Heated electrochemical cell
First Claim
1. An electrochemical cell, comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, means for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, means for heating a sample contained within the cell, and means for measuring a concentration of an analyte or a concentration of a species representative of the analyte in the sample at a point on a reaction profile by measuring amperometrically a parameter representative of a diffusion coefficient of the analyte or the species representative of the analyte in the sample, whereby the concentration is measured and whereby the measured concentration is substantially independent of a temperature of the sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of heating the sample and measuring the concentration of the analyte or the concentration of a species representative thereof in the sample at a predetermined point on a reaction profile by means that are substantially independent of temperature. Also provided is an electrochemical cell comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, means for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, and means for heating a sample contained within the cell.
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Citations
31 Claims
- 1. An electrochemical cell, comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, means for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, means for heating a sample contained within the cell, and means for measuring a concentration of an analyte or a concentration of a species representative of the analyte in the sample at a point on a reaction profile by measuring amperometrically a parameter representative of a diffusion coefficient of the analyte or the species representative of the analyte in the sample, whereby the concentration is measured and whereby the measured concentration is substantially independent of a temperature of the sample.
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30. An electrochemical cell, comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, a passage for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, an electrically resistive heating element, and a measuring circuit, wherein the measuring circuit amperometrically measures a parameter representative of a diffusion coefficient of an analyte or a species representative of the analyte in the sample, wherein the diffusion coefficient is indicative of a concentration of the analyte or the species representative of the analyte in the sample, and wherein a measured value of the concentration is substantially independent of a temperature of the sample.
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31. An electrochemical cell, comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, a passage for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, a reagent that undergoes an exothermic reaction upon contact with the sample, and a measuring circuit, wherein the measuring circuit amperometrically measures a parameter representative of a diffusion coefficient of an analyte or a species representative of the analyte in the sample, wherein the diffusion coefficient is indicative of a concentration of the analyte or the species representative of the analyte in the sample, and wherein a measured value of the concentration is substantially independent of a temperature of the sample.
Specification