US4927502A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus using galvanic immunoelectrodes
Assignee: The University of Texas System
•
Filing: 1989-01-31
•
Granted: 1990-05-22
•
Expires: 2009-01-31
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for detecting immunochemical reactions and levels of antigens and antibodies in serum. A selected immunochemical reactant is bound to the surface of a first electrode. A second electrode is provided such that the electrodes generate a galvanic current when electrically interconnected and immersed in conductive aqueous solution. The electrodes are electrically interconnected and immersed into a conductive aqueous solution containing the complementary immunochemical reactant to the bound immunochemical reactant. The galvanic current generated by the immersed electrodes is measured as a function of time. The level of the complementary immunochemical reactant in the solution is calculated by comparing the measured current with a standard current.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher L. Reading
- 👤 Malcolm R. Smyth
- 👤 Richard O'Kennedy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/543; G01N33/54366; G01N33/54373; G01N33/5438; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for measuring the level of a complementary immunochemical reactant in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising the steps of: providing a first electrode and a second electrode, the electrodes having surfaces and generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; binding a selected immunochemical reactant to the surface of the first electrode; electrically interconnecting the first and second electrodes; immersing the electrodes in a conductive aqueous solution containing the complementary immunochemical reactant to the bound immunochemical reactant; measuring the galvanic current generated by the immersed electrodes as a function of time; calculating the level of the complementary immunochemical reactant in the solution by comparing the measured current with a standard current; wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for measuring the level of a complementary immunochemical reactant in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising the steps of: providing a first electrode and a second electrode, the electrodes having surfaces and generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; binding a selected immunochemical reactant to the surface of the first electrode; electrically interconnecting the first and second electrodes; immersing the electrodes in a conductive aqueous solution containing the complementary immunochemical reactant to the bound immunochemical reactant; measuring the galvanic current generated by the immersed electrodes as a function of time; calculating the level of the complementary immunochemical reactant in the solution by comparing the measured current with a standard current; wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the bound immunochemical reactant is an antibody, and the complementary immunochemical reactant is an antigen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the bound immunochemical reactant is an antigen, and the complementary immunochemical reactant is an antibody.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive aqueous solution is a serum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive aqueous solution is plasma.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive aqueous solution is whole blood.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive aqueous solution is urine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is an anode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a cathode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises gold, cobalt, iron, silver, copper or solder.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
151 words
A device for measuring the level of a complementary immunochemical reactant in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising: a first electrode having a surface and having a selected immunochemical reactant bound to its surface and a second electrode, the electrodes generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; an electrical interconnection between the first and second electrodes; means for measuring the galvanic current generated by the first and second electrodes as a function of time when immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; means for comparing the measured galvanic current with a standard current and calculating the level of the complementary immunochemical reactant; wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactant.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
151 words
A device for measuring the level of a complementary immunochemical reactant in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising: a first electrode having a surface and having a selected immunochemical reactant bound to its surface and a second electrode, the electrodes generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; an electrical interconnection between the first and second electrodes; means for measuring the galvanic current generated by the first and second electrodes as a function of time when immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; means for comparing the measured galvanic current with a standard current and calculating the level of the complementary immunochemical reactant; wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 11, further comprising means for displaying the level of complementary immunochemical reactant in the conductive aqueous solution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the bound immunochemical reactant is an antibody.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the bound immunochemical reactant is an antigen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 11, further comprising a catheter housing the electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the first metallic electrode comprises gold, cobalt, iron, silver, copper or solder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the first electrode is an anode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the first electrode is a cathode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the means for measuring the galvanic current as a function of time is a coulometer.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
169 words
A device for measuring the level of a plurality of complementary immunochemical reactants in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising: a plurality of first electrodes, each first electrode having a surface and different immunochemical reactant bound to its surface, and a common electrode, each first electrode generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected with the common electrode and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; an electrical interconnection between each first electrode and the common electrode; means for measuring the galvanic current generated by each first electrode and common electrode as a function of time when immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; means for comparing each measured galvanic current with a standard current and calculating the level of each complementary immunochemical reactant to each bound immunochemical reactant; wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactants.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
169 words
A device for measuring the level of a plurality of complementary immunochemical reactants in a conductive aqueous solution, comprising: a plurality of first electrodes, each first electrode having a surface and different immunochemical reactant bound to its surface, and a common electrode, each first electrode generating a galvanic current when electrically interconnected with the common electrode and immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; an electrical interconnection between each first electrode and the common electrode; means for measuring the galvanic current generated by each first electrode and common electrode as a function of time when immersed in a conductive aqueous solution; means for comparing each measured galvanic current with a standard current and calculating the level of each complementary immunochemical reactant to each bound immunochemical reactant; wherein the standard current substantially represents the galvanic current as a function of time generated by the electrodes when immersed in a standard solution, the standard solution being a solution having similar conductivity to the conductive aqueous solution and containing no complementary immunochemical reactants.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 20, wherein each bound immunochemical reactant is a different antibody.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 20, wherein each bound immunochemical reactant is a different antigen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4020830B1
Cited
US4020830A
Cited
US3975238A
Cited
US4072576A
Cited
US4151049A
Cited
US4238757A
Cited
US4402819A
Cited
US4444892A
Cited
US4334880A
Cited
US4562157A
Cited
US4592894A
Cited
EP0150999A2
Cited
US4591550A
Cited
EP0155193A2
Cited
EP0167248A2
Cited
JPS63208753A
Cited
EP1251392A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-21 | 1993-11-20 | 1994-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-21 | 1997-11-20 | 1998-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-21 | 2001-11-20 | 2002-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |