Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An electrode sensor system for sensing the presence of at least one selected component of a mixture of components, said sensor system comprising: (a) at least two electrically conducting means insulated from each other, each said conducting means having an electrically conductive surface for transferring electrical signals, each said surface being adapted to be in electrical contact with said mixture, (b) an enzyme, the catalytic activity of said enzyme being indicative of the presence of said component, (c) a mediator compound which transfers electrons between said enzyme and one said conductive surface when said enzyme is catalytically active, said mediator being an organometallic compound which comprises at least two organic rings, each of which is characterised by at least two double bonds that are conjugated and a metal atom in electron-sharing contact with each of said rings, and (d) means for measuring current resulting from said electron transfer at said one conductive surface, said measuring means being electrically connected to each of said electrically conducting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An electrode sensor system for sensing the presence of at least one selected component of a mixture of components, said sensor system comprising: (a) at least two electrically conducting means insulated from each other, each said conducting means having an electrically conductive surface for transferring electrical signals, each said surface being adapted to be in electrical contact with said mixture, (b) an enzyme, the catalytic activity of said enzyme being indicative of the presence of said component, (c) a mediator compound which transfers electrons between said enzyme and one said conductive surface when said enzyme is catalytically active, said mediator being an organometallic compound which comprises at least two organic rings, each of which is characterised by at least two double bonds that are conjugated and a metal atom in electron-sharing contact with each of said rings, and (d) means for measuring current resulting from said electron transfer at said one conductive surface, said measuring means being electrically connected to each of said electrically conducting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said mediator is confined at said one electrically conductive surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said enzyme is confined at said one electrically conductive surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1, said enzyme being further characterized in that it catalyzes a reaction of said selected component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said mediator compound is a ferrocene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said ferrocene is selected from the group consisting of ferrocene; 1,1'-dicarboxyferrocene; carboxyferrocene; vinylferrocene; 1,1'dimethylferrocene; ferrocene monocarboxylic acid; hydroxyethylferrocene; and 1,1'bis-hydroxymethyl ferrocene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as claimed in claim 5 in which the enzyme is a glucose oxidase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The sensor system of claim 7 for use in a liquid mixture including glucose, to be responsive to the presence of glucose, one said conducting means comprising an electrode composed of carbon, and a layer of said ferrocene at an external surface thereof as an electron-transferring mediator compound, and said glucose oxidase being located upon the layer of mediator compound.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sensor system as claimed in claim 8 in which the ferrocene is deposited on said one surface from a readily evaporable organic solvent therefor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sensor system as claimed in claim 8 in which the enzyme is a glucose oxidase immobilised on the mediator by DCC.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sensor system as claimed in claim 8 having a protective membrane permeable to water and glucose molecules, said membrane being positioned around the one said electrically conductive surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sensor system of claim 11 in which the protective membrane is a layer of cellulose acetate deposited from a solution thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor system of claim 1 or claim 7 wherein said mediator compound is freely diffusing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said enzyme is a non-oxygen-specific flavo-protein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said flavo-protein is selected from the group consisting of aldehyde oxidase, pyruvate oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and glucose oxidase.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said enzyme is a quino-protein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said quino-protein is selected from the group consisting of glucose dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase and methanol dehydrogenase.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said metal atom is iron.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 in which the enzyme catalyses a reaction of glucose whereby there is provided a glucose sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sensor system as claimed in claim 19 in which the enzyme is a bacterial glucose dehydrogenase.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sensor system as claimed in claim 20 in which the glucose dehydrogenase is that separated from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sensor system as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one said electrically conducting means is made of a material chosen from silver, carbon particle paste and solid carbon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sensor system as claimed in claim 1 in which the enzyme is a bacterial glucose dehydrogenase held in a gelatine layer at the surface of the mediator layer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sensor system of claim 1 comprising means for implantation of said electrically conducting means in a human subject.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sensor system of claim 1 wherein said enzyme is characterized by the ability to catalyze a reaction resulting in transfer of electrons to said enzyme, whereby said mediator compound transfers electrons from said enzyme to said conductive surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 in which the enzyme is in haem-containing enzyme.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 27 in which the haem-containing enzyme is chosen from the group consisting of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase and horseradish peroxidase.