Sensor having electrode for determining the rate of flow of a fluid
First Claim
1. A sensor for determining the rate of flow of a fluid, comprising a channel through which said fluid flows, said channel constructed so that said fluid is capable of coming into contact with:
- (a) a working electrode;
(b) at least one flow rate-determining electrode;
(c) a reference electrode; and
(d) a counter electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Sensors that are capable measuring the rate of flow of a fluid that passes over the electrodes of the sensor. In these sensors, an electrode, designated the flow rate-determining electrode, is used in conjunction with the conventional electrodes, e.g., the working electrode, the reference electrode, and the counter electrode, to determine the rate of flow of the fluid. In one aspect, this invention provides a sensor for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a sample of fluid when the sample flows continuously over the electrodes of the sensor, especially when the rate of flow of the sample is relatively low. In another aspect, this invention provides a method for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a sample of fluid, wherein the rate of flow of the sample varies during the period of time that the sensor is in place. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor employs four electrodes, namely, a working electrode, a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a flow rate-determining electrode. Alternatively, a single electrode that performs both the function of the reference electrode and the function of the counter electrode can replace the reference electrode and the counter electrode. In addition, a dummy electrode or a blank electrode can be used to compensate for interference from electrochemically active species. The reagent(s) specific to the analyte of interest is required to be deposited on the working electrode.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A sensor for determining the rate of flow of a fluid, comprising a channel through which said fluid flows, said channel constructed so that said fluid is capable of coming into contact with:
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(a) a working electrode;
(b) at least one flow rate-determining electrode;
(c) a reference electrode; and
(d) a counter electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 47)
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18. A sensor for determining the rate of flow of a fluid, comprising a channel through which said fluid flows, said channel constructed so that said fluid is capable of coming into contact with:
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(a) a working electrode;
(b) at least one flow rate-determining electrode; and
(c) a dual-purpose electrode that performs the functions of a reference electrode and a counter electrode. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 48)
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35. A method for determining the rate of flow of a sample of fluid in a sensor having a channel, and the direction of flow said sample of fluid in said sensor, wherein said sample of fluid flows in said channel, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sensor for determining the rate of flow of a fluid, said sensor comprising a channel through which said fluid flows, said channel constructed so that said fluid is capable of coming into contact with;
(1) a working electrode;
(2) two flow rate-determining electrodes, one of said flow rate-determining electrodes being upstream of said working electrode and the other of said flow rate-determining electrodes being downstream of said working electrode;
(3) a reference electrode; and
(4) a counter electrode;
(b) determining responses of said working electrode and responses of said flow rate-determining electrodes at known rates of flow of fluid and in a first given direction of flow of fluid;
(c) establishing a relationship between the responses measured in step (b) and the rates of flow of fluid in step (b) and the direction of flow of fluid in step (b);
(d) determining responses of said working electrode and responses of said flow rate-determining electrodes at known rates of flow of fluid and in a second given direction of flow of fluid;
(e) establishing a relationship between the responses measured in step (d) and the rates of flow of fluid in step (d) and the direction of flow of fluid in step (d);
(f) determining the response of said working electrode and the response of one of said flow rate-determining electrodes at an unknown rate of flow of said sample of fluid and in an unknown direction of flow of said sample of fluid; and
(g) determining the direction of flow of said sample of fluid and said value of said unknown rate of flow said sample of fluid by means of said relationships established in step (c) and step (e).
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36. A method for determining the rate of flow of a sample of fluid in a sensor having a channel, and the direction of flow of said sample of fluid in said sensor, wherein said sample of fluid flows in said channel, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sensor for determining the rate of flow of a sample of fluid, said sensor comprising a channel through which said fluid flows, said channel constructed so that said fluid is capable of coming into contact with;
(1) a working electrode;
(2) two flow rate-determining electrodes, one of said flow rate-determining electrodes being upstream of said working electrode and the other of said flow rate-determining electrodes being downstream of said working electrode;
(3) a dual-purpose electrode that performs the functions of a reference electrode and a counter electrode;
(b) determining responses of said working electrode and responses of said flow rate-determining electrodes at known rates of flow of fluid and in a first given direction of flow of fluid;
(c) establishing a relationship between the responses measured in step (b) and the rates of flow of fluid in step (b) and the direction of flow of fluid in step (b);
(d) determining responses of said working electrode and responses of said flow rate-determining electrodes at known rates of flow of fluid and in a second given direction of flow of fluid;
(e) establishing a relationship between the responses measured in step (d) and the rates of flow of fluid in step (d) and the direction of flow of fluid in step (d);
(f) determining the response of said working electrode and the response of one of said flow rate-determining electrodes at an unknown rate of flow of said sample of fluid and in an unknown direction of flow of said sample of fluid; and
(g) determining the direction of flow of said sample of fluid and said value of said unknown rate of flow of said sample of fluid by means of said relationships established in step (c) and step (e).
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37. A sensor for determining the rate of flow of a fluid, said sensor comprising a channel through which said fluid flows, said channel constructed so that said fluid is capable of coming into contact with:
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(a) a flow rate-determining electrode;
(b) a reference electrode; and
(c) a counter electrode. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A sensor for determining the rate of flow of a fluid, said sensor comprising a channel through which said fluid flows, said channel constructed so that said fluid is capable of coming into contact with:
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(a) a flow rate-determining electrode; and
(b) a dual-purpose electrode that performs the functions of a reference electrode and a counter electrode. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification