Electrochemical sensor and method for analyzing liquid sample

• US 20070251836A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hmd Biomedical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hmd Biomedical Inc.
• Inventors: Hsu, Tien-Tsai
• Granted Patent: US 8,038,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/792
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52

Abstract

An electrochemical sensor for analyzing a liquid sample, which is adapted to be connected with an electrochemical meter, comprises a channel for delivering the liquid sample; and a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion separated and exposed in the channel; wherein the first conducting portion generates a first pulse signal when it is contacted by the liquid sample, and the second conducting portion generates a second pulse signal when it is contacted by the liquid sample. The electrochemical meter obtains viscosity of the liquid sample according to a time difference between the first and second pulse signals.

Claims

1. An electrochemical sensor for analyzing a liquid sample, which is adapted to be connected with an electrochemical meter, comprising:

a first insulating layer;

a second insulating layer;

a channel defined between said first insulating layer and said second insulating layer for delivering said liquid sample;

a timing electrode being disposed on said first insulating layer and having a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion separated and exposed in said channel; and

a counter electrode being disposed on said first insulating layer and having at least one conducting portion exposed in said channel;

wherein said first conducting portion of said timing electrode generates a first pulse signal to be transmitted to said electrochemical meter when said liquid sample contacts both said conducting portion of said counter electrode and said first conducting portion of said timing electrode, and said second conducting portion of said timing electrode generates a second pulse signal to be transmitted to said electrochemical meter when said liquid sample contacts both said conducting portion of said counter electrode and said second conducting portion of said timing electrode.

2. The electrochemical sensor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a working electrode disposed between said first insulating layer and said second insulating layer and exposed in said channel; and

a test reagent formed on said working electrode for reacting with an analyte in said liquid sample;

wherein said working electrode generates an analyte-responsive signal to be transmitted to said electrochemical meter when said liquid sample contacts both said working electrode and said counter electrode.

3. The electrochemical sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said liquid sample is one of blood and urine, and said analyte is selected from a group consisting of glucose, cholesterol, uric acid and lactic acid.

4. The electrochemical sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said working electrode is disposed on said first insulating layer and surrounded by said counter electrode.

5. The electrochemical sensor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said counter electrode is surrounded by said timing electrode.

6. The electrochemical sensor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a spacer layer disposed between said first insulating layer and said second insulating layer, wherein said spacer layer, together with said first insulating layer and said second insulating layer, defines said channel.

7. An electrochemical sensing device for analyzing a liquid sample, comprising:

an electrochemical meter; and

an electrochemical sensor being electrically connected with said electrochemical meter and having;

a channel for delivering said liquid sample; and

a timing electrode having a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion separated and exposed in said channel, wherein said first conducting portion of said timing electrode generates a first pulse signal when said liquid sample contacts said first conducting portion of said timing electrode, and said second conducting portion of said timing electrode generates a second pulse signal when said liquid sample contacts said second conducting portion of said timing electrode;

wherein said electrochemical meter calculates a time difference between said first pulse signal and said second pulse signal and obtains viscosity of said liquid sample according to said time difference.

8. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said electrochemical sensor includes:

a first insulating layer;

a second insulating layer; and

a spacer layer disposed between said first insulating layer and said second insulating layer;

wherein said spacer layer, together with said first insulating layer and said second insulating layer, defines said channel.

9. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electrochemical sensor further includes:

a counter electrode being disposed between said first insulating layer and said second insulating layer and having at least one conducting portion exposed in said channel;

wherein said first conducting portion of said timing electrode generates said first pulse signal when said liquid sample contacts both said conducting portion of said counter electrode and said first conducting portion of said timing electrode, and said second conducting portion of said timing electrode generates said second pulse signal when said liquid sample contacts both said conducting portion of said counter electrode and said second conducting portion of said timing electrode.

10. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said electrochemical sensor further includes:

a working electrode disposed between said first insulating layer and said second insulating layer and exposed in said channel; and

a test reagent formed on said working electrode for reacting with an analyte in said liquid sample;

wherein said working electrode, generates an analyte-responsive signal to be transmitted to said electrochemical meter when said liquid sample contacts both said working electrode and said counter electrode; and

wherein said electrochemical meter calculates and obtains concentration of said analyte according to said analyte-responsive signal.

11. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim ˜

10, wherein said liquid sample is one of blood and urine, and said analyte is selected from a group consisting of glucose, cholesterol, uric acid and lactic acid.

12. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said timing electrode, said counter electrode and said working electrode are disposed on said first insulating layer.

13. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said working electrode is surrounded by said counter electrode.

14. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said counter electrode is surrounded by said timing electrode.

15. A method for analyzing a liquid sample, which is applied to an electrochemical sensing device having an electrochemical meter and an electrochemical sensor, comprising:

disposing a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion in said electrochemical sensor;

generating a first pulse signal to be transmitted to said electrochemical meter when said liquid sample contacting said first conducting portion, and generating a second pulse signal to be transmitted to said electrochemical meter when said liquid sample contacting said second conducting portion;

calculating a time difference between said first pulse signal and said second pulse signal; and

obtaining viscosity of said liquid sample according to said time difference.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

showing a reading corresponding to said viscosity of said liquid sample on said electrochemical meter.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

disposing a working electrode in said electrochemical sensor;

generating an analyte-responsive signal to be transmitted to said electrochemical meter when said liquid sample contacting said working electrode; and

calculating and obtaining concentration of a analyte in said liquid sample according to said analyte-responsive signal.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

calibrating said obtained concentration of said analyte according to said time difference.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

showing a reading corresponding to said calibrated concentration of said analyte on said electrochemical meter.