CA1283447C - Zero volume electrochemical cell - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Methods and apparatuses are described for determining the presence of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The method comprised contacting a concentrate of a determinable element capable of being detected by means of a semiconductive electrode with the electrode in the presence of a relatively large volume of an assay medium. The determinable element is present in the concentrate in the amount related to the amount of analyte present in the sample. The volume of the medium in diffusive communication with the concentrate is then reduced and the determinable element is detected by means of the effect that the determinable element has on the semiconductive electrode.

Description

ZERO VOLUME ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL

The detection of the presence of a material and~or its amount in a particular environment become~
lncreasingly important in a society which ~eek~ to mon-itor or manipulate it~ environment. De~pite the long hi~tory of developing devices for mea~urement of vari-ous ~aterials in liquid or other fluid media, there ~till remaLns ample opportunity for improvement4 in the sensitivity, efficiency, economy, and ease of use.
Among such device~ and mea3urement method~, variou~
electrochemical devices and metho~s have ~hown poten-tial for increa~ed ~pecificity and flexibility of measurement.
In one type of electrochemical deYice, the electrical ~ignal of interest is due primarily to the interaction~ between khe electrode aur~ace and the solution of interest in a small region very near the electrode surface ("qurface region"). In these device~, the portion Or the solution (nbulk ~olution~), which i3 more than a ~hort di~tance from the working electrode ~urface, does not contribute to and may interfere with the reactions and~or interactions of - interest. One of the problems encountered in the use of ~uch devices for meaqurement of analytes ln fluid media, particularly biological media, i~ that the mag-nitude of the interaction of the component~ Qf the ~ ,.

solution with the electrode and/or the effe^ti~e rate3 of reactions in the solutions, as measured with the electrode, may be mediated and/or diminished by the interactions between the bulk solution and the surface region of solution. Such effects may arise by diffu-sion of surface-active species into the bulk solution and/or quenching of the surface reaction due to inter-action with the bulk solution. For example, ~here the property to be measured is pH, the ~enerally lar~e buf-fering capacity of the bulk solution moderates thechange in pH near the electrode surface, as well as the rate of change in pH, so that the magnitude of the ob-served electrode signal is substantially reduced and/or the effective responsiveness of the electrode to time-dependent processes is reduced.
To avoid such effects and to limit the solu-tion to a volume which substantially completely intar-acts with the electrode over very short periods of time, it would be desirable to provide devices which allow for reactions of interest in relatively large volumes while measuring-the result with a volume with which the electrode may effectively communicate. Such a feature would be preferentially selective of the reaction and/or interaction occurring between the solu-tion and the electrode surface, and minimize interfer-ences, damping effects, and the like between the sur-face region of the solution and the bulk solution.
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Description of the Relevant Literature References of interest include U.S. Patents Nos. 4,020,830 to Jense, et al.; 3,975,238 to Bean, et al.j 4,238,757 to Schenck; 4,486,272 to Fujihira;
~,293,310 to Weber; and 4,444,892 to Malmros; and International Patent Publications Nos. W083/02669 and 35 W0~5/04018. See also Experimental Electroche~istry for Electrochemists, Sawyer and Roberts, Wiley-Inter-; science, pp. 350-353.

~*~4'~7 U.S. Patents Or interest also include Nos.
4,168,146, which concerns a test strip for immuno-assay3, where the extent to which an analy~e travels i3 related to the amount of analyte in the medium;
5 4,298,688, which involve3 a three-zone strip, where the extent of travel of an enzymatic product ls determina-tive of the amount of gluco~e analyte; ~,299,916, which concerns an assay technique employing a support for detection of the analyte; 4,361,537, which employes strip~ in con~unction w1th RIA~; 4,366,241, which con-cerns employing a small test zone for concentrating a particular component of the assay medium in a small area; 4,435,504, which concerns an immunochromatograph employing channeling; 4,442,204, which concerns using homogeneous assay reagents on a solid support where displacement of labeled conJugate-analyte complex by analyte provides the de~ired signal; 4,533,629, which employs a simultaneou~ calibration technique for heter-ogeneous immunoassay~; 4,446,232, which employe~ a ~olid support having a zone occupied by labeled conju-gate, followed by receptor, where binding oroanalyte to the labeled con~ugate allow~ the labeled con~ugate to traver~e the receptor ~one to a detection zone;
4,447,526, which employ~ a homogeneou~ specific binding 25 as~ay ~ystem in conjunction with a carrier matrix; and 4,454,094, which involves displaced apart layer~
through which a medium traverses, where reagent from one layer diffuses to the other layer in relation to the amount of analyte in the medium.

Apparatus and methods are provided for mea-suring, in an electrochemical cell, an analyte in a ~luid medium. The apparatus employs a cell having a working and a controlling electrode and, preferably, a reference electrode. The cell also includes means for varying the volume of the cell, means ~or introducing and removing fluid from the cell, and, where the working electrode which is used i~ a photo-responsiYe electrode, illumination means for irradiating a photo-responsive surface of the working electrode.
In the preferred embodiment of the invsntion, the working and controlling electrodes comprise or are mounted to or coated on fir~t and second element3 in disQlaceable relationship.
The volume of the cell can be varied from a relatively large volume for convenient introduction and removal of the fluid medium, as well as for reaction between relatively large amounts of one or more dilute reactants to a small volume during measurement in which the fluid medium is distributed in a reproducibly thin layer at the surface of the working electrode. The layer of fluid is, during the measurement, sufficiently thin that the interference effects of bulk solution on the electrode response are substantially reduced or eliminated and the small volume of fluid used is util-ized as efficiently as possible.
The methods find potential application withspecific binding pairs of species, where one of the pair is bound to a solid support, and is concentrated in the vicinity of the working electrode surface during measurment. The other member of the pair will normally react with its homologous member and becomes bound to the solid support. The reactions between the bound and unbound members can be performed in a relatively large volume; thereafter, most of the fluid can be evacuated from the cell and the electrochemical measurement made in the absence of most of the assay medium. The method finds particular application where the bulk medium tends to react with the agent for surface modification or unduly dilute the agent. The method may also find application with various sticks, layers, or the like, where the reagent may be measured on the surface of the layer for the determination of a particular species.

~ ~S~ 7 Fig. 1 i~ a 3chemAtic cross-sectional view of a fir~t exemplary electrochemical cell accordin2 to the invention.
Fig. 2 i9 a cross-~ectional detail view of the first exemplary electrochemical cell, ~howing the plunger in an "up" po~ition.
Fig. 3 1~ a cross-~ectional detail view of the first exemplary electrochemical cell, ~howing the plunger in a "down" position.
Fig. 4 i~ a detail cro~s-sectional view of a portion of a modified version of the fir3t exemplary electrochemical cell according to the invention.
Fig. 5 is an exemplary ~chematic clrcuit for use with the electrochemical cell according to the invention.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention, taken along section 7-7 of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a cartridge device.
Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a filter flow cell device.
Fig. 10 i~ a diagrammatic view of a wicking device, with 10a being a plan view of ~he piston, 10b being a view looking upward at the bottom of the piston and 10c being a plan view of an exemplary filter membrane.
Fig. 11a is a diagrammatic view of a rigid filter device, while Fig. 11b is a cro~s-sectional view of a fluted pi~ton.

Fig. 12 is a d1agrammatic ~iew of a diaphragm device, ~ith Fig. 12a a diagrammatic plan view Or the diaphragm and electrode support looking upward at the bottom of the dia?hragm.
Fig. 13 i~ a diagrammatic qide elevational view of a dlp~tick reader embodiment, with Fig. 13a being a cross-~ection view along A-A, Fig. 13b being a diagrammatic view of a piston cylinder and Fig. 13c being a plan view of a dipstick.

In accordance with the sub~ect invention, methods and apparatu~ are provided which allow for carrying out reactions and/or separation~ in relatively large ~olumes, whi'e carrying out measurements in rela-~ively small volume~, particularly in situations where one or more components of the large volume have been concentrated in a~sociation with a particular surface.
For the most part, the method~ and apparatu~ will involve an electrode ('1working electroden) which is respon3ive to changes in a fluid medium, a counter-electrode ("control electode") and a chamber, who~e volume can be changed from a relatively large volume to a relatively small volume, where the small Yolume i~ in clo~e juxtaposition to the fluid respon3ive electrode.
The subject apparatus employs surface detec-tion of a Qubstance by means of a semiconductive ~ur-race using ad~ustable opposing electrode~. Usually a catalyst i~ involved for producing a detectable sub-~tance, which catalyst may be bound to either surfaceor be between the ~urfaces. The apparatus is then used to detect the change in concentration of the reactant or product o~ the catalytic reaction.
The methods and apparatu3 rind particular 35 application for the determination of the presence of an analyte. The analyte will u~ually be one of a specific binding pair - ligand or receptor - where the receptor 4~7 may be any compound, including proteins, ~ugars, nucleic acids, or the like, which can specifically bind to another compound, its homologous ligand. In many cases, particularly protein receptors, the receptor will be relatively large compared to the area ~,lith which it specifically binds.
The method will normally involve introducing a fluid medium into a chamber, where the chamber is bordered by the working electrode and the control-electrode, with a reference electrode desirably inelectrical communication with the fluid in the chambar A member of the specific binding pair may be bound to a surface, so as to be in close proximity to the fluid responsive surface at the time of measure-ment. Thus, the specific binding pair member may bebound to the working electrode, a coating on the working electrode, particles which during the time of measurement will be in close proximity to the fluid responsive surface, the control electrode which may be in close proximity to the working electrode, or the like. The particular manner in which the binding mem-ber is positioned adjacent the working electrode is not critical to this invention, so long as the proper spatial relationship is provided and the manner of positionin~ does not interfere with the reduction in volume of the cell.
The method may also use various bibulous layers for performing assays. Thus, assays could be performed by carrying out the various chemistries on the bibulous layer, so as to provide for a reagent which would produce a detectable signal in relation to the amount of analyte in a sample. The layer would be shaped so as to fit into the chamber and be subject to compression by the piston. Particularly desirable is where the piston not only meets the surface of the bibulous layer, but provides for some compression, sufficient to distort the surface of the bibulous layer ~ 7 and diminish the transport of molecules from the region immediately underneath the piston to the region outside the piston. Usually, this distance will be determined in part by the thickness of the bibulous layer, its composition, as well as the effect of compression on the accuracy of the result. Thus, the amount of com-pression can vary from about 0~ to 50%, usually varying from about 2% to 50%, more usually varying from about 5% to 50%. With paper layers, the compression, if employed, ~ill normally be in the higher range, while more rigid membranes, such as nitrocellulo~e will be in the lower range. Generally, the bibulous layer or mem-brane layer will be from about 10~ to 100~, while the entire structure including ~upports may increase the thickness to about 500~.
The strip may be used in a variety of ways.
As indicated, all the chemistry may be carried out on the strip, such as binding of labelled antibody to its complementary ligand, washing, immersion in a devel-oping solution or other solution providing for a-detectable signal, or the like. Alternatively, the developing solution may be present in the chamber, so that upon introduction of the layer into the chamber, the layer will rapidly absorb the developing solution.
Another possibility is that the portion of the layer extending out from the chamber may be immersed in the developing solution, whereby the solution may move by capillary action to the piston site.
In each instance, a reaction will occur at the 3 piston site(s) which will produce a signal which is capable of being measured by the sensor. The measure-ment may be a rate or equilibrium measurement, depending upon the particular protocol.
A bibulous strip may also be used for intro-ducing rea~ents into the chamber. Thus, one could havetwo or more layers which are laminated, where the sam-ple may be placed on one layer and the other layer used ~*~

to transport reagent to the site of the sample layer, while the laminated layers are in the cell. The piston could then be moved to press the sample layer again3t the sensor for production of a signal. Other protocol3 may also be considered.
The cell is capable of going from a relatively large volume to a relatively small volume, the volume generally varying at least by a factor of 20, more usu-ally at least by a factor of 100, and factors of 104 or more may be achieved. The difference in volume may be achieved by a movable pLston or cam, an elastomeric sheet, movable flanges, baffles, pneumatics, or the like. Thus, the apparatus and method allow for a rela-tively rapid change in volume, where a relatively large volume is introduced into the cell, the particular step of the protocol performed, followed by removal of the major portion of the volume from the cell by reducing the size of the cell. The result of reducing the volume is to reduce the diffusive radius of the signal producing component. Thus, the signal producing com-ponent is restrained to remain in the vicinity of the working electrode.
The method can find use with a wide range of ligands and receptors, including aggregations and as-semblages of ligands and/or receptors. Thus, haptens,such as synthetically and naturally occurring drugs, hormones, and the like, biocides, including pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and the like, sugars and polysaccharides, lipids, including fatty acids, fatty acid esters, phosphatides, steroids, e.g. cholesterol, bile acid, etc., proteins, including immunoglobulins, blood factors, lymphokines, interferons, growth fac-tors, transforming factors, oncogenes, etc. nucleic acids, both DNA and RNA, may serve as analytes. Ions may be detected using chelating agents, such as crown ethers. On a larger scale, viroids, viruses, chromo-somes, organelles, cell~, both prokaryotic and eukary-~S~4~

otic, including pathogens, tumor cells, normal differ~entiated cells, bacteria, protozoa, metazoa, ciliate~, or the like, including lysates thereof or fractions of such lysates, e.g., membrane fragments, may also serve as analytes.
In carrying out the subject method, a compo-nent, usually the analyte in the as3ay medium con-taining the sample will be segregated from the bulk medium. The segregation may be achieved by specific binding pair complex formation where one of tne members of the specific binding pair i9 bound to a solid sup-port. Alternati~ely, segregation may be achieved by mechanical means, such as filtration or centrifu~ation.
In some instances, adsorption or chelation might be employed.
With specific binding pair members, one of the members of the specific binding pair will usually be bound to a solid surface, as indicated above. A solu-tion may then be introduced into the cell in its lar~er 20 volume or expanded state. The fluid will partially or completely fill the cell. The fluid may be relatively dilute for a particular component, which is the recip-rocal or homologous specific binding pair member to the member bound to the solid surface. Therefore, by 25 allowing for a reasonable period of incubation, the analyte present in the medium will become concentrated by becoming bound to the surface bound reciprocal mem-ber. In this manner, relatively large volumes of di-lute solutions of the analyte can be handled, since one 30 provides for concentration of the reciprocal member on a surface which will be in clo~e proximity to the fluid responsive surface. After a sufficient reaction or incubation time, the liquid may be ejected from the cell by reducing the volume of the cell, leaving a thin 35 film of liquid which includes the complex between specific binding members bound to the surface.

Additional sample solutions may be introducsd into the cell and the process repeatad, or other solu-tions introduced to provide for washing of non-specific binding reactants to remove background, tne addition of additional reagents, or the like. The number of step3 in the protocol will vary with the particular protocol employed.
Where a mechanical means i9 employed for separation, the assay medium may be passed through a membrane in the chamber where the analyte , which may be a part of a particle or aggregation, a cell, viru.s, or other seperable entity, will be captured by the mem-brane. The membrane may then be treated with one or more solutions as indicated above, and then pressed against the working electrode by moving one or both of the facing electrodes, so as to bring the two elec-trodes into close juxtaposition with the membrane sandwiched in between. With centrifugation, the sample can be introduced into the chamber, the device centri-fuged with particles being driven against the surfaceof one of the electrodes.
Alternatively, the assay medium may be con-tacted with or pass through a membrane which is part of a larger structure, as in a dipstick or wicking stick.
The membrane may then be manipulated in accordance with the assay protocol. In a final step, the membrane may be introduaed into a chamber with confronting elec-trodes and an appropriate medium for providing a detectable signal and the membrane pressed against the 30 working electrode by bringing the electrodes together.
The working electrode will be responsiYe to a change in potential of the medium or other detectable signal. The change in potential may be as a result of a change in pH, a change in concentration of a compound 35 susceptible to oxidat~on or reduction, or the like.
The measured signal may involve light irradiation or a change in the potential of the controlling electrode.

Where light is irradiated onto the face of the fluid re~ponsive electrode through the medium or onto the medium, the change in signal may be a~ a result of the change in absorbtivity or emis3ivity of the medium.
Numerou~ protocol~ exist in the literature involving a wide variety of labels, which provide for different ~ignals. Where labels are employed, these may include cataly~t~ such as enzyme~, redox reagent~, ionic species, or the like. The particular label will vary depending upon the qen~itivity required for the assay, the nature of the fluid responsive electrode, the availability and ease of preparation of reagent~, or the like. In some instances, such as cells, no labeling will be required, since the cells may provide for a change in the medium. For example, cells in a nutrien~ medium will change the pH of the medium, so that the change in the pH may be detected by the fluid respon~ive electrode.
Illustrative labels are described in U.S.
Patent No~. 3,791,932; 3,817,837; 3,935,074; 3,998,943;
4,233,402; 4,208,479, 4,233,401 4,275,149; ~,277,437;
and 4,278,300. These patents also disclose Protocols of interest in the present invention.

With specific binding pair member~, in carrying out the method, one would provide a chamber having a ligand or receptor bound to a surface, for example, the working electrode ~urface. One could then ln~roduce the sample, where the reciprocal member of 3 the specific binding pair would become bound to the ~ur~ace. After sufficient incubation or reaction time, the fluid could be e~ected, by bringing the electrodes clo~er together with only a small volume remaining.
One could then separate the electrodes to increase the chamber volume, add a reagent, where the reagen~ has a label con~ugated to the rec~procal binding member to the member bound to the surface or, if the analyte has ~ 7 a plurality of epitopic sites, a labeled reagent com-prising a receptor specific for an epitopic site different from the epitopic site by w'nich the analyte is bound to the surface. One could then expel the major portion of the reagent medium, wash if nece3sary by introducing a wash solution, followed by e~pulsion of the wash solution, followed by adding a signal pro-ducing reagent, if necessary. For example, where an enzyme is the label, one could introduce a substrate for the enzyme. By measuring the change in signal from the medium by means of the working electrode, where the change is related to the amount of analyte, one could determine the amount of analyte in the medium.
Where the analyte is a living cell, one can employ the effect of the living cell on the medium to detect the presence of the cell. For example, one could have antibodies to a particular determinant site of a surface membrane protein or the O-antigen or the like bound to the working electrode. One would intro-duce the sample into the cell in a relatively largevolume, allow the solution to incubate, so that any cells having the appropriate antigens would react with the surface-bound antibody, followed by expulsion of the solution from the measurement cell while reducing the volume to a thin film covering the photoresponsive electrode surface. The cells would then be allowed to metaboli~e nutrients in the medium, resulting in a change in pH. The change in pH could be detected as indicative of the presence of the particular cell. If desired, the cells could be washed with an appropriate medium before making the measurement, to reduce or eliminate the presence of nonspecific binding. 3y employing different nutrient media in particular orders, not only could the presence of a pathogenic bacterium be determined, for example, but also the particular species and in some instances the strain without resort to antibodies specific for the strain.

4~7 Also, as indicated, the cells could be captured by a filter membrane or concentrated by centrifugation to bring the cells in close proximity to an electrode surface.
The apparatus is characterized by having a means for controlling the solution potential and a lo~"
resistance means for carrying current, such that the current does not substantially alter the potential of the solution at the site of interest. The current may be an alternating or direct current.
The two modes employed for mea~uring the effect of the medium on the working electrode will be a photoresponsive mode or a capacitive mode. Depending upon the mode employed to detect the effect of the medium on the surface potential of the semiconductor working electrode, various circuits, electrode config-urations, and biasing of the electrodes may be employed where a potential or current may be measured. The cir-cuitry may involve the transfer or absence of transfer 20 of electrons between the assay medium and an electrode.
For the photoresponsive mode, when employing a potentiometric determination in conjunction with a reference electrode, the following configurations may be employed: (1) a conductive control electrode con-ductively coupled to the electronic circuit; or (2) acapacative control electrode (~) controlled by a re~er-ence or separate conductive control electrode. In the second embodiment, where a conductive control electrode is in contact with the medium it may be connected through a capacitor to a control driver, e.g., poten-tiostat or to ground. Where a conductive control electrode in contact with the medium has a thin insu-lating surface layer, the conductive electrode may be connected directly to a control driver or ground.
In the absence of a reference electrode, the electrodes must be conductive to the solution, that is, must couple to the Fermi level of the solution, e.g., employ a redox compound such as ferriferrocyanide, and must be conductively coupled to the control driver.
For an amperometric determination (redox~, a reference electrode is required and a conductively coupled control electrode is required.
Where the capactive mode is employed in con-junction with a reference electrode, a conductive control electrode is employed for each site, where each electrode may be energized independently or frequency coded; or a capacitive control electrode is employed where a re~erence or separate control electrode con-trols the potential, ~. In the latter configuration, the conductive electrode may be capacitively coupled to the modulation source or the conductive electrode coated with a thin insulating surface layer may be coupled to the modulating source. Without a reference electrode, the configuration has the conductive elec-trode conductive to the solution, coupled to the Fermi level of the solution (ferroferricyanide), and conduc-tively coupled to the control electrode driver.
Desirably, a reference site on the working electrode i9 used with all the configurations to reduce drifts resulting from thermal, electrode or other changes with time.
Various physical embodiments may be employed - involving flow cells and wicking, for the transport of liquids. Devices may be equipped with membranes which may serve to concentrate components of the assay, e.g., cells or particles, where the membrane may be pressed against the wor~ing electrode during measurement.
A thread, wire, tape or other continuous sup-port may be employed for performing chemistries exter-nal to or internal to the measurement cell, where the production of the signal occurs in the measurement cell. The extended support can be provided in a roll which is fed to a reel in a continuous or interrupted manner.

In addition to the elements de3cribed a~oYe, the construction of the device will involve a 3ingle or a plurality of inlet and outlet ports, and mean3 ~or varying the volume of the cell. Means which may be employed include piston.s, diaphragms, cams, bellows, elevated gas pressures, or the like.
In Fig. 1, is depicted an exemplary electro-chemical cell employing a photoresponsiva working elec-trode, shown in schematic cros3-sectional view, while detailed cross-sectional views of cell 10 are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Cell 10 includes container 12, pi3ton 14, working electrode 16, and transparent support plate 18, which supports the working electrode. A light source 20 illuminates the working electrode 16 through support plate 18. The tran~parent support plate 1~ may be shaped so as to focus the light at a site on the sur~ace of the working elctrode 16. While only one light source is indicated, there may be present a plur-ality of light sources, each light source illuminating a particular area of the working electrode 16. Access ports 22 and 24 are provided, which can serve as an inlet our outlet, depending upon the particular need.
Piston 14 can reciprocate so as to be in a generally raised or "up" position (Fig. 2) or generally lowered or ~down" position (Fig. 3). The container 12 is in sealing engagement with the working electrode 16.
The container has access areas 30a and 30b as concavi-ties in the container providing small chambers into which fluids can be introduced or withdrawn, where the small chambers haYe communication with the larger chamber 40. Additional small chambers may be provided with channel access tnrough the chamber container to the outside for introducing or removing various solu-tions or providing access to one or more re~erence or other electrodes.

In Figs. 1-3, the container is provided ,lith 0-ring 32 to prevent leakage. Similarly, piston 14 is sealingly engaged with the walls of con~ainer 12 by means of 0-ring 36.
The volume in chamber 40 is controlled by the movement of piston l4 from the up position, which allows for a relatively large volume in the chamber, to the down position where the piston bottom 42 i3 in close juxtaposition to the working electrode upper sur-face ~4. The bottom 42 and upper surface 44 will have a substantially uniform separation of distance, "D" in the down position and distance "d" in the up position.
While for the most part, the piston bottom 42 and upper surface 44 are flat, other surfaces are per-missible, such as cylindrical, spherical, incline, or the like. The separation between the piston bottom 42 and upper surface 44 or sample depth may be as small as 0.1~m and will usually not be more than about ~mm, usu-ally not more than about 1mm, and frequently less than about 0.05mm.
The piston 14 may be formed of any of a variety of rigid materials, so long as the central-electrode 70 which is positioned on the piston bottom 42 can be electrically connected to a circuit or ground. The electrode material should be chemically inert to the environment to avoid signals associated with events other than the measurement of interest, typically metal-oxygen reactions. If dasired, the piston 14 may provide for a light source, so as to irradiate the working electrode l6 through the sample.
The particular manner in which the recipro-cating movement of the piston 14 is controlled is not critical, there being numerous mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic techniques for defining precise movement of a piston. In the subject figure, a stop collar 38 is employed to control the separation in the down position.

3 ~s~ 7 Light source 20 may be any of a v~risty of light sources, such as incandescent lamps, hollo~,r cathode lamp~, gas vapor lamps, light emitting diodes, lasers, se~iconductor diode lasers, tunable dye la3ers, and the like. Desirably, light source 20 will pro~ide for a time-varying light signal. For example, the intensity of light can be modulated electronically according to well known techniques to vary the output of light source 20 sinusoidally or Ln other patterns at a determined frequency in the range of about 10Hz to 100kHz, usually 100Hz-50kHz, more u~ually 1-20kHz, during the period of irradiation. Alternatively, where the light source cannot be modulated, the intensity of light delivered to the working electrode 16 may be modulated by a mechanical means, such as choppers, shutters, or the like. Where the intensity of the light source 20 is modulated, the electronic signal derived from a photoresponsive working electrode 16 can be selectively detected or measured with synchronous frequency and/or phase detection techniques, frequency selected electronic filtering, gated amplifiers, or the like, according to known techniques.
As desired, the light may also be limited to a selected wavelength or range of wavelengths by employing a light source providing the desired wave-length range, e.g., lasers, light-emitting diodes, etc., or with broadband sources, the wavelength can be selected with, for example, gratings, prisms, filters, monochromators, or the like. The choice of wavelength range may relate to the type of measurement or experi-ment to be performed or particular wavelength ranges to which the photoresponsive electrode is sensitive.
While working electrode 16 is shown as a mono-lithic wafer, or single continuous plate, the working electrode can have varying configurations. Rather than a single wafer, a plurality of chips may be employed, which may or may not be in electrocommunication with each other. Thus, each of the chips may be electric-ally insulated one from the other and connected to common circuit or different circuits for detection.
The same or different materials may be used for thé
plurality of chips, so that the working electrodes ma~
respond differently to the same environment. The same electrode may be processed differently at different sites so as to provide a varying respon3e.
In carrying out a determination using the devlce depicted in Figs. 1-3, the sample may be intro-duced into inlet port 52 with the piston in the up position where channel 52 accommodates syringe needle 63, which e~its into small chamber 30b. The sample solution may be introduced by means of syringe needle 63 into chamber 40, where any reaction for the assay determination may be carried out. One or more solu-tions may be introduced as appropriate for the deter-mination. If desired, after an addition, the reagent may be expelled by lowering piston 14 so as to expel the solution through channel 54 to the outside. After the appropriate reaction has occurred to provide the binding of a label to surface 44, piston 14 may now be lowered as depicted in Fig. 3 so that the distance between the control electrode 42 and the upper surface 44 of the working electrode 16 is now D. By irradia-ting the working electrode 16 with light from light source 20, a signal may be obtained correlating with the nature of the label in close proximity to the electrodes 16 and 42. The amount of label and the effect the label has on the working electrode conduc-tion band may be related to the amount of analyte.
An alternative embodiment of the sub~ect invention is depicted in Fig. 4, where the electro-chemical cell 10 has chamber 40 with check valves 60 and 62 providing for ingress and egress to chamber 40. As pi~ton 14 is raised, fluid flows into the chamber 40 and, conversely~ as piston 14 is lowered, 4~

fluid is expressed through check valves 62 from chAmber 40. The c'neck valves can be any of a variety of valves, suc'n as ball valves, hinge valves, and t'ne like. By reciprocating piston 14, solutions can be continuously introduced and expelled in a serial man-ner, allowing sufficient time for the various pro-cedures to occur, such as reaction, wash, reversal of complex binding, and the like. Thus, by providing for an automated cycling, one can provide for alternating sample, wash and treatment solutions in conjunction with the reciprocating movement of piston 14.
The subject device will have at least the working and control electrodes, but desirably will in-clude a reference electrode (not shown) such as a stan-dard calomel electrode, silver-silver chloride elec-trode, or other electrode which provides for a standard potential. The reference electrode will be mounted to provide for electrical contact with the sample solu-tion. The reference electrode may be distant from the sample solution, providing for a bridge, or may be in direct contact with the sample solution, for example, through a channel such as channel 54. Suitable refer-ence electrodes and mounting techniques may be found in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,020,830.
The working electrode 16, will desirably be a photoresponsive electrode, which includes an irradia-tion surface 66 and a solution confronting surface 44 on opposite sides of the photoresponsive electrode 16.
As already indicated, where the piston provides for a light source, the irradiation surface and solution con-fronting surface may be the same.
The other electrode, in the three electrode configuration, is an electrochemically inert control-ling electrode 70, mounted preferably on the opposite side of sample region 40 from working electrode 16 as the bottom of piston 14.

4~7 Photoresponsive working electrode 16 i3 un-polarized or polarized ~ith respect to a suitable con-trolling electrode 70. P'notoresponsive electrode 16 can be polarized with either a reverse or forward bias, where current i~ either inhibited or allowed to flow through an electrically communicating nonmetallic medium, usually a polar fluid medium, e.g., an aqueous medium. Suitable methods and circuits for polarizing photoresponsive electrode 16 are known, as, for - 10 example, in International Patent Publication No.
W085/04018.
Photoresponsive electrode 16 is preferably a semiconductor electrode from which an electrical sig-nal, measured with respect to the reference electrode, is inducible or variable, depending upon the effect of irradiation and upon the surface potential of surface 44 of photoresponsive electrode 16. Photoresponsive electrode 16 may be a wafer or coating mounted to or coated on a portion of surface 66 of base 18.
Photoresponsive electrode 16 can be connected to appropriate electrical circuitry (e.g., Fig. 5, discussed below) with a thin conductive, for example, metallic layer coated on surface 66 of supporting plate 18 or with a lead passed through supporting plate 18, as will be known in the art. In the configuration of Figs. 2 and 3, irradiation surface 66 of photorespon-sive electrode 16 confronts ~upporting plate 18. the electrical signal obtained upon illumination of photo-responsive electrode 16 will be affected by the pro-cesses and components of the solution contained in the sample region 40, and can be used, as described more fully below, to determine the presence, concentration, or other characteristics of a substance in the solution or other solution property of interest.
A~ indicated, the working electrode 16 will be a semiconductive material, which may also be photoresp-onsive. Semiconductive materials include such mater-34~7 ials as silicon, gallium arsenide, gallium sel~nide, aluminum gallium arsenide, or t'ne l~ke. The semicon-ductive material will be either of the p- or n-type and, as appropriate, may be intrinsic or may employ such dopants as boron, aluminum, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, or the like. The degree of doping may be varied widely, there being a wide variety of commer-cially available doped wafers which can be used. The concentration of the dopant will normally vary émpir-ically in order to provide the desired photoresponse,frequently being a matter of convenience, and will generally range from about 1 o1 o to 1 o20 atoms/cc;
usually for silicon the rating will be about 5-20 ohm-cm. Photoconductive materials include chloro-gallium phthalocyanine. Rieke and Armstrong, J. Am.Chem. Soc. (1984) 106:47-50. Various electrical circuits may be used to measure changes in photoresponsiveness of phororespon-sive electrode 16 which result from changes in the ; 20 state of an incremental portion of the solution.- One example of such a circuit is described below in con-junction with Fig. 5. These electrical circuits may primarily measure changes in phototresponse which include photopotential and, photocurrent, or combina-tions thereof. Circuits will be chosen so as to pro-vide maximal sensitivity for detecting small changes in the ~tate of the solution. These measurements will generally be referred to as the photoresponse.
The observed signal from the circuit can be a regult of the change in direct current, alternating current, or the effect of a direct current on an alter-nating current.
Where wafers are used for the working elec-trode 16, they may come in a variety of sizes and shapes, varying from chip size, which may have its largest dimension of about 0.1mm, or wafer size, which may be 100mm, ~ore usually not more than about 75mm in 4~7 its largest dimension. A photorespo~sive electrode wlll u~ually have at lea~t one ~mooth 3urf~ce or 3mooth portion of a ~urface, de3irably flat, which will ser e as the irradiation site and, in a preferred photoelec-trical cell, be arranged for maximum efficiency ofirradiation from a light ~ource. The wafer may be round, rectangular, elongate or the like. The th~ck-nes~ of the wa~er will generally be not more than about 1mm, u3ually le~ than about 2mm, and generally not le~ than about 0.05~, usually not les~ than about 0.1mm, being in the lower portion of the range when the irradiation surface i5 opposite the sample region.
The sample confronting ~urface 44 of photo-re~ponsive electrode 16 may be modified by being reacted with a variety of sub~tances, including, for example, variou~ phy~iologically active protein~, ~uch as membrane proteins, antibodies, enzymes, ligands, etc. or other substrates, to modify selectively the de~ired re3ponse of the photore~ponsive electrode.
Alternatively or in combination, the sample confronting ~urface 44 may be reacted with a wide variety of organic ~ilanes, particularly halides or ester~, which can provide ~or an organic coating of the surface.
Methods and type3 of coatings which may rind applica-tion are de~cribed, for ~ilicon ~urface~, in Inter-national Patent Publication No. W083/0 6669. Such csatings can Le used alone or in combination with other functional qroups which may have an appropriate ?olarity, chemical nature, or reactive characteristic 30 and may include, for example, carboxylate, phosphate, ammonium, carboxylate esters, phosphate mono-, di-~ or triesters, and the like. Reactive groups so bound to -the surface of the photoresPonsive electrode may be further modified by reactions with proteins, enzymes, 35 monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, enzvme substrates, coenz-~mes, or the like. Where hvdrocarbon radicals, ~articularlv all-4~

phatic group~ of about o to 24 carbon atoms, eithersaturated or unsaturated, are attached to the surface of the photoresponsive electrode, a second layer may be employed to provide for a bilayer membrane. Alterna-tively, lipids forming stable lamellar membrane3 may beemployed for both layers, avoiding covalent bonding to the surface. Illustrative groups include phospholi-pids, sphingomyelins, ganglio3ides, cholesteric compounds, pho~phatidyl inositol, acylglycerols, waxes, and the like, where the different groups, particularly chole~teric compounds, are used in mixtures.
Various other materials may be used in con-junction with sample confronting surface 44, which materials may be bound either covalently or noncova-lently, or held mechanically in place adjacent to thesolution confronting the surface. The materials may be naturally occurring, or synthetic, or combinations thereof. These materials include porous films, gener-ally of from about 0.25 to 50 mil in thickness, normally being polar materials, such as nitrocellulose, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylates, proteins, polysaccharides, e.g., agarose, cellulosic materials, e.g., filter paper, and the like. These layers may have independent integrity or rely on the photoresponsive device for support.
The photoresponsive electrode may have the sample confronting surface 44 and irradiation surface 66, each having a surface area of about 1mm2 to about 50cm2, more u~ually about 5mm2 to 25cm2. The extent of the irradiation surface 66 and also of the involved ~ample confronting surface 44 are chosen to be commen-surate with the physical practicalities of the photo-electrochemical cell 10, e.g., the size of the sample region, ths area which is illuminated, etc. Generally, where sample confronting surface 44 and irradiation surface 66 of photoresponsive electrode 16 are not the same surface, the two surfaces may or may not be approximately coextensive.

~3 ~ L~

Irradiation of photoresponsiYe electrode 16 on irradiation surface 66 of the electrode may be on either the side of photoresponsive electrode 16 con-fronting the sample region 40 (solution-confronting surface 44 of photoresponsive electrode 16) (e.g., Fig.
4) or on the side of the photoresponsive electrode opposite from the sample region 40 (e.g., Fi~s, 2 and 3). HoweverJ ~there irradiation surface 66 i3 on the side of photoresponsive electrode 16 opposite to the sample confronting surface 44 (Figs. 2 and 3), the wafer or coating comprising the photoresponsive elec-trode 16 will usually be thin, on the order of the minority carrier diffusion layer or less, usually about 0.01 to 5mm. Normally, in this situation, the thick-ness of the photoresponsive electrode 16 will be fromabout 0.05~ to 0.5mm.
In the embodiment o~ electrochemical cell 10 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, counterelectrode 70 may be formed from an inert, electrically conductive material, e.g., a noble metal, such as platinum, gold, iridium, rhodium, or the like, which is electrochemcially inert to the medium of interest and does not react with oxygen under the conditions of the determination.
The controlling electrode 70 may also be fab-ricated to have surfaces in contact with the samplesolution which are inert semiconductor materials such as, for example, Si, GaAs, etc. Controlling electrode 70 may also be formed entirely or in part with compo-site materials such as, for example, platinum impreg-3 nated Teflon. In embodiments in which ~t is desirablethat the controlling electrode 70 be transparent, as for example, those embodiments in which it is desirable to illuminate sample region 40 and/or photoresponsive electrode 16 through piston 14 of Figs. 2 and 3, con-trolLing eiectrode 70 can be formed to be a layer on~he pi~ton bottom 42 with a suitable hole or trans-parent area for illumination of photoresponsive elec-trode 16. Alternatively, in such emoodiment3, a trans-lucent, semitransparent, or transparent controlling electrode 70 could be used; controlling electrode 70 could then, for greatest efficiency of both illumina-tion and electrode response, cover all of bottom 42.
Suitable light-transmissive controlling electrodes could be formed from a partially metallized thin botto.m 42, as with gold, platinum, or the like.
Alternatively, controlling electrode 70 could be comprised of a transparent or partially transparent semiconductor material of, for exampla, tin oxide, indium oxide, titanium dioxide, or strontium titanium trioxide. Controlling electrode 70 could also be formed from a coating of a light-transmissive polymeric semiconductor on bottom 42; suitable polymeric sub-stances that may find use include polyacetylene, doped polyacetylene, metal doped polyacrylonitrile, polypyr-role, polyalkadienes, and the like. Suitable dopants may include iodine, sulfuric acid, arsenic penta-fluoride, antimony pentachloride, nitro antimony hexa-fluoride, and the like; the conductivity of such poly-meric substances can also be modified using electro-chemical oxidation. The material of controlling elec-trode 70 will be chosen to be compatible with oxygen and the fluid medium of interest.
One suitable circuit for the measurement of the photoresponse or other electrical signal generated with electrochemical cell lO involves automatically varying the potential between controlling electrode 70 and working electrode 16 so as to maintain a constant amplitude sinusoidal cùrrent through controlling elec-trode 70 in response to sinusoidal irradiation of irradiation surface 66 of working electrode 16. Thus, variations in the chemical environment near working electrode 16 can be dstermined by measuring the poten-tial required to maintain a constant current. This measurement scheme is referred to as the constant amplitude mode.

A second suitable circuit for the measuremenf, of the photoresponse or other electrical signal gener-ated with electrochemical cell 10 involves sweepin~ th~
potential between controlling electrode 70 and working electrode 16 and measuring the amplitude of the alter-nating current through the circuit, where the current is induced by sinusoidal irradiation of surface 6~ of working electrode 16. The array thus produced, applied potential vs. p'notocurrent amplitude, is analyzed ~ith digital electronics to determine the applied potential which corresponds to the point of maximum slope on the plot of photocurrent amplitude versus applied poten-tial. This potential is dependent in a quantitative manner on variations in the chemical environment near 15 working electrode 16. This measurement scheme i5 referred to as the constant potential mode.
A block diagram of an exemplary circuit is shown schematically in Fig. 5, which shows silicon wafer working electrode 16, controlling electrode 70, 20 and reference electrode 78. Potentiostat 74 controlls the potential between aqueous solution 84 and working electrode 16 by monitoring solution potential through reference electrode 78 and applying the necessary potential to controlling electrode 70. Alternating 25 current ammeter for 76 measures the alternating current : through working electrode 16 and outputs a potential proportional to the amplitude of this current to output : 80. This signal is used in the constant potential mode. In this mode switch 86 would be open. When 30 Ywitch 86 is closed a feedback loop to potentiostat 74 i~ formed which allows potentiostat 74 to maintain a potential from solution to working electrode 16 such that a constant photoinduced AC current is maintained through working electrode 16. In this constant ampli-35 tude mode potentiostat 74 provides an output 82 which : provides a volta~e proportional to the potential from ~olution 84 to working electrode 16.

~3~7 Where capacitance is employed as the electrL-cal respon~e, the ch~nge in capacitance can be deter-mined from the alternating current re3ulting from potential modulation ~uperimposed on a lower frequency potential sweep.
A description Or a capacitance 31gnal may be found in Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 51~,562 filed 21 August 1986.
A~ already indicated, the photoresponsive electrode may be the bottom surface of the piston or may be the bottom of the sample chamber, 50 that the controlling electrode will remain opposite the photo-respon3ive working electrode. Depending upon the light transmis~ive nature of the electrodes, the light may be directed by various means, such as optical fibers, light guides, or the like to either ~urface of the photoresponqlve electrode, the qurface in contact with the sample, or the opposite surface oP the photo-responsive electrode.
In some instances lt may be desirable to have a second light source, where the two light sources may have different wavelengths. By modulating the two source3 of light differently, for example with differ-ent frequencies, the electrical qignal derived from the photoresponsive electrode resulting from the two light sources may be separated by suitable demodulation, filtering, ~ynchronous detection, or other technique.
An alternative embodiment of the invention is depic~ed in Figs. 6 and 7, where an expandable or resilient ma~erial is employed, which allows ~or intro-ducing the sample with expansion Or the re~ilient material, allowing the reaction to occur, followed by expulsion of the sample material to reduce the volume to carry out the determination. This embodiment is round In Figs. 6 and 7, where device 100 includeq a flexible cover 102, a spacer 104, which serves as walls for the sample ch mber, a baseplate 106, which serves ~3 as the floor of the chamber, a light source 1~8, and inlet channel 110, and outlet channel 112. The flex-ible cover may be of any convenient material which is able to expand and contract under pressure and release of pressure. The inlet 110 may be connected by any convenient means to a source of liquid for introducf,ion into the chamber 116, while the outlet channel 112 may be joined to any convenient waste receptacle.
The spacer 104 is selected to provide the desired depth of the sample, and serves to control the volume of the sample during the determination. The spacer 104 will be about 0.1mm to about lmm, usually less than about 0.5mm. thick. T'ne flexible cover 102 may be of any elastomeric material, which can be doped, so as to act as the controlling electrode. Various conductive materials can be employed as the flexible cover 102. A working electrode 114 may be coated onto baseplate 106 so as to be transparent to allow for light transmission to flexible cover 102. A lead can 20 be coated on to baseplate 106 to extend under spacer 104 and connect working electrode 114 to an external circuit. The flexible cover may also be connected to the external circuit by appropriate leads, employing a circuit similar to the circuit previously described.
The next embodiment i9 depicted in Fig. 8 and schematically depicts a device referred to as the car-tridge device. The cartridge device 120 has a feed ~pool 122 and a takeup spool 124. The carrier material on the feed spool can be any of a variety of materials 30 which are porous and/or absorbent and may include per-forated mylar, filter materials, cotton or nylon threaded materials, or other materials capable of forming a film, thread, or the like, which may support a continuous or intermittent porous or absorbent layer.
35 The material on the feed spool serves as a carrier for the chemistries to be carried out and will be selected so as not to interfere with the chemistries, but rather ~f~

to provide the desired characteristics necessary for the assay determination.
The carrier material is fed through fir3'c guides 125, which serve to guide the carrier, as well 5 as preventing any solution from escaping from sample chamber 128. In the subject embodiment, the carr-ier i3 depicted as passing through a sample solution. Alter-natively, a syringe could be present which could put droplets of the sample onto the carrier at designated 10 positions, where reagents may or may not be present.
The sample may be dried by heating or other treatment to affix the sample to the carrier.
As depicted, the carrier has multiple coatings, only two coating3 130 and 132 being shown.
15 These coatings may be present as spots, lines, pads, or the like, and may have one or more reagents present for interaction with the sample in the sample chamber. For example, the coating spots 130 and 132 may be two different antibodies or two different ligands or the 20 like. One spot may be concerned with the sample and the other spot may proride a control.
A plurality of wash and reagent solution chambers 134, 136, and 138 may be employed, where in chamber 134, a plurality of guiding rods 140 are 25 present. The ~uidins rods provide for an extended path of the carrier material, so as to extend the period of time in which the carrier material is maintained in - chamber 134. Each of the wash and reagent solution chambers are separated by separator guide 144, which 30 allow for continuous movement of the carrier material 142, but inhibit mixing of solutions from one chamber to the next. The separators 142 may be various silicon rubber or similar ~askets, elastomeric wheels, or the like, which may serve not only to inhibit leakage, but 35 al~o to squeeze the carrier material, so as to minimize carryorer from one chamber to the next.

4~7 After the carrier material has trarersed the washing and reagent solution chamber~, the carrier material enters into the reaction chamber 146. The bottom of the reaction chamber is depicted as havin~
silicon wafer 148 as the working electrode. Piston 150 is conductive, desirably coated with a thin insulator, and serves a plurality of functions. In order to pre-vent leakage, piston 150 has 0-ring 152 to seal against the loss of solution. Piston 150 has orifice 154 which provides for communication between reaction chamber 14 and piston chamber 156. Inside piston chamber 15~ is reference electrode 158 connected by lead 160 to a circuit, not shown. LEDs 162a and 162b are positioned underneat.h silicon wafer 148 to illuminate the regions of the silicon wafer underneath the coatings 130 and 132 on carrier 142.
The entire device 120 can be organized so as to fit into a cartridge housing 164.
The piston 150 as the controlling electrode and the wafer 148 as the working electrode may be joined to a circuit to which the reference electrode 158 is also joined as described previously.
In carrying out an assay, the carrier material is spotted with a particular reagent, for example, an antibody. A plurality of spots may be employed, where the antibodies may be the same or different. The reagent spots are separated in accordance with the par-tlcular protocol, allowing for the introduction and removal of 3ample from the sample chamber 128. Thus, a pump can be employed for introducing the sample and, in accordance with a preselected schedule, expelling the sample, washing the sample chamber 128, and then intro-ducing a new ~ample. The period of time in which the reagent spots remain in the sample chamber will be con-trolled by the rate of the uptake spool 124 and thelength of the path of the reagent spot in the chamber.
Of course, the uptake spool need not be continuous but may move intermittently where the time at ~/arious posi-tions may vary in accordance with a predetermined schedule or a schedule associated with each determination.
In the illustrative method, the reagent spots are two different antibodies, where it is known that the sample contains only one ligand, 30 that the other spot may serve as a control or negative. The t~"o 3pots enter the sample chamber and are allowed to react with any li~and present. From the sample chamber, the reac-ted spots move to a reaction chamber which contains monoclonal antibodies specific for an epitopic site on the ligand different from that to which the antibodies of the spots on the carrier bind. The residence time is extended by having the carrier move about the rods, so as to have an extended pathway in the reaction chamber 134.
From the reaction chamber 134, the carrier moves to a second reaction chamber 136, which contains 20 an enzyme, e.g., urease conjugated to anti-mouss anti-body, where the second antibody was a mouse immuno-globulin. Thus, any mouse antibody which binds to the ligand, providing a sandwich assay, will be bound by the conjugate, so that the amount of urease which binds to the carrier will be proportional to the amount of ligand that was in the sample.
From reaction chamber 136, the carrier moves to washing chamber 138, where any nonspecifically bound enzyme conjugate is removed from the carrier, so as to in~ure that the amount of enzyme present which is bound to the reaction spots on the carrier is specifically bound. From the wash chamber 138, the carrier then move~ to the reaction chamber 14~. The reaction chamber 146 contains substrate for the reagent for the 35 enzyme. In the case of urease, this would be urea at a pH which is generally optimum for the enzyme, but the medium is relatively lightly buffered, e.g. less than about 50mM, usually less than about 1mM, typically 100~M so as not to interfere wit'n the change in pH upon the hydrolysis of the urea.
When the reaction spots move to the reaction chamber, they will be positioned over the LEDs 162a and 162b and may be halted there. The piston 150 is than pushed down, so as to press the carrier 142 against the wafer 148 and remove mo3t of the liquid medium into which hydroxide ions would diffuse from the spots. The carrier material will retain a sufficient amount of the substrate, so that the enzyme reaction can proceed and, in the case of urease, the presence of the enzyme will result in a substantial change in pH.
By actuating the LEDs alternately, an increasing pH at one site as compared to the other site will indicate the presence of the ligand associated with the antibody at that particular site. Once the determination has been made, the piston may be raised and the uptake spool turned so as to remove the spent reactant sites from the reaction chamber and prepare the reaction chamber to receive the next reactant spots.
By having a relatively large volume of sub-~trate in the reaction chamber initially, the small reaction which occurred at the reactant spots will be diluted out, so that a plurality of determinations can be made without having to change the substrate solu-tion. In this manner, cartridges can be made which can be relatively small9 fit into an apparatus which has the appropriate circuitry and machinery for moving the spools, and when the spools are spent, the cartridge may be discarded or reloaded, as desired. For contin-uous determinations, the various chambers can allow for flow through so as to have continous or intermittent replenishment of the solution.

~ 7 The next embodiment in Fig. 9 is a lilter ~lo~"
cell. In this embodiment, one can concentrate ~ part-icle of interest, such as a cell, virus, memb~ane frag-ment, synthetic particle, or the like on a fil~er mem-brane, which can be positioned close to the workingelectrode, generally not more than about 100microns.
The filter flow cell 170 has piston 172 with con-trolling electrode 174 connected to an outside circuit by conductive rod 176. Leakage around the piston i3 prevented by 0-ring 178. A filter membrane 180 is positioned between the controllinz electrode 174 and the working electrode 182, whicn electrode i5 conven-iently a silicon wafer. The housing 184 has inlet channel 186, which channel has exit port 188, which port is below filter membrane 180.
Cylinder 190 fits into housing 184 and serves to house pi~ton 172 and position filtar membrane 180 in conjunction with supports 192 and 194. The cylinder is removable from the housing, so that after each use of 20 the membrane, the cylinder may be removed from the housing, the spent membrane discarded and a new mem-brane positioned on supports 192, 194 and locked into position by cylinder 190. Reaction chamber 196 may have varying volumes depending upon the movement of 25 piston 172, the piston generally being in either an up position, during the reaction, and in a down position pres~ing filter membrane 180 down against working elec-trode 182 during the determination. Reaction chamber 195 has outlet channel 198, where excess liquid may be 30 expelled from reaction chamber 196. Various 0-rings are proYided which need not be individually indicated to minimize leakage from the housing or through the cylinder.
Two cells may be placed in tandem, where the 35 second cell receives the filtered medium from the first cell. The second cell need not have a membrane, but in order to provide an accurate reproduction of the system in the sample cell, a membrane could be included. By using the filtered medium for the control cell and a common circuit for the two cells, a difference in signals between the two cell3 should correlate with the presence of the analyte in the sample cell.
In carrying out an assay, one would introduce the sample through inlet channel 186 into chamber 196, with the piston in the raised position, 30 as to pro-vide for a relatively large volume of fluid to pas3 through chamber 196 and exit through outlet channel 198. After the sample has passed through reaation chamber 196, additional reagent solutions, wash solu-tions, and the like may be passed through reaction chamber 196, where they may undergo a variety of reac-tions associated with the presence o~ the analytetrapped by filter membrane 180. The piston 172 may now be lowered to the down position, where it urges in the filter membrane 180 toward the working electrode 182.
The substrate solution may now be introduced through inlet channel 186 to fill chamber 196, so as to have the substrate solution in contact with the filter mem-brane, while the volume of the reaction chamber is low.
To further reduce the volume of the chamber, by appro-priate choice of the filter membrane materiall one can bring the piston all the way down, pressing the filter membrane 180 against the surface 200 of the working electrode 182. In this manner, the determination can be carried out with a minimum volume, with the reagents in clo~e proximity to the working electrode. Further-more, the filter membrane retains its moisture duringthe measurement being surrounded by the medium.
As appropriate, one could provide for a refer-ence electrode in the outlet port, so as to provide for a circuit as has been described previously. Nhere a photoresponsive electrode is employed, a light source will be employed or capacitive measurement can be made, due to the effect of the medium on a capacitive element in the silicon wafer.

~_t~

In the next embodiment, a wicking device is employed, which has many elements similar to the devices previously considered. Similar to the L ilter flow cell of Fig. 9, the wicking device 210 has a housing 212, a wicking material 214, and a piston 216 which also 3erves as the controlling electrode. Inner wall 218, serves as the piston chamber and act3 to lock the filter membrane 220 in place proximal to the photo-responsive electrode 222. A reference electrode 22~ i3 provided, which is in contact with the wetted filter membrane 220 through wicking material 214. O~rings are provided for inhibiting leakage. Piston 216 has rea-gent chamber 226 and orifice 228 through which reagent can contact filter membrane 220. Two LEDs 230 are indicated, which are merely illustrative of the fact that a plurality of LEDs may be used to illuminate spe-cific sites of the silicon wafer in relation to differ-ent chemistries which may be impregnated in or be present on the filter membrane 220 at different sites, as depicted in Fig. 10c.
The various electrodes may be connected to the appropriate circuitry for determination of a change in the medium which changes the photoresponsive signal obtained from the signal wafer in relation to a reac-tion occurring at the surface of the photoresponsiveelectrode 222.
In Fig. 1Oa, the piston 216 surrounds the chamber 226 which terminates in orifice 228. ~ooking upward, the piston appears as a wall 216 having orifice 228.
In carrying out the assay, one would place the filter membrane 220 with appropriate chemistries at various sites. As depicted in Fig. 10c, six different chemistries are indicated by the differently positioned dots 232. Again, one could imagine each of the dots 232 having a different receptor, e.g., antibody, or a different ligand or combinations thereof. The dots 232 would be positioned so as to be under the cylinder 216.

In carrying out t-ne assay, the sample 301u -tion, reagent solutions, and washing solutions could 3e added in accordance with the appropriate protocol, eitner consecutively or concurrently, depending upon the particular solution, wnere the solutions would pa33 through orifice 228 and extend under piston 216 into region 234, where the solution would be absorbed by the filter membrane 220. The media would then travel by means of capillary action through the membrane 220 to wicking material 214, where the wicking material would absorb the fluid permitting the addition of the next fluid. Each of the fluids would migrate through the same path, to be ultimately expended in the wicking material. The piston 216 may be fixed or preferably movable, so that it may squeeze the filter me~brane 220 against the silicon wafer 222, so as to minimize the volume of liquid in contact with the silicon wafer 222. Each of the spots 232 may then be individually - interrogated by sequentially irradiating the region underneath the spot with the related LED. In this manner, a plurality of determinations can be rapidly made. The device may be disassembled, the spent filter membrane 220 discarded, a new filter membrane intro-duced, and the process repeated.
An additional embodiment is depicted in Fig.
11 which is referred to as a rigid filter device. In Fig. 11a, device 250 has a fluted piston 252 which also serves as the controlling electrode. The base of the device is the working electrode 254, which may be con-veniently a silicon wafer. ~ylinder 256 houses the fluted piston 252 and is enclosed at the bottom with filter membrane 258. Device body 260 has inlet channel 262, into which the various samples, reagent solutions, and wash solutions may be introduced. The device body has 0-ring 264 to provide a leak-proof seal with the working electrode 254. Fig. 11b is a plan view of the fluid piston 252 with a pluraiity of flutes 266. The ~ 7 flutes allow for escape of fluids from the chamber 2 defined by the device body 260 and the working slec-trode base 254.
This device operates in a similar manner to the device depicted in Fig. 9, except that the membrane may either be rigid and brittle or flexible, since tne membrane need not be flexed to be pre3sed against the working electrode 254. In carryine out the assay, the sample solution may be introduced into chamber 2&8 through inlet port 262 and particles, such as bacterial cells, will be collected on filter membrane 258. A
relatively large sample may be introduced into c'namber 268 and pass through filter membrane 258. At the com-pletion of the introduction of the sample, nutrient medium may be introduced, which has components which may result in A change in pH. The cylinder 256 may then be pressed down, the cylinder sliding within the walls of the device body 260, so that the membrane 258 is pressed against working electrode 254. The piston controlling electrode 252 may then be pressed down against the filter to minimize the reaction volume adjacent to the working electrode 254. A change in pH
as a result of the metabolism o~ any cells collected on filter nlembrane 258 may then be detected.
The next device, as depicted in Fig. l2, is referred to as a diaphragm device. This device employs a diaphragm and air pressure for pumping solutions through a sensor and for reducing the volume in a flow cell without a pistQn. The device further demonstrates 30 a configuration compatible with capacitive measure-ments, as well as photomeasurements. Employing separ-ately wired controlling electrodes permits monitoring oY discrete sites on a wafer without LEDs by modulating the potential on each of the controlling electrodes and 35 mea~uring the resulting alternating current. Another feature of this device is the provision for a reference cell. Having two cells on the same piece of silicon allows for sample and reference readings to be multi-plexed. The reference readings can be used to s~lb'cract drifts, such as thermal drifts in the reference elec-trode, silicon, electronics, or other component of the device, where temperature-or other element may re~ult in a change in signal unrelated to the sample. The common reference electrode insures the same solution potential in both the sample and reference cells.
In this devics, the sample chemistry may be immobilized on either the controlling electrode or silicon surface in one cell, but not the other cell.
All solutions would be pumped sequentially through the ~ample cell and into the reference cell and out the outlet port. By the proper sequential application of air pressure and vacuum to the two air pressure ports, the same solutions will be maintained in both cells in the same order for the same amount of time. Air pres-sure is applied to both diaphragms for reading. In this manner, the reference cell also controls for non-specific binding events or background signal.
The diaphragm device 280 depicted in Fig. 12has first and second air plenum chambers 282 and 284 in housings 286 and 288, respectively. Fluid 290 is introduced through inlet port 292 so as to flow through reaction chamber 290, conduit 292, and into control reaction chamber 294. Fluid may be expelled through outlet port 295.
~ alves 296 and 298 control the introduction and removal of fluid. A common reference electrode 300 sits in well 302 in contact with fluid 290. First and ~econd air pressure ports 304 and 306 are provided to control the height of the controlling electrode support for pumping and reading.
I~sulative controlling electrode supports 308 and 310 are connected at their peripheries to diaphragms 312 and 314, which diaphragms completely - surround the electrode supports so as to divide air chambers into a fluid region 31~ and an air region 318. In each chamber a ?lurality of controlling elec-trodes 320 are mounted on controlling electrode sup-ports 308 and 310 and connected to a circuit not shown, by leads 322. Lead 324 connects reference electrode 300 to the same circuit.
For each controlling electrode 320, an LED is provided so as to interrogate a particular area of working electrode 326, which area confronts a parti-cular region of the working electrode 320. In Fig.12a, a cross-sectional view of the diaphragm and con-trolling electrode assembly is depicted where the con-centric flutes of diaphragm 312 are depicted by the various rings and the controlling electrodes 320 are supported by support 308.
In Fig. 13 is depicted a device employing a strip which may be used for a plurality of determina-tions, by having a variety of different chemistries associated on the qtrip in the appropriate spatial 20 relationship. In the device, at each site a piston is employed for pressing the porous strip against the surface of the working electrode. The chemistries may be present on a single porous layer, or may be individ-ual elements supported on a porous or nonporous sup-25 port. In this manner, the various steps of the assaymay be carried out external to the device, followed by introducing the strip into the device, where it is immersed into an appropriate solution which results in the production of a product which will affect the 30 observed signal.
The strip measuring device 340 has housing 342 with chamber 344 containing the development solution ~or producing a product which provides a signal. The 3trip 348 is introduced through receiving port 350 and 35 channel 352 into chamber 344. A plurality of con-trolling electrodes 354 are positioned so as to align with the sample and/or reference sites for the deter-mination. A semiconductive slectrode 3~6 serfing asthe working electrode serves a~ one ~all of the ch~.mber 344 and is held in place by gasket 357. Housing 342 includes reference electrode well 358 into ~hich can be introduced the reference electrode, not shown, so as to be in electrical contact with the developing solution.
Thi~ reference electrode chamber is fitted with fritt~d dis~ 359 separating the reference electrode well 358 from channel 360. Conveniently, the well 358 may be filled with 1M KCl and u~ed in conjunction with an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Channel 360 exitq at port 361 ~itted with valve 364. Piston cylinder rod 364 fits into well 366, so that the pistons may extend down into well 344. A wire coil 358 surrounds cylinder rod 364 and serves to move controlling electrodes 354, so a~ to press strip 348 against the working electrode 356. The piston 364 seals well 366 with 0-ring 374.
In the particular embodiment, the controlling elec-trodes 354 are connected by leads 372 to a circuit not shown. The piston rod 364 is fitted with collar 370 which covers the chamber 366.
The strip 348 has analytical pads 376 at one end of the strip which provide for the necessary re-agents for interacting with the analyte and the com-ponents of the assay system.
In carrying out an assay, strip 348 would be combined with the sample and any necessary reagents to provide for the appropriate chemistries to occur at pads 376. The strip would then be introduced through port 350 into channel 352, where the strip would travel, so as to position pads 376 in well 344, which would contain an appropriate reagent. For example, if the assay protocol involved binding of an enzyme to a pad, then the well could contain the substrate.
~n an alternative embodiment, in carrying out the a~say, strip 348 receives the sample or any neces-sary reagents to provide for the appropriate chemis-tries to occur at pads 3~6. The strip i3 then intro-duced through port 358 to channel 352, so as to posi-tion pads 376 in well 344, ~hich would contain eithartne appropriate reagents, or a sample, respectively.
In yet another embodiment of this invention, in carrying out an assay, strip 348 contains either a sample or any necessary reagents to provide for the appropriate chemistries to occur at pads 376. The strip is then introduced through port 315 to channel 10 352, so as to position pads 376 in well 344, which would, if desired, contain a reagent solution. In thi3 embodiment, strip 348 would also contain an appropriate reagent or a sample, respectively, which, through wicking or capillary action, would travel to pass 376 to provide for the appropriate chemistries to occur at pads 376.
Piston 364 would be present in chamber 366, with the cylinder in the retracted position, so that the controlling electrodes are removed from the.well 20 344. After the strip is positioned, the coil 368 may be activated, so as to drive the piston inward and press pads 376 against semiconductive electrode 356.
Lights (not shown), may be used to irradiate the oppo-site side of semiconductive electrode 356 at different 25 times, where the irradiating light source is positioned 90 a~ to be immediately opposite a pad site. By employing circuits which have been previously described, the effect o~ the enzyme product on the surface potential of the semiconductive electrode may 3~ be determined and related to the amount of analyte in the sample medium. Coil 366 may then be energized so as to retract cy1inder rod 354. Strip 348 may then be removed from the housing 342 and, the well 344 may be washed, if necessary, and be prepared for the next 35 test.

~ 7 A study was made of the effort of ~ariou3 volumes on the sensitivity of the device in detecting changes in pH as a result of urease catal~sed hydrol-ysis of urea. A device comparable to the de~ice of Fig. 1, ha~ing the following specifications ~as employed: p type Si wafer 200hm~cm, LED infa-red 870nm, the piston was a 0.25" Kel F rod with a P~ rod pre3ent in the centre. A sllver/silver chloride reference electrode was employed. Urease (2 mg/ml) in PBS was incubated in the chamber for 10 min, whereby the enzyme binds to the semiconductor surface. After sequential washes, a urease substrate solution was introduced into the flow cell and the piston adjusted to various heights measured as the distance between the surface of the Si electrode and the end of the piston next to the silicon surface. With the electronic circuit in the constant amplitude mode, the change in bias potential was monitored as a function of time. For different piston heights, the piston was raised, fresh substrate introduced, and the piston height appropriately adjusted. The calculation of the rate of pH change was based on a 50 mV/pH unit as determined with standard buffers. Based on these determinations, changing the piston height from about 40Q~ to about 14~ resulted in an increase in the rate of change of pH of 1.5 pH
unit/h to about 220 pH unit/h.
The next study was in a device generally depicted in Fig. 9 having specifications similar to those in~icated for the previous experiment. The potential was measured as a function of time with the electronic circuit in a constant amplitude mode. The bacterial nutrient medium was introduced into the assay chamber and the signal was measured for 300 sec. to establish an instrument base line. Approximately 106 E. coli were then flushed into the cell with the piston retracted followed by an addition of the same medium, the piston lowered and the signal followed for 300 sec., with the process being repeated, followsd by similar series using a bacterial medium containing 0.1 times the buffer concentration. The data showed that multiQle readings could be made on bacteria from a single introduction. In this manner, bacterial response to various media can be determined to deter-mine the particular species or strain.
The next study used the device of Fig. 9, except no membrane was used. After incubating the assay chamber with lO~g/ml urease in PBS for 5 min., excess enzyme was washed out and the potential measured a~ a function of time with the electronic circuit in the constant amplitude mode. Measurements were then made with a saline solution, containing 16mM urea, with EDTA varying from 10 to 0.1mM. All measurements were taken with the piston down. The different concentra-tions could be readily distinguished. Since it is not convenient to use buffers below 0.1mM in concentration, the spacing between the electrode should be not greater than about 1~m to enjoy full sensitivity.
In accordance with the subject invention, apparatuses and techniques are provided for performing sensitive assays, particularly where the analyte may be involved with very low concentrations or be present in extremely small amounts. Where the analyte can be concentrated by means of filtration, precipitation, agglutination, specific binding, combinations thereof, or the like, the signal resulting from the presence of the analyte can be confined to an extremely small area in extraordinarily small volumes. Thus, large amplifi-cations can be obtained of a detectable signal, so as to be able to detect the presence of very low concentrations or absolute amounts of materials.
Of particular interest is the use of enzyme sy~tems which provide a product which can be detected by a semiconductive element, which may be responsive to a photo or capacitive effect~ The working electrode can be responsive to changes in p~, redox potential, or other detectable signal. The apparatuses can be minia-turized and be used for single determinations or a determination of a plurality of samples simultaneou31y, can be automated, or manually operated. By employing appropriate configurations, controls can be de~ised which closely mimic the sample ~edium, so as to provide for values substantially free of errors due to change in conditions. The subject apparatus and method~
therefor find a wide variety of use in analytical laboratories, doctors' office~, homes and the like.
Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modification~
may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

; 20

Claims (11)

1. A method for determining the presence of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing said ana-lyte, which comprises:
contacting a concentrate of a determinable ele-ment capable of being detected with a semiconductive electrode with said electrode in the presence of a liquid assay medium, wherein said determinable element is pre-sent in said concentrate in an amount related to the amount of analyte present in said sample;
reducing the volume of the medium in diffusive communication with said concentrate; and detecting said determinable element by means of the effect said determinable element has on said semicon-ductive electrode.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said reducing is accompanied with urging said deter-minable element in close juxtaposition with the surface of said electrode.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said effect is determined by means of a photoresponse of said semiconductor electrode.

4. A method for determining the presence of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing said ana-lyte, which comrises:
contacting a concentrate of an enzyme capable of being detected with a semiconductive electrode with said electrode in the presence of a liquid assay medium containing substrate for said enzyme, wherein a substrate or product of the reaction catalyzed by said enzyme is capable of being detected either directly or indirectly by said electrode and said enzyme is present in said con-centrate in an amount related to the amount of analyte present in said sampe;
reducing the volume of the medium in diffusive communication with said concentrate; and detecting said substrate or product by means of the effect said substrate or product has on said semicon-ductive electrode.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said effect is determined by means of a photoresponse of said semiconductive electrode.

6. An apparatus for measuring a material capable of affecting the potential of a semiconductive working electrode, said apparatus comprising:
an assay chamber;
a semiconductive working electrode and a controlling electrode as at least portions of walls of said chamber;
means for moving said electrodes form a distal position to a proximal confronting position;
at least one channel in communication with said chamber; and means for connecting said electrodes to an external circuit.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, including irradiating means positioned to irradiate with light at least one site of said working electode.

8. A bibulous material device apparatus for measuring a material capable of affecting the potential of a semiconductive working electrode, said apparatus comprising:

an assay chamber having an entry for introducing said device into said chamber;
a semiconductive working electrode as at least a portion of one wall of said chamber positioned to be in jaxtaposition with a surface of said device;
a controlling electrode as at least a portion of a second wall of said chamber;
means for moving said electrode from a distal position to a proximal confronting position while urging said device into contact with said working electrode; and means for connecting said electrodes to an exter-nal circuit.

9. A bibulous material device apparatus according to claim 8, including irradiating means posi-tioned to irradiate with light at at least one of said working electode.

10. A dipstick assay apparatus for measuring a material capable of affecting the potential of a semicon-ductive working electrode, said apparatus comprising:
an assay chamber;
a semiconductive working electrode as at least a part of one wall of said assay chamber;
at least one controlling electrode positioned in a distal position from said working electrode;
an entry way for introducing a dipstick into said assay chamber;
means for moving each of said controlling electrodes from a distal position to a position pressing said dipstick against said working electrode;
at least one channel in communication with said assay chamber; and means for connecting said electrodes to an exter-nal circuit.

11. A dipstick assay apparatus according to claim 10, including a plurality of controlling electrodes positioned at different sites on said dipstick.