Method and apparatus for amperometric diagnostic analysis
First Claim
1. A sample cell for determining the concentration of a selected compound in a sample aqueous fluid, comprisinga metallized first electrode which acts as a working electrode,a metallized second electrode which acts as a reference electrode, said second electrode being operatively associated with said first electrode, andat least one non-conducting layer member having an opening therethrough, said layer member being disposed in contact with at least one of said electrodes and said layer member being sealed against at least one of said first and second electrodes to form a known electrode area within said opening such that said opening forms a well to receive said sample aqueous fluid and to place said fluid in said known electrode area in contact with said first electrode and second electrode, whereby substantially the entire contents of said well is capable of being substantially simultaneously subjected to a predetermined reaction.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for the amperometric determination of a analyte, and in particular, to an apparatus for amperometric analysis utilizing a novel disposable electroanalytical cell for the quantitative determination of biologically important compounds from body fluids.
448 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A sample cell for determining the concentration of a selected compound in a sample aqueous fluid, comprising
a metallized first electrode which acts as a working electrode, a metallized second electrode which acts as a reference electrode, said second electrode being operatively associated with said first electrode, and at least one non-conducting layer member having an opening therethrough, said layer member being disposed in contact with at least one of said electrodes and said layer member being sealed against at least one of said first and second electrodes to form a known electrode area within said opening such that said opening forms a well to receive said sample aqueous fluid and to place said fluid in said known electrode area in contact with said first electrode and second electrode, whereby substantially the entire contents of said well is capable of being substantially simultaneously subjected to a predetermined reaction.
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2. An apparatus for measuring compounds in a sample fluid, comprising
a. a housing having an access opening therethrough, b. a sample cell receivable into said access opening of said housing, said sample cell being composed of a metallized first electrode which acts as a working electrode, a metallized second electrode which acts as a reference electrode, said second electrode being operatively associated with said first electrode, at least one non-conducting layer member having an opening therethrough, said layer member being disposed in contact with at least one of said electrodes and said layer member being sealed against at least one of said first and second electrode to form a known electrode area within said opening such that said opening forms a well to receive said sample fluid and to place said fluid in said known electrode area in contact with said first electrode and said second electrode, c. means for applying an electrical potential to said first electrode and said second electrode, d. means for creating an electrical circuit between said first electrode and said second electrode through said sample, e. means for measuring Cottrell current through said sample and f. means for visually displaying results of said measurement.
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3. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein
said means for measuring Cottrell current through said sample includes a microprocessor.
Specification