INTERROGATION OF CAPILLARY-LIMITED SENSORS

A method of operating a gas detection device including a capillary-limited, electrochemical gas sensor includes operating the gas sensor in a sensing mode during which a signal from the gas sensor is representative of a concentration of the analyte gas measured by the gas sensor and in an interrogation mode during which the gas sensor is electronically interrogated by applying an electric signal to the gas sensor to generate a non-faradaic current flow between a working electrode and a counter electrode without the application of a test gas, periodically entering the interrogation mode, measuring a parameter of a gas sensor output during the interrogation mode, comparing the measured parameter to one or more previously measured parameters, determining an operational state from the comparison, and returning the gas sensor to the sensing mode if the operational state is determined to be within a predetermined range.