Electrical impedance hematocrit and HBA1C biosensor comprising sample plate and sample apparatus
First Claim
1. A sampling apparatus for use in performing electrical measurements on a liquid sample containing blood, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two current output terminals for outputting an alternating current signal applied therebetween;
an alternating electrical current unit in electrical communication with the current output terminals for applying thereto an alternating electrical current of a given amplitude and frequency when said liquid sample is in electrical connection between the current output terminals;
a voltage unit in electrical communication with the current output terminals for applying therebetween a direct (DC) electrical potential difference of a given magnitude;
a first voltage input terminal for receiving a first electrical signal externally input thereto and a separate second voltage input terminal for receiving a second electrical signal externally input thereto when said liquid sample is in electrical connection between the first and second voltage input terminals;
one or more voltage detectors for measuring a first voltage and a second voltage using said first and second electrical signals, respectively;
a control unit arranged to control the electrical current unit to apply said alternating electrical current of said given frequency and concurrently to control the voltage unit and the one or more voltage detectors to measure said first and second voltages both when said direct electrical potential difference is applied and when said direct electrical potential difference is not applied;
a calculating unit comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code executable to calculate a first electrical reactance value which is the reactive component of an electrical impedance comprising a resistive component and a reactive component using the first and second voltages measured when said direct electrical potential difference is applied, and to calculate a second electrical reactance value which is the reactive component of an electrical impedance comprising a resistive component and a reactive component measured when said direct electrical potential difference is not applied;
wherein the computer readable program code is executable to generate a value representing the concentration of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c ) in the liquid sample according to the first electrical reactance value, the second electrical reactance value and a value representing the relative volume of red blood cells in the liquid sample (haematocrit).
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sampling plate (1) is provided comprising a sample zone (2) for receiving a liquid sample, and two drive electrodes (3, 4) with separate respective electrode terminals spaced by a spacing for receiving a the liquid sample within the sample zone for use in driving an electrical signal through the sample. Two sensing electrodes (5, 6) are provided with separate respective electrode terminals spaced between the electrode terminals of the two drive electrodes for use in sensing an electrical signal generated by the drive electrodes within a the sample. A sampling apparatus (15) is provided for use with the plate.
18 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A sampling apparatus for use in performing electrical measurements on a liquid sample containing blood, the apparatus comprising:
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at least two current output terminals for outputting an alternating current signal applied therebetween; an alternating electrical current unit in electrical communication with the current output terminals for applying thereto an alternating electrical current of a given amplitude and frequency when said liquid sample is in electrical connection between the current output terminals; a voltage unit in electrical communication with the current output terminals for applying therebetween a direct (DC) electrical potential difference of a given magnitude; a first voltage input terminal for receiving a first electrical signal externally input thereto and a separate second voltage input terminal for receiving a second electrical signal externally input thereto when said liquid sample is in electrical connection between the first and second voltage input terminals; one or more voltage detectors for measuring a first voltage and a second voltage using said first and second electrical signals, respectively; a control unit arranged to control the electrical current unit to apply said alternating electrical current of said given frequency and concurrently to control the voltage unit and the one or more voltage detectors to measure said first and second voltages both when said direct electrical potential difference is applied and when said direct electrical potential difference is not applied; a calculating unit comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code executable to calculate a first electrical reactance value which is the reactive component of an electrical impedance comprising a resistive component and a reactive component using the first and second voltages measured when said direct electrical potential difference is applied, and to calculate a second electrical reactance value which is the reactive component of an electrical impedance comprising a resistive component and a reactive component measured when said direct electrical potential difference is not applied; wherein the computer readable program code is executable to generate a value representing the concentration of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c ) in the liquid sample according to the first electrical reactance value, the second electrical reactance value and a value representing the relative volume of red blood cells in the liquid sample (haematocrit). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification