Determination of substrate concentrations by a computerized enzyme electrode

A numerical treatment of the signal produced by an electrode onto which an artificial enzyme membrane is mounted can give the concentration of the substrate (glucose, saccharose, lactose, amino acids, etc.) in solution. In the example of a glucose analyzer, in which glucose oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of glucose, the computer receives pO(2) level data from the electrode and calculates the glucose concentration. The transient electrode signal, measured as the enzyme membrane is exposed to a solution of glucose, is least-square approximated by a third-degree polynomial whose slope at inflection point is characteristic of the external glucose concentration. A calibration procedure provides a cubic spline approximation of glucose concentration as a function of slope, thus enabling automatic measurement of samples. The computer performs the calculations, and actuates valves for air rinsing, introduction of the sample, and water rinsing.