Methods and apparatus for measuring analytes

Abstract

A method is provided to sample a sensor array. The method can include measuring a waveform associated with a chemical event occurring on the sensor array. The waveform can include at least one region associated with expected measured values and at least one region associated with unpredictable measured values. The method can also include applying a first frame averaging to the at least one region associated with the expected measured values. Here, a first number of frames can be included in the first frame averaging. Further, the method can include applying a second frame averaging to the at least one region associated with the unpredictable measured values, where a second number of frames can be included in the second frame averaging. The second number of frames can be less than the first number of frames.

1 ) A method comprising:
 measuring a waveform associated with a chemical event occurring on a sensor array, wherein the waveform comprises at least one region associated with expected measured values and at least one region associated with unpredictable measured values;   applying a first frame averaging to the at least one region associated with the expected measured values, wherein the first frame averaging comprises averaging a first number of frames during the at least one region associated with the expected measured values; and   applying a second frame averaging to the at least one region associated with the unpredictable measured values, wherein the second frame averaging comprises averaging a second number of frames during the at least one region associated with the unpredictable measured values, the second number of frames being lower than the first number of frames.   
     
     
         2 ) The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying a third frame averaging to a second region of the characteristic waveform, wherein the second region is associated with another portion of the waveform with expected measured values, and wherein the third frame averaging comprises averaging a third number of frames during the second region, the third number of frames being higher than the second number of frames; and   applying a keyframe delta compression to results from the first, second, and third frame averaging, wherein the keyframe delta compression comprises comparing a current frame of data from frame-averaged data to a previous frame of frame-averaged data associated with the waveform.   
     
     
         3 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring the waveform comprises measuring the waveform of a dynamic response of an ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) array to a change in ionic strength of an analyte solution in fluid contact with the ISFET array. 
     
     
         4 ) The method of  claim 3 , wherein the measuring the waveform of the dynamic response of the ISFET array comprises associating the at least one region with the unpredictable measured values to a stepwise increase in ion concentration in the analyte solution and associating the at least one region with the expected measured values to at least one portion of the dynamic response outside of the stepwise increase in ion concentration. 
     
     
         5 ) The method of  claim 4 , wherein the applying the first frame averaging comprises averaging the first number of frames during the at least one portion of the dynamic response outside of the stepwise increase in ion concentration. 
     
     
         6 ) The method of  claim 4 , wherein the applying the second frame averaging comprises averaging the second number of frames during the stepwise increase in ion concentration in the analyte solution. 
     
     
         7 ) A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, samples a sensor array, the computer program logic comprising:
 first computer readable program code that enables a processor to measure a waveform associated with a chemical event occurring on a sensor array, wherein the waveform comprises at least one region associated with expected measured values and at least one region associated with unpredictable measured values;   second computer readable program code that enables a processor to apply a first frame averaging to the at least one region associated with the expected measured values, wherein the first frame averaging comprises averaging a first number of frames during the at least one region associated with the expected measured values; and   third computer readable program code that enables a processor to apply a second frame averaging to the at least one region associated with the unpredictable measured values, wherein the second frame averaging comprises averaging a second number of frames during the at least one region associated with the unpredictable measured values, the second number of frames being lower than the first number of frames.   
     
     
         8 ) The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the computer program logic further comprises:
 fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to apply a third frame averaging to a second region of the characteristic waveform, wherein the second region is associated with a another portion of the waveform with expected measured values, and wherein the third frame averaging comprises averaging a third number of frames during the second region, the third number of frames being higher than the second number of frames; and   fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to apply a keyframe delta compression to results from the first, second, and third frame averaging, wherein the keyframe delta compression comprises comparing a current frame of data from frame-averaged data to a previous frame of frame-averaged data associated with the waveform.   
     
     
         9 ) The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the first computer readable program code comprises:
 fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to measure the waveform of a dynamic response of an ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) array to a change in ionic strength of an analyte solution in fluid contact with the ISFET array.   
     
     
         10 ) The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the fourth computer readable program code comprises:
 fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to associate the at least one region with the unpredictable measured values to a stepwise increase in ion concentration in the analyte solution and associating the at least one region with the predictable measured values to at least one portion of the dynamic response outside of the stepwise increase in ion concentration.   
     
     
         11 ) The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the second computer readable program code comprises:
 sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to average the first number of frames during the at least one portion of the dynamic response outside of the stepwise increase in ion concentration.   
     
     
         12 ) The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the third computer readable program code comprises:
 sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to average the second number of frames during the stepwise increase in ion concentration in the analyte solution.   
     
     
         13 ) A system comprising:
 a sensor array; and   an array controller coupled to the sensor array, wherein the array controller is configured to:
 measure a waveform associated with a chemical event occurring on the sensor array, wherein the waveform comprises at least one region associated with expected measured values and at least one region associated with unpredictable measured values; 
 apply a first frame averaging to the at least one region associated with the expected measured values, wherein the first frame averaging comprises averaging a first number of frames during the at least one region associated with the expected measured values; and 
   apply a second frame averaging to the at least one region associated with the unpredictable measured values, wherein the second frame averaging comprises averaging a second number of frames during the at least one region associated with the unpredictable measured values, the second number of frames being lower than the first number of frames.   
     
     
         14 ) The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a computer coupled to the array controller, wherein the computer is configured to:
 apply a third frame averaging to a second region of the characteristic waveform, wherein the second region is associated with another portion of the waveform with expected measured values, and wherein the third frame averaging comprises averaging a third number of frames during the second, the third number of frames being higher than the second number of frames; and 
 apply a keyframe delta compression to results from the first, second, and third frame averaging, wherein the keyframe delta compression comprises comparing a current frame of data from frame-averaged data to a previous frame of frame-averaged data associated with the waveform. 
   
     
     
         15 ) The system of  claim 13 , wherein the array controller is configured to measure the waveform of a dynamic response of an ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) array to a change in ionic strength of an analyte solution in fluid contact with the ISFET array. 
     
     
         16 ) The system of  claim 15 , wherein the array controller is configured to associate the at least one region with the unpredictable measured values to a stepwise increase in ion concentration in the analyte solution and associating the at least one region with the expected measured values to at least one portion of the dynamic response outside of the stepwise increase in ion concentration. 
     
     
         17 ) The system of  claim 16 , wherein the array controller is configured to average the first number of frames during the at least one portion of the dynamic response outside of the stepwise increase in ion concentration. 
     
     
         18 ) The system of  claim 16 , wherein the array controller is configured to average the second number of frames during the stepwise increase in ion concentration in the analyte solution.