Co-Planar Electrode Short Circuit Detection via Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex co-planar electrochemical sensors with multiple electrodes face challenges in accurately measuring analyte concentration due to unintentional electrical shorts, which are difficult to detect and correct, especially between non-adjacent electrodes, leading to inaccurate measurement results.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves configuring the electrode system to induce detectable shorts between adjacent electrodes, ensuring that any short between the working electrode and other electrodes also results in a short between other electrode pairs, allowing the meter to detect and display an error message, thereby preventing inaccurate measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuity checks are performed between all pairs of electrodes in complex multiple electrode systems, then short circuit detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and programming complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrode system into adjacent pairs and performs continuity checks only between these pairs rather than all possible pairs. This segmentation reduces the number of checks from O(n²) to O(n), simplifying the meter programming while maintaining detection reliability for the critical adjacent electrode interfaces where shorts are most likely to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing continuity checks only on selected adjacent electrode pairs rather than all possible pairs. This partial checking approach is sufficient to detect the harmful shorts that would affect measurement accuracy, while avoiding the excessive programming complexity of checking every possible electrode combination.
2Reliability
If sample sufficiency electrodes are provided in downstream location to detect sufficient fill level, then measurement reliability is improved, but the risk of harmful short circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of sample sufficiency electrodes (which could cause shorts if they contact the sample) into a beneficial detection mechanism. By configuring these electrodes to be part of the adjacent pair continuity checks, any short that occurs is automatically detected and flagged, transforming a hidden hazard into a detectable condition that prevents inaccurate measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism (continuity check circuitry) that monitors the electrical isolation between sample sufficiency electrodes and working electrodes. This intermediary system acts as a safeguard, detecting potential harmful interactions before they can compromise measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If working electrode surface area is increased to improve measurement sensitivity, then measurement precision is improved, but the impact of potential shorts on measurement accuracy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary continuity checks between the working electrode and adjacent electrodes before the measurement process begins. This preliminary action ensures that any harmful shorts are detected and flagged prior to measurement, preventing them from biasing the results. The larger working electrode surface area can thus be used confidently, knowing that the protection mechanism is already in place.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively limits the impact of short circuit faults on analyte measurement by ensuring electrical isolation between intended electrodes, maintaining measurement accuracy by preventing increased effective surface area and biased calculation results.
Implementation Method 1
measuring continuity between pairs of electrodes where unintentional shorts can cause inaccurate measurement results
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and devices are provided for controlling the impact of undesirable short circuits between non-adjacent but critically matched pairs of electrodes in a co-planar electrochemical sensor. In one embodiment, the size and/or shape of at least one electrode is configured to induce a short circuit between electrode pairs for which connectivity is pre-set to be measured by a meter in order to indicate a short circuit between a different pair for which such connectivity is not pre-set to be measured, hi another embodiment, the surface area of one or more electrodes, other than the working electrode, which are designed to be exposed to a sample fluid is significantly limited in relation to the surface area of the working electrode that is exposed to the sample fluid.