly or indirectly with a redox reagent in said zone, thereby to form in said zone directly or indirectly a quantity corresponding in amount to the amount of said component present in said zone, of an electrochemically oxidisable or reducible substance capable of electrochemically reacting with said electrode, and being different from said redox reagent, and electrochemically detecting or estimating the quantity of said oxidisable or reducible substance in said zone as an index of said component to be measured or detected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for measurement or detection of a component of an aqueous liquid sample, said method comprising: placing a sample, possibly containing the component to be analysed, into a reaction zone in a reaction cell, said reaction cell comprising at least two electrodes having an impedance which renders them suitable for amperometric or voltammetric processes, and said reaction zone comprising a thin layer of reaction liquid of thickness less than about 0.2 millimeter overlying one of said electrodes, said electrode being capable of electrochemically reacting with an oxidisable or reducible substance, reacting said component, if present, directly or indirectly with a redox reagent in said zone, thereby to form in said zone directly or indirectly a quantity corresponding in amount to the amount of said component present in said zone, of an electrochemically oxidisable or reducible substance capable of electrochemically reacting with said electrode, and being different from said redox reagent, and electrochemically detecting or estimating the quantity of said oxidisable or reducible substance in said zone as an index of said component to be measured or detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said component to be measured is formed by initial enzymic or chemical conversion of an analyte.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein sufficient current is passed through said cell to provide substantially coulometric measurement of said oxidisable or reducible substance by depletion of said substance in a region of said cell overlying said electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said redox reagent comprises ferricyanide or other redox reagent selected from methylene blue, p-benzoquinone, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, pyocyanine or thionine, and said electrochemically oxidisable or reducible substance is oxidisable and comprises ferrocyanide, or reduced form of said other redox reagent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said component is reacted with an enzyme and said redox reagent thereby to form said electrochemically oxidisable or reducible substance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said enzyme comprises an oxidoreductase enzyme.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said component comprises a reducing sugar and said enzyme comprises a corresponding sugar oxidase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said component comprises glucose and said enzyme comprises glucose oxidase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said electrochemical detecting or estimating is carried out chronopotentiometrically.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said component to be measured comprises an electrochemically reducible metal ion or an electrochemically oxidisable inorganic ion or an electrochemically oxidisable or reducible organic compound, and is measured either by direct coulometry or voltammetry or by coulometry or voltammetry after initial electrochemical conversion to an electrochemically oxidisable or reducible intermediate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for carrying out electrochemical detection or measurement of a component of an aqueous liquid sample, said apparatus comprising: a reaction cell comprising at least two electrodes, having an impedance which renders them suitable for amperometric or voltammetric processes, located in or adjacent to a reaction zone, said reaction zone being capable of receiving an aqueous liquid sample possibly containing said component to be detected or measured, and said electrodes and said reaction zone being arranged so that liquid in said zone contacts said electrodes, and said reaction zone comprising a thin cell of thickness less than about 0.2 millimeter overlying one of said electrodes, and said cell optionally also comprising at least a redox reagent located to contact said sample when said sample is introduced into said cell and into said reaction zone, said redox reagent being capable of dissolving or dispersing in said aqueous sample, and reacting directly or indirectly with said component to form an electrochemically oxidisable or reducible material in said zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for carrying out electrochemical detection or measurement of a component of an aqueous liquid sample, said apparatus comprising: a reaction cell comprising at least two electrodes, having an impedance which renders them suitable for amperometric or voltammetric processes, located in or adjacent to a reaction zone, said reaction zone being capable of receiving an aqueous liquid sample possibly containing said component to be detected or measured, and said electrodes and said reaction zone being arranged so that liquid in said zone contacts said electrodes, and said reaction zone comprising a thin cell of thickness less than about 0.2 millimeter overlying one of said electrodes, and said cell optionally also comprising at least a redox reagent located to contact said sample when said sample is introduced into said cell and into said reaction zone, said redox reagent being capable of dissolving or dispersing in said aqueous sample, and reacting directly or indirectly with said component to form an electrochemically oxidisable or reducible material in said zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising an enzyme located to contact said sample when said sample is introduced into said cell and into said reaction zone, said enzyme being capable of catalysing reaction between said component and directly or indirectly said redox reagent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said redox reagent and/or said enzyme are carried as releasable layers, e.g. dried layers, on a surface of said reaction cell or reaction zone which in use is contacted by aqueous sample introduced into said apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said enzyme comprises an oxidoreductase.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said enzyme comprises glucose oxidase.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said redox reagent comprises ferricyanide or other redox reagent selected from methylene blue, p-benzoquinone, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, pyocyanine or thionine, and said electrochemically oxidisable or reducible substance is oxidisable and comprises ferrocyanide, or reduced form of said other redox reagent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said electrodes are selected comprise at least one gold or carbon or silver electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, comprising in said reaction cell a releasable layer of a mercuric salt for electrochemcally forming a film of mercury over said gold or carbon or silver electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus and methods according to any preceding claim, or substantially as described herein by reference to any combination or subcombination of the features of the accompanying specification and drawings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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