Patent ID: 6201979
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: A61B,A61N,C12Q

Abstract:
A method of measuring an amount or concentration of a compound present in a mammalian subject, comprising the steps of:contacting a surface of the mammalian subject with a sensor assembly comprising;a) an ionically conductive material comprising first and second faces;b) a working electrode comprising a catalytic surface, said catalytic surface in contact with said first face of the ionically conductive material, said contact defining a target area;c) a mask characterized by being substantially impermeable to the compound or a related chemical signal, the mask being positioned on the second face of the ionically conductive material, wherein the assembly is positioned so that the mask is between the ionically conductive material and the surface of the subject, such that the compound or related chemical signal transported through a plane of the mask, through the ionically conductive material, and toward the target area is substantially only that compound or related chemical signal transported in a direction substantially perpendicular to the target area;transporting the compound or related chemical signal through the surface of the mammalian subject, through the plane of the mask, and through the ionically conductive material to the target area;monitoring an electrical signal which is generated at the catalytic surface of the working electrode by catalytic conversion of the compound or related chemical signal into the electric signal, wherein the electrical signal generated at the working electrode over a given period of time is correlated with the amount or concentration of compound present in the mammalian subject.