IP Library Granted Patent US 9,861,746
Granted Patent B2
US 9,861,746 · App. 13/778,559 · Granted Jan 9, 2018

Application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in sensor systems, devices, and related methods

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,861,746
App. No.
13/778,559
Granted
Jan 9, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A diagnostic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) procedure is applied to measure values of impedance-related parameters for one or more sensing electrodes. The parameters may include real impedance, imaginary impedance, impedance magnitude, and/or phase angle. The measured values of the impedance-related parameters are then used in performing sensor diagnostics, calculating a highly-reliable fused sensor glucose value based on signals from a plurality of redundant sensing electrodes, calibrating sensors, detecting interferents within close proximity of one or more sensing electrodes, and testing surface area characteristics of electroplated electrodes. Advantageously, impedance-related parameters can be defined that are substantially glucose-independent over specific ranges of frequencies. An Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) enables implementation of the EIS-based diagnostics, fusion algorithms, and other processes based on measurement of EIS-based parameters.

Claims (24)

1. A method for real-time detection of low start-up for a working electrode of a glucose sensor, the method comprising:

inserting the sensor into subcutaneous tissue;

periodically performing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) procedure to generate multiple sets of impedance-related data for said working electrode;

calculating, by a microprocessor, for each of said multiple sets of impedance-related data, respective values of 1 kHz real impedance and Nyquist slope;

monitoring and analyzing, by said microprocessor, said respective values of 1 kHz real impedance and Nyquist slope over time by comparing the 1 kHz real impedance and Nyquist slope to respective specified ranges for said real impedance and Nyquist slope; and

based on said monitoring and analyzing, determining, by said microprocessor, whether said working electrode is experiencing low start-up,

wherein use of said sensor for glucose measurement is delayed or sensor glucose values are blinded to a user of the sensor by the microprocessor based on the determination that the working electrode is experiencing low start-up.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said EIS procedure is perfouned for a predetermined range of frequencies.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said multiple sets of impedance-related data includes values for imaginary impedance.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Nyquist slope is calculated at relatively-lower frequencies.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said multiple sets of impedance-related data includes values for at least one impedance-related parameter that is substantially glucose-independent.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said respective values of 1 kHz real impedance and Nyquist slope are substantially glucose-independent.

7. A method for real-time detection of low start-up for a plurality of working electrodes of a glucose sensor, the method comprising:

inserting the sensor into subcutaneous tissue;

periodically performing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) procedure for each of said plurality of working electrodes to generate respective multiple sets of impedance-related data for each of the plurality of working electrodes;

calculating, by a microprocessor, for each of said multiple sets of impedance-related data, respective values of 1 kHz real impedance and Nyquist slope;

monitoring and analyzing, by said microprocessor, said respective values of 1 kHz real impedance and Nyquist slope over time by comparing the respective values of 1 kHz real impedance and Nyquist slope amongst the plurality of working electrodes;

based on said monitoring and analyzing, determining, by said microprocessor, whether at least one of said plurality of working electrodes is not experiencing low start-up; and

identifying, by said microprocessor, said at least one of said plurality of working electrodes for use to measure glucose.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said EIS procedure is performed for a predetermined range of frequencies.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of said multiple sets of impedance-related data includes values for imaginary impedance.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the Nyquist slope is calculated at relatively-lower frequencies.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of said multiple sets of impedance-related data includes values for at least one impedance-related parameter that is substantially glucose-independent.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein said respective values of 1 kHz real impedance and Nyquist slope are substantially glucose-independent.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2026
From: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.; COMPANION MEDICAL, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 074394/0237 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2013
From: GAUTHAM, RAGHAVENDHAR; YANG, NING; SHAH, RAJIV
To: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Reel/Frame 030432/0605 →