Self-Powered Analyte Sensor

Abstract

Generally, embodiments of the invention relate to self-powered analyte determining devices (e.g., electrochemical analyte monitoring systems) that include a working electrode, a counter electrode, and an optional resistance value, where the working electrode includes analyte sensing components and the self-powered analyte determining device spontaneously passes a current directly proportional to analyte concentration in the absence of an external power source. Also provided are systems and methods of using the, for example electrochemical, analyte sensors in analyte monitoring.

1 .- 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . An analyte sensor assembly, comprising:
 a self-powered electrochemical analyte sensor comprising:
 a working electrode comprising an analyte-responsive enzyme disposed on the working electrode, wherein the working electrode is configured and arranged for electrooxidizing or electroreducing a primary reactant in the presence of the analyte-responsive enzyme; 
 a counter electrode capable of electroreducing or electrooxidizing a secondary reactant, 
 wherein the self-powered electrochemical analyte sensor spontaneously passes a current directly proportional to analyte concentration in the absence of an external power source; and 
   a transmitter unit operatively coupled to the electrochemical analyte sensor and configured to receive one or more signals from the electrochemical analyte sensor corresponding to an analyte level of a subject.   
     
     
         48 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the working electrode is configured and arranged for electrooxidizing a primary reactant in the presence of the enzyme and the counter electrode is configured for electroreducing a secondary reactant. 
     
     
         49 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the working electrode is configured and arranged for electroreducing a primary reactant in the presence of the enzyme and the counter electrode is configured for electrooxidizing a secondary reactant. 
     
     
         50 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the electrochemical analyte sensor comprises resistance having an R value, wherein the R value is chosen from within a range of R values for which an electrochemical analyte sensor current output at an analyte concentration at the top of the physically relevant range of the analyte is independent of R. 
     
     
         51 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the R value is chosen such that the potential drop across the resistor, at an analyte concentration at the top of its physically relevant range, is less than 75% of the open circuit potential. 
     
     
         52 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the R value is chosen such that the potential drop across the resistor, at an analyte concentration at the top of its physically relevant range, is less than 50% of the open circuit potential. 
     
     
         53 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the R value is chosen such that the potential drop across the resistor, at an analyte concentration at the top of its physically relevant range, is less than 25% of the open circuit potential. 
     
     
         54 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the R value is less than 40 MΩ. 
     
     
         55 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the R value is less than 20 MΩ. 
     
     
         56 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the R value is less than 10 MΩ. 
     
     
         57 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the R value is less than 1 MΩ. 
     
     
         58 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the primary reactant is glucose. 
     
     
         59 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the secondary reactant is oxygen. 
     
     
         60 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the counter electrode comprises redox polymer disposed on the counter electrode. 
     
     
         61 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 60 , wherein the counter electrode comprises enzyme disposed proximate to the redox polymer. 
     
     
         62 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the counter electrode comprises platinum. 
     
     
         63 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the counter electrode comprises platinum wire, platinum black, platinum ink, or platinum impregnated carbon. 
     
     
         64 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the working electrode comprises redox polymer disposed proximate to the analyte-responsive enzyme. 
     
     
         65 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the analyte-responsive enzyme is a glucose-responsive enzyme. 
     
     
         66 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 65 , wherein the glucose-responsive enzyme is glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase. 
     
     
         67 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 66 , wherein the glucose dehydrogenase is associated with a co-factor. 
     
     
         68 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 67 , wherein the co-factor is flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), or pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). 
     
     
         69 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the enzyme comprises a complex of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). 
     
     
         70 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the working electrode further comprising a flux limiting membrane layer disposed proximate to the enzyme. 
     
     
         71 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 64 , wherein the redox polymer comprises a redox mediator. 
     
     
         72 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 71 , wherein the redox mediator comprises ferricyanide, phenanthroline quinone, or ferrocene. 
     
     
         73 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 71 , wherein the redox mediator comprises a transition metal complex. 
     
     
         74 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 73 , wherein the transition metal complex comprises a ruthenium-containing complex or an osmium-containing complex. 
     
     
         75 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 64 , wherein the redox polymer comprises a heterocyclic nitrogen constituent selected from a group consisting of pyridine, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, pyrazole, and any derivative thereof. 
     
     
         76 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 64 , wherein the redox polymer comprises a heterocyclic nitrogen constituent selected from a group consisting of 2-vinylpyridine, 3-vinylpyridine, 4-vinylpyridine, 1-vinylimidazole, 2-vinylimidazole, and 4-vinylimidazole. 
     
     
         77 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the sensor is a glucose sensor. 
     
     
         78 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the sensor is an in vivo sensor. 
     
     
         79 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 48 , wherein at least a portion of the analyte sensor assembly is adapted to be subcutaneously positioned in a subject. 
     
     
         80 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 79 , wherein the sensor is configured for intermittent interrogation by a detectable current measuring device. 
     
     
         81 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 79 , wherein the sensor is coupled to a radio-frequency powered current measuring circuit. 
     
     
         82 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 81 , wherein the radio-frequency powered current measuring circuit is intermittently powered. 
     
     
         83 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 79 , wherein the sensor is coupled to an inductively powered current measuring circuit. 
     
     
         84 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 83 , wherein the inductively powered current measuring circuit is intermittently powered. 
     
     
         85 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the analyte sensor assembly is adapted to be fully positioned subcutaneously in a subject. 
     
     
         86 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 85 , wherein the sensor is coupled to a radio-frequency powered current measuring circuit. 
     
     
         87 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 86 , wherein the radio-frequency powered current measuring circuit is intermittently powered. 
     
     
         88 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 85 , wherein the sensor is coupled to an inductively powered current measuring circuit. 
     
     
         89 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 88 , wherein the inductively powered current measuring circuit is intermittently powered. 
     
     
         90 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein sensor output stabilizes is less than about 5 minutes after application of a powered measuring circuit to the sensor. 
     
     
         91 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein sensor output stabilizes is less than about 1 minute after application of a powered measuring circuit to the sensor. 
     
     
         92 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein sensor output stabilizes is less than about 10 seconds after application of a powered measuring circuit to the sensor. 
     
     
         93 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , further comprising a current measuring device in electrical communication with the resistance. 
     
     
         94 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 93 , wherein the current measuring device is connected to the resistance in series. 
     
     
         95 . The analyte sensor assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the resistance is an adjustable resistance. 
     
     
         96 - 128 . (canceled)