Need for Amperometric Glucose Sensor in Health Sector - Essay Example

Amperometric Glucose Sensor Amperometric Glucose Sensor Introduction Overview of the Need for Amperometric glucose sensor in health sector In contemporary health sector, increased incidences of glucose concentration levels spur need for urgent self-control measures. Such development measures includes establishment of self-monitoring devices including amperometric glucose sensors that can revolutionize complicated disease conditions. Effective diagnosis and subsequent treatment glucose level borne diseases such as diabetes is dependent on proper monitoring and maintenance. The paper will explicitly discuss amperometric glucose sensors ad a biomedical device that integrates electrochemical techniques in monitoring given analyte. Amperometric glucose sensors proves worthy in monitoring of diabetic patients’ blood glucose levels wherever they are. Such constant monitoring of blood glucose has spurred other affiliated health sector needs for improvement of the condition. It is apparent that effective treatment and management of diabetes conditions requires reliable data of glucose levels that does not fluctuate. In such needy cases, amperometric glucose sensors assist in monitoring of patients blood glucose. Monitoring of blood glucose levels presents a constant glycaemic regime that both the patient and health professional can rely on. Subsequently, health professionals can make imperative diagnosis and treatment of diabetic conditions. Research on management of diabetic conditions largely relies on proper data for the levels of blood glucose amongst diabetes patients during normal activities. In ensuring use of reliable and constant blood glucose levels, there is need to develop clinical devices that can monitor and provide day and night blood glucose levels. Such requirements indicate the need for amperometric glucose sensors to provide constant data of blood glucose levels. Therefore, the presence of amperometric glucose sensors within the health sector is authoritative in effective management, treatment, diagnosis, and research about diabetes. It is imperative to note that the introduction of amperometric glucose sensors have greatly enhanced research and management of type 1 diabetes within the health sector. Moreover, it has increased confidence of both patients and health professionals towards a possibility of overcoming the deleterious disease. Importance of Amperometric glucose sensor in treatment and diagnosis Essentially, the ability of amperometric glucose sensors to determine accurately the level of concentration of blood glucose has caused a revolution in health care. Accurate determination of glucose levels within the blood has lead to improved health services within the community. The foremost importance of amperometric glucose sensors relates to advancement of care given to patients suffering from diabetes. Using the sensors, diabetic patients can have a self-reliable monitoring electrochemical device that enables them to regulate glucose uptake and subsequent concentration within the body. Such reliable and portable clinical monitoring device has remained imperative in not only advancing health care provision but also improving diabetic patient’s mortality rates (Harsanyi, 2010, p 257). Besides vitality in monitoring diabetic conditions of patients at convenience within homes, amperometric glucose sensors have encouraged research in potential treatment of diabetes. Contemporary studies focus on suitable ways of controlling insulin delivery systems to help in overcoming existing challenges for treatment of diabetes. Therefore, amperometric glucose sensors have remained authoritative in both diagnosis of diabetes and its subsequent treatment. Thus, the electrochemical device remains extremely domineering within the health sector for maintenance of glucose concentration abnormalities related complications within the body. Most imperatively, introduction of amperometric glucose sensors have fundamentally affected type 1 diabetes treatment. Availability of amperometric glucose sensors in the form minute and minimally invasive instruments has aided easy measurement of subcutaneous fat interstitial glucose levels. Such faster measurement off glucose concentration levels within minutes has spurred fundamental research on diabetes including development of automated glycaemic management techniques. Moreover, introduction of the devices with health sector market have enhanced type 1 treatment within the health sector. Moreover, introduction of amperometric glucose sensors have increased diagnosis and current diabetes mellitus therapy through existence of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). SMBG is an imperative diagnosis for diabetic patients, hypoglycemia prevention and attainment of particular standard of glycaemic control. SMBG is vital in maintenance of glucose level constancy within the body by providing blood glucose levels detailed information. Effective measurement of glucose level regimes by the amperometric glucose sensor is essential for health professionals in adjusting therapeutic regimes according to blood-glucose level responses. Such achievements assist in diagnosis for physical activity, insulin dosages or dietary intakes to enhance glycaemic control. Therefore, introduction of amperometric glucose sensors have diabetic control, diagnosis, and treatment in various ways. Such ways includes creation of personalized blood glucose profiles, enhancing patients’ awareness of glycaemic levels, food intake control, and aiding understanding of treatment regimes to both the patient and doctor. Amperometric glucose sensor Design and Implementation Operational Principle of Amperometric glucose sensor Amperometric glucose sensors operate on the principle of polarography or amperometry. The sensor greatly relies on electrochemistry principles. Based on the principle of a polarogram, the sensor relies on chemistry of reduction of dissolved oxygen found on the noble metal surface such as gold or platinum when such electrode remains subjected to between 0.6 and 0.8 negative Voltage. Such electrochemical arrangement relies on a fundamental reference electrode including calomel electrode or Silver/Silver chloride within a neutral solution of potassium chloride. An effective arrangement outlining the main operating polarography principles of amperometric glucose sensors is as represented below The diagram above represents a simple diagrammatic explanation of how a polarogram operates, an electrochemical principle that amperometric glucose sensors greatly relies on. It is imperative to note that the inherent current-voltage diagram defines polarogram. The noble metal electrode where there is application of negative voltage defines the normal electrochemical electrode. Increasing the negative voltage potential causes saturation of current and formation of a plateau-like region. When the polarogram exists in such a plateau phase region, oxygen reaction near the cathode electrode heightens. During such oxygen reaction increase, the rate remains fundamentally controlled by diffusion of the gas onto cathode surface. Subsequent increase of the negative bias voltage causes a similar rapid rise of the electrode’s current output. Such rapid increase in current output results from other contrary reactions including water reduction to hydrogen molecules. It is essential to note that there exists a possibility of linear calibration of the electrode’s current output in relation to the inherent dissolved oxygen. Such calibration is realizable with maintenance of fixed voltage within the plateau region of the cathode. Experiments indicate that there exists a direct proportionality between dissolved oxygen partial pressure or activity and the measured current. Such experimental results explain the principle through which amperometric glucose sensors operates. Selection of a polarization voltage existing between -0.6 and -0.8 voltages is suitable for realization of the linear calibration especially with use of silver/silver chloride as a reference electrode. The diagram below indicates calibration process of dissolved oxygen percentage in relation to current output. As outlined, it is apparent that amperometric glucose sensors operates through inherent production of current after application of suitable potential between the existing two electrodes. In normal operation as aforementioned, there exists production of directly proportional current to the concentration of oxygen when -0.6V potential remains applied across platinum cathode in relation to Ag/AgCl electrode. During the process the reactions below occurs Anode (Ag) 4Ag0 + 4Cl- 4AgCl + 4e- Cathode (Pt) O2 + 4H+ + 4e- 2H2O Introduction of an inherently immobilized membrane of glucose oxidase, urate oxidase, galactose oxidase or alcohol oxidase to the polarogram setup enables for determination of concentration of glucose within blood samples of patients. Such clinical laboratory operations are imperative in detection and treatment of medical conditions in health care. As diffusion of oxygen occurs mainly to the cathode through the biocatalytic membrane, a subsequent decrease in the gas’ concentration is observable. Decrease in oxygen gas concentration remains detectable between the electrodes in current. As indicated in the diagrammatic illustration, the initial step for determination of glucose concentration entails application of a voltage potential across the silver anode and platinum cathode. Subsequently, saturated potassium chloride solution carries current generated with a compartment of electrodes and the analyte solution (for instance blood) separated by a membrane that is only permeable to oxygen. Consequently, the sensor determines the calibrations needed from the analyte. Therefore, workability of amperometric glucose sensor largely relies on the principle of polarography and electrochemical reactions to calibrate blood glucose level. Issues arising from use of Amperometric glucose sensor Apparently, introduction of amperometric glucose sensors into the health market have resulted into advancement in health care provision mainly to patients suffering from diabetes. The advancements in care provision results mainly from improved data and results collected from glucose monitoring that subsequently remains authoritative in conducting viable research and improvement of treatments and therapeutic options (Castle and Ward, 2010, p. 1). Though the sensors provide accurate results, sometimes the devices can remain unreliable mainly due to suboptimal accuracy, sensitivity, or selectivity failures. Failure of such imperative device issues including sensor design, temperature compensations, packaging, or operational range results mainly from poor implementation. Effective implementation of amperometric glucose sensors is essential in maintenance of the device’s accuracy, sensitivity, operational range, selectivity, or operational temperature. Consequently, extreme caution and expertise must remain involved to ensure effective implementation and calibration of an amperometric glucose sensor within a health clinic. Moreover, proper design of the sensor is domineering in prevention of negative issues that may arise during use of the device in monitoring and determining blood glucose level of diabetic patients. During implementation of an amperometric glucose sensor within a health clinic facility, effective calibration of the device’s accuracy is significant in realization of reliable results. Accurate results ensure proper provision of correct insulin delivery regimes to patients with the aim of maintaining a normal glycaemic level. Otherwise, suboptimal results would cause serious complications when inappropriate insulin remains delivered to type 1 diabetic patient. Essentially, calibration of amperometric glucose sensor-accuracy should exist between the ranges of negative or positive 5 percent. Such results would prevent complications that may result from inappropriate therapeutic or insulin delivery to diabetic patients. Therefore, maintaining accuracy of the amperometric glucose sensor within the aforementioned percentage range would assists in successful implementation within a given health clinic. Selectivity of an amperometric glucose sensor is vital in providing desired accuracy through discrimination of unwanted substances. The sensor’s selectivity assists in discrimination of unwanted solutes within the given analyte for successful attainment of accurate and true results. The amperometric glucose-sensor selectivity requirement remains effectively accomplished by primarily the selective component or transducer in specific instances. Successful implementation of the sensor entails proper design and implementation of the selective component to ensure discrimination of unwanted substances that may remain present in the analyte. It is vital to note that the sensor should detect only glucose within the blood of a given diabetic patient. Otherwise, obtained results would remain incredible and unreliable. Besides selectivity, sensitivity range of the amperometric glucose sensor is imperative for effective functioning. Implementation of the sensor must consider calibrating sensitivity range of the device before actual operation mainly in accordance to design manual and usage. The sensitivity range of amperometric sensor would not only improve its accuracy but also enhance detection of slightest changes in current across the electrodes. The normal sensitivity range exists in sub millimolar but in some cases, it may be measurable in femtomolar. Apparently, the smaller the sensitivity range, the accurate amperometric glucose-sensor results would appear. Moreover, defined range measurement unit consequently improves detection and sensitivity ability of a particular amperometric glucose sensor used in monitoring and determining blood glucose level of a diabetic patient. Moreover, implementation of the sensor requires comprehensive consideration of the nature of solution and analyte used. The solutions should have desired ionic strength, pH, and temperature for effective delivery. Setting the variables according to the sensors manual is imperative in attainment of accurate results. Maintenance of the solution and analyte nature in relation to specific pH, ionic strength, and temperature assists in prevention of fluctuating amperometric sensor results. Above all, successful implementation of the amperometric glucose sensor in a health clinic relies on proper calibration of time. The sensor’s time calibration includes working lifetime, response time, and recovery time. Recovery time defines the maximum period the sensor takes before analysis of a subsequent analyte. Proper consideration and maintenance of recovery time is imperious in realization of improved and accurate results. Response time of the sensor should range from 30 seconds or more. Besides, understanding and consideration of amperometric glucose-sensor working lifetime is authoritative in effective use of the electrochemical device. Consideration of the sensor-working lifetime assists in maintaining the inherent stability of amperometric glucose monitoring device. Most working lifetimes of amperometric glucose sensors largely relies on inherent selective material stability. Proper consideration of the aforementioned issues is imperative in realization of successful implementation of amperometric glucose sensor within a particular health clinic. Biomedical Applications of Amperometric glucose sensor Increase in population and need for longer life expectancies have heightened the need for advanced medical instruments that enables efficient diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of patients. Advancements in medical instruments within the health sector have led to the increase in need to use biomedical sensing applications including amperometric glucose sensors. Design and innovation of various chemical sensors especially amperometric glucose devices have remained fundamental in improving health care provision to patients and community at large. The wide range of biomedical applications relating to amperometric glucose sensors especially in effective management and research about diabetes has constantly familiarized their biomedical importance within the health sector. The wide biomedical applications ranges from clinical diagnosis, therapeutic treatments, to comprehensive research conducted on associated glucose concentration levels diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Besides importance in monitoring blood glucose and aiding therapeutic treatment regimes for diabetes, comprehensive biomedical applications of amperometric glucose sensors within the health care sector range remains critically discussed below. Point of care testing (POCT) The foremost imperative biomedical application of amperometric glucose sensors includes constant use in point care-testing processes within the health care. Effective application of amperometric glucose sensors as biomedical devices in monitoring and determining glycaemic levels of blood glucose amongst diabetic patients spurs the fundamental biomedical applications. It is imperative to note that point of care testing defines an application of biomedical instruments increasing at a high rate in clinical diagnostics. Essentially, point of sale testing refers to the decentralized testing at the patient’s location. The devices used are light portable, and easy to use but have designs that carry out complex biological tests at the place where they are required most. The key Point of care devices includes the blood glucose sensors such as amperometric glucose devices (Warsinke, 2009, p. 1393). Development of point of care testing and wide application of biomedical devices such as amperometric glucose sensors have remained imperative in enhancement of health care provision as abovementioned. Portability, flexibility, and the sensors ease of use explains their wide importance in point of care testing within communities mainly in relation to diagnosis, treatment and management of diabetes. Extensibility of amperometric glucose sensors to societal and home-based usage in monitoring glycaemic levels of diabetic patients explains the inherent wide applications of biomedical devices in health care. It is imperative to comprehend that such wide range biomedical applications explains the inherent fundamental improvements that have spanned health care sector and management of diseases including type 1 diabetes. Enhancement of medical and clinical research with the help of implanted sensors In contemporary health sector, comprehensive research is fundamental in realization of improved health care provision to patients. For instance, research remains essential in the design of effective drugs, therapeutic treatment regimes, or recovery process for various chronic diseases within the society. However, it is essential to understand that comprehensive research relies greatly on available of trusted information and data. Amperometric glucose sensors remain imperative in provision of reliable constant data for review and analysis of a disease condition amongst patients. For instance, development and subsequent implementation of implanted amperometric glucose sensors is authoritative in monitoring a diabetic patient’s blood glucose level every ten seconds. Such biomedical development finds significant application in constant monitoring of glycaemic levels within diabetic patients. The reliable data obtained from constant monitoring of glucose levels helps researchers in understanding biochemical pathways and reactions entailed within diabetic patients. Subsequently, the researcher gains understanding of the fundamental therapeutic options available for management or treatment of a disease. Ability of amperometric glucose sensors to enhance clinical and medical research explains the significant wide biomedical applications. Implantable Glucose sensors Besides being important in providing reliable data for conducting research, implantable amperometric glucose sensors are authoritative in convenient biomedical applications amongst diabetic patients. The overdue dominance of finger prick glucose monitoring devices caused great pain, fear, and discomfort amongst diabetic patients that had their blood glucose levels monitored. However, introduction of implantable glucose sensors and subsequent utilization helped patients in overcoming fear and discomfort associated with traditional glucose determination and detection methods. The implantable glucose sensors help in monitoring blood glucose levels within diabetic patients. Monitoring of glucose levels is imperative to help reduce diabetic complications occurrence through maintenance of insulin injection regime mainly for type 1 diabetes. Maintenance of glucose levels assists in stabilizing normal glycaemic levels amongst diabetic patients. In vivo biomedical application of implantable amperometric glucose implants is domineering in diabetic management than the traditional means including glucose meters and detectors. Moreover, implantable glucose sensors are easier to use for patients and health practitioners due to inherent absence of blood withdrawals or reagents involved in monitoring of glucose levels. The aforementioned advantages and efficiency of implantable amperometric glucose sensors explains their importance and wide biomedical applications. Pathogen detection In a similar manner in which amperometric sensors detects glucose levels in blood of diabetic patients, the electrochemical device finds imperative biomedical application in detection of pathogenic organism within the body. The sensor uses electrochemical detection principle in estimating the size and subsequent determination of a specific pathogen. For instance, a combination of immunofiltration and amperometric sensor detects E. coli in any body analyte (Lazcka, Del Campo, and Munoz, 2007, p. 1213). The detection mechanism relies on an inherent principle relating the inherent linear relations existing between amperometric sensor current and analyte concentration. When the operator of an amperometric sensor used in detecting a pathogen sets a voltage potential, the analyte would produce a proportionate current that is detectable as a signal and quantified. Bibliography Lazcka, Olivier., Del Campo, Javier., and Munoz, Xavier. 2007. Pathogen detection: A perspective of traditional methods and biosensors. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 22 (2007) 1205–1217 Harsanyi, Gabor. 2010. Sensors in Biomedical Applications: Fundamentals, Technology and Applications. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. Warsinke, A . 2009, Point-of-care testing of proteins, Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry, 393, 5, pp. 1393-1405, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 March 2015. Castle, Jessica R. and Ward, Kenneth. 2010. Amperometric Glucose Sensors: Sources of Error and Potential Benefit of Redundancy. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. 4(1): 221–225. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2825644/ Read More

 

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