Dual-mode electrochemical & fiber-optic test strips: There are a number of blood glucose meters, such as the Roche Accutrend
GCT meter, that also monitor triglycerides. The drawback of these meters is that
they require the user to insert a separate (and costly) triglycerides
test-strip. This is expensive and inconvenient, and most users won't do this on
a routine basis. By contrast, combination electrochemical - fiberoptic strips
allow the triglycerides (lipemia) measurement to be performed at the same time
as the blood glucose test, with no additional effort or expense. This allows
users to continually track their rapidly changing triglyceride levels. This
improved monitoring will allow diabetics to get better control over their
lipemia, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Patent, 6,984,307, and its CIP
11/263,500, provide the IP
for combination electrochemical - optical test strips that are ideal for type 2
diabetics. Some diagrams of this type of dual test-strip and meter are shown
below:
Dual mode test strips and meters
Test-strip with fiber optic turbidity
detector
Dual blood glucose and lipemia meter
Here near-infrared light from the excitation fiber optic strand penetrates
through red cells, but is strongly scattered by triglyceride-rich blood
chylomicrons. This scattered light is picked up by the detection fiber optic
strand, and is analyzed by a photodetector on the meter.
Electrochemical immunoassays:
For analytes such as A1c, microalbuminuria, anti-insulin antibodies,
c-peptide, and other antigens of interest, immunoassay technology is required.
Our electrochemical immunoassay technology (patent
7,166,208) enables simple, high
performance, immunoassays be adapted for the well-accepted blood glucose
electrochemical test strip format.
Electrochemical immunoassay test strips
Our apoenzyme reactivation immunochemical sensors are similar to conventional
blood glucose test-strips, with the exception that the strips use apoglucose
oxidase instead of glucose oxidase. The apoglucose oxidase is enzymatically
inactive because its cofactor, FAD has been removed. Here the FAD cofactor is
conjugated with an antigen, and this antigen is, in-turn, bound to an antibody.
When excess test antigens are added, the test-antigens displace the bound FAD
from the antibody. This FAD reactivates apoglucose oxidase. The reactivated
glucose oxidase then reacts with glucose (present in the test chemistry),
producing an electrochemical signal that is detected by the test strip's
electrodes.
