Method of and system for stabilization of sensors

Abstract

A blood glucose sensing system includes a sensor and a sensor electronics device. The sensor includes a plurality of electrodes. The sensor electronics device includes stabilization circuitry. The stabilization circuitry cases a first voltage to be applied to one of the electrodes for a first timeframe and causes a second voltage to be applied to one of the electrodes for a second timeframe. The stabilization circuitry repeats the application of the first voltage and the second voltage to continue the anodic-cathodic cycle. The sensor electronics device may include a power supply, a regulator, and a voltage application device, where the voltage application device receives a regulator voltage from the regulator, applies a first voltage to an electrode for the first timeframe, and applies a second voltage to an electrode for the second timeframe.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]Embodiments of this invention relate generally to methods and systems for stabilization of sensors during initial use of the sensors. More particularly, embodiments of this invention relate to systems and methods for providing an efficient way to stabilize the sensor in order for the sensor to provide accurate readings of a physiological condition of a subject.DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART[0002]Subjects and medical personnel wish to monitor readings of physiological conditions within the subject's body. Illustratively, subjects wish to monitor blood glucose levels in a subject's body on a continuing basis. Presently, a patient can measure his / her blood glucose (BG) using a BG measurement device, such as a test strip meter, a continuous glucose measurement system, or a hospital hemacue. BG measurement devices use various methods to measure the BG level of a patient, such as a sample of the patient's blood, a sensor in contact with a bodily fluid, an optical s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]By utilizing the stabilization sequence identified above, the sensor has a faster run-in time, less background current exists in the sensor (due to suppression of background current, and the sensor has better glucose response. The first voltage may have a positive value or a negative value. The second voltage may have a positive value or negative value. Under certain operating conditions, a voltage magnitude of the first voltage for one of the iterations may have a different magnitude from a voltage magnitude of the first voltage for a second or different iteration.

Problems solved by technology

This is an inconvenience for the patient and in some cases may cause the patient not to utilize a continuous glucose measurement system.

Further, when a glucose sensor is first inserted into a patient's skin or subcutaneous layer, the glucose sensor does not operate in a stable state.

In the past, sensor stabilization used to take several hours.

Thus, even with this procedure, sensor stabilization still requires a large amount of time.

If the electrodes of the sensor are not sufficiently hydrated, the result may be inaccurate readings of the patient's physiological condition.

If they are utilized too early, current blood glucose sensors do not operate in an optimal or efficient fashion.

No automatic procedure or measuring technique is utilized to determine when to power on the sensor.

This manual process is inconvenient and places too much responsibility on the patient, who may forget to apply or turn on the power source.

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