Characterization of a Wireless Potentiostat for Integration With a Novel Implantable Biotransducer

Wireless potentiostats are being developed and commercialized for use in the development of implantable electrochemical biosensors for the monitoring of physiological markers in a wide range of pathologies. The merits and drawbacks of the Pinnacle 8151 dual potentiostat were investigated for use with a novel implantable biotransducer, the dual responsive microdisc electrode array (MDEA 5037) of ABTECH Scientific. The potentiostat was evaluated with R and RC dummy cells and with MDEA transducers modified with polypyrrole-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) electroconductive hydrogels that were all qualified by calibrated ac impedance spectroscopy. In a laboratory setting, the 8151 potentiostat maintained a steady and unbroken signal as far away as 75 ft (23 m), and when unobstructed, up to 100 ft (30 m). The error between the two channels was determined to be 6.4 (±0.3)% and 0.7 (±0.1)% for resistor-capacitor dummy cells ( RC=nominally 10 MΩ and 1 μF) and resistor dummy cells (R=nominally 10 MΩ), respectively. The intra-channel variability was judged to be too large for exacting analyte determinations.