Multichannel potentiostat analyzer system and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure outlines a device having a multi-channel potentiostat circuit and a microcontroller for controlling the multi-channel potentiostat circuit. The multi-channel potentiostat circuit includes a counter electrode, a reference electrode, and a first switch between the counter electrode and the reference electrode. The multi-channel potentiostat circuit also includes a plurality of measurement circuits coupled to respective second switches. The microcontroller can configured to provide a first signal to the multi-channel potentiostat circuit to control the first switch, wherein a state of the first switch changes an operating mode of the multi-channel potentiostat circuit. The microcontroller is also configured to provide a second signal to the multi-channel potentiostat circuit to control at least one of the second switches to couple at least one of the plurality of measurement circuits to a working electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a counter electrode and a reference electrode;   a stabilizing switch configured to switch between electrically coupling the counter electrode to the reference electrode and electrically isolating the counter electrode from the reference electrode; and   a biosensor, coupled to the counter electrode and the reference electrode, comprising a multi-channel potentiostat circuit including an interference switch of a plurality of interference switches each configured to switch between electrically coupling a corresponding measurement circuit of a plurality of measurement circuits to a corresponding working electrode of a plurality of working electrodes, and electrically isolating the corresponding measurement circuit from the corresponding working electrode,   wherein the biosensor is configured receive a first signal that controls the stabilizing switch, wherein a state of the stabilizing switch changes an operating mode of the multi-channel potentiostat circuit, and wherein the biosensor is configured to receive a second signal that controls at least one of the plurality of interference switches.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first signal indicates whether the multi-channel potentiostat circuit operates in a 2-lead operating mode or in a 3-lead operating mode. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the multi-channel potentiostat circuit operates in the 2-lead operating mode when the stabilizing switch is closed and the multi-channel potentiostat circuit operates in the 3-lead operating mode when the stabilizing switch is open. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gain amplifier configured to amplify one or more outputs of the multi-channel potentiostat circuit.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a default state of the stabilizing switch is closed to prevent a floating voltage. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal comprises a set of signals that control each of the plurality of interference switches to couple each of the plurality of measurement circuits to its corresponding working electrode of the plurality of working electrodes one-by-one. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal comprises two or more control signals configured to simultaneously close corresponding two or more of the plurality of interference switches to couple respective working electrodes of the plurality of working electrodes to their corresponding measurement circuits of the plurality of measurement circuits when the corresponding measurement circuits of the plurality of measurement circuits share a same voltage bias or a same voltammetry function. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is powered using a connection to a computing device via a universal serial bus (“USB”) connection. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the biosensor is aptamer-based. 
     
     
         10 . A biosensor device, comprising:
 a multi-channel potentiostat circuit including an interference switch of a plurality of interference switches each configured to switch between electrically coupling a corresponding measurement circuit of a plurality of measurement circuits to a corresponding working electrode of a plurality of working electrodes, and electrically isolating the corresponding measurement circuit from the corresponding working electrode; and   one or more electrical connectors configured to couple the multi-channel potentiostat circuit to a testing device.   
     
     
         11 . The biosensor device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a processing device configured to receive data from the corresponding working electrode, and further configured to receive a second signal that controls at least one of the plurality of interference switches,   wherein the processing device is coupled to a counter electrode and a reference electrode of the testing device having a stabilizing switch connected between the counter electrode and the reference electrode, and wherein the processing device is further configured to receive a first signal that controls a state of the stabilizing switch between a first state electrically coupling the counter electrode to the reference electrode and a second state electrically isolating the counter electrode from the reference electrode.   
     
     
         12 . The biosensor device of  claim 11 , wherein the first signal indicates whether the multi-channel potentiostat circuit operates in a 2-lead operating mode or in a 3-lead operating mode. 
     
     
         13 . The biosensor device of  claim 12 , wherein the multi-channel potentiostat circuit operates in the 2-lead operating mode when the stabilizing switch is closed and the multi-channel potentiostat circuit operates in the 3-lead operating mode when the stabilizing switch is open. 
     
     
         14 . The biosensor device of  claim 11 , wherein a default state of the stabilizing switch is closed to prevent a floating voltage. 
     
     
         15 . The biosensor device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a gain amplifier configured to amplify one or more outputs of the multi-channel potentiostat circuit.   
     
     
         16 . The biosensor device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an audio, visual, or tactile alert mechanism configured to alert of an event.   
     
     
         17 . The biosensor device of  claim 11 , wherein the second signal comprises a set of signals that control each of the plurality of interference switches to couple each of the plurality of measurement circuits to its corresponding working electrode of the plurality of working electrodes one-by-one. 
     
     
         18 . The biosensor device of  claim 11 , wherein the second signal comprises two or more control signals configured to simultaneously close corresponding two or more of the plurality of interference switches to couple respective working electrodes of the plurality of working electrodes to their corresponding measurement circuits of the plurality of measurement circuits when the corresponding measurement circuits of the plurality of measurement circuits share a same voltage bias or a same voltammetry function. 
     
     
         19 . The biosensor device of  claim 11 , wherein the processing device powers the multi-channel potentiostat circuit. 
     
     
         20 . The biosensor device of  claim 19 , wherein the processing device is powered using a connection to a computing device via a universal serial bus (“USB”) connection.