Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical sensor that employs multiple electrode areas that are exposed for contact with a body fluid, e.g., when the sensor is inserted subcutaneously into a patient's skin. The exposed electrode areas are arranged symmetrically, such that a symmetrical potential distribution is produced when an AC signal is applied to the sensor. The sensors in accordance with these teachings can advantageously be used with AC signals to determine characteristics of the sensor and thus improve sensor performance. These teachings also provide a biocompatible sensor with multiple reference electrode areas that are exposed for contact with body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical sensor that employs multiple electrode areas that are exposed for contact with a body fluid, e.g., when the sensor is inserted subcutaneously into a patient's skin. The exposed electrode areas are arranged symmetrically, such that a symmetrical potential distribution is produced when an AC signal is applied to the sensor. The sensors in accordance with these teachings can advantageously be used with AC signals to determine characteristics of the sensor and thus improve sensor performance. These teachings also provide a biocompatible sensor with multiple reference electrode areas that are exposed for contact with body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical sensor that employs multiple electrode areas that are exposed for contact with a body fluid, e.g., when the sensor is inserted subcutaneously into a patient's skin. The exposed electrode areas are arranged symmetrically, such that a symmetrical potential distribution is produced when an AC signal is applied to the sensor. The sensors in accordance with these teachings can advantageously be used with AC signals to determine characteristics of the sensor and thus improve sensor performance. These teachings also provide a biocompatible sensor with multiple reference electrode areas that are exposed for contact with body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical sensor that employs multiple electrode areas that are exposed for contact with a body fluid, e.g., when the sensor is inserted subcutaneously into a patient's skin. The exposed electrode areas are arranged symmetrically, such that a symmetrical potential distribution is produced when an AC signal is applied to the sensor. The sensors in accordance with these teachings can advantageously be used with AC signals to determine characteristics of the sensor and thus improve sensor performance. These teachings also provide a biocompatible sensor with multiple reference electrode areas that are exposed for contact with body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical sensor that employs multiple electrode areas that are exposed for contact with a body fluid, e.g., when the sensor is inserted subcutaneously into a patient's skin. The exposed electrode areas are arranged symmetrically, such that a symmetrical potential distribution is produced when an AC signal is applied to the sensor. The sensors in accordance with these teachings can advantageously be used with AC signals to determine characteristics of the sensor and thus improve sensor performance. These teachings also provide a biocompatible sensor with multiple reference electrode areas that are exposed for contact with body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical sensor that employs multiple electrode areas that are exposed for contact with a body fluid, e.g., when the sensor is inserted subcutaneously into a patient's skin. The exposed electrode areas are arranged symmetrically, such that a symmetrical potential distribution is produced when an AC signal is applied to the sensor. The sensors in accordance with these teachings can advantageously be used with AC signals to determine characteristics of the sensor and thus improve sensor performance. These teachings also provide a biocompatible sensor with multiple reference electrode areas that are exposed for contact with body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical sensor that employs multiple electrode areas that are exposed for contact with a body fluid, e.g., when the sensor is inserted subcutaneously into a patient's skin. The exposed electrode areas are arranged symmetrically, such that a symmetrical potential distribution is produced when an AC signal is applied to the sensor. The sensors in accordance with these teachings can advantageously be used with AC signals to determine characteristics of the sensor and thus improve sensor performance. These teachings also provide a biocompatible sensor with multiple reference electrode areas that are exposed for contact with body fluid.

Abstract: The blood glucose analysis technique and system described herein address the issue of hematocrit interference when rapidly detecting glucose concentrations. It addresses this issue by using a differential pulse voltammetry technique in which short high, frequency voltage pulses are applied to keep the diffusion layer within the reagent of the working electrode, and the pulses are applied in a limited voltage window (or range) that is below the peak, diffusion-limited current. The readings below the peak are then used to determine glucose concentrations. With this technique, glucose concentrations can be determined relatively fast (e.g., within 5 seconds) and independently of the hematocrit levels of the fluid being analyzed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical sensor that employs multiple electrode areas that are exposed for contact with a body fluid, e.g., when the sensor is inserted subcutaneously into a patient's skin. The exposed electrode areas are arranged symmetrically, such that a symmetrical potential distribution is produced when an AC signal is applied to the sensor. The sensors in accordance with these teachings can advantageously be used with AC signals to determine characteristics of the sensor and thus improve sensor performance. These teachings also provide a biocompatible sensor with multiple reference electrode areas that are exposed for contact with body fluid.

Abstract: One aspect concerns a technique for detecting analyte concentrations, such as glucose concentrations, in blood or other bodily fluids. This technique utilizes an electrochemical test strip that includes a mediator system that generates a linear faradic response at relatively low applied potential differences. An alternating current excitation signal is applied to blood in the test strip. The alternating current excitation signal includes a low frequency signal and a high frequency signal that has a higher frequency than the low frequency signal. The glucose concentration is determined by measuring a low frequency response to the low frequency signal, measuring a high frequency response to the high frequency signal, estimating the glucose concentration based on the low frequency response, and correcting the glucose concentration for one or more error-causing variables based on the high frequency response.

Abstract: The blood glucose analysis technique and system described herein address the issue of hematocrit interference when rapidly detecting glucose concentrations. It addresses this issue by using a differential pulse voltammetry technique in which short high, frequency voltage pulses are applied to keep the diffusion layer within the reagent of the working electrode, and the pulses are applied in a limited voltage window (or range) that is below the peak, diffusion-limited current. The readings below the peak are then used to determine glucose concentrations. With this technique, glucose concentrations can be determined relatively fast (e.g., within 5 seconds) and independently of the hematocrit levels of the fluid being analyzed.