Test apparatus for measuring concentration of test substance in liquid

• US 5,320,734 A
• Filed: 10/29/1992
• Issued: 06/14/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sankyo Company Limited (Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Inventors: Yamasaki, Koichi, Fujita, Susumu, Hamada, Yoichi, Nakaoka, Sadaaki, Mukai, Toji, Nagata, deceased, Yasuhiro, Osaka, Tatsuhiko, Nakano, Hitonaga
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, T.
• Application Number:
  US07/968,470
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 204/153.17, 204/403, 204/415, 204/435, 204/279
• US Class Current: 204/415
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00019 cassette structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4875 Details of handling test elements, e.g. dispensing or storage, not specific to a particular test method test-elements per se B01L, automatic analysers G01N35/00, in-vivo analysis on the human body for medical diagnosis A61B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones

Abstract

A test apparatus for measuring concentration of test solution, in which a thin sheet having a plurality of through holes and diffusion-limiting membranes to cover corresponding through hole, is movably installed, and one or two openings for deposition and a concentration measuring section are disposed in a thin sheet moving direction.

Claims

1. A test apparatus for measuring a concentration of a test substance in a liquid, comprising:

a cartridge for housing a diffusion-limiting membrane holding member, said holding member including a thin sheet in which through holes for penetrating test solution therethrough are formed at every predetermined distance, and diffusion-limiting membranes are adhered to said thin sheet to cover corresponding through holes, said holding member being movable in a predetermined direction;

a casing for housing said cartridge therein in a removable manner;

a concentration measuring electrode provided within said casing;

first depositing portion means for depositing test solution onto one of said membranes covering one of said through holes, said first depositing portion means being formed at an upper portion of said casing and at an upstream portion in a thin sheet moving direction; and

concentration measuring portion means for contacting said concentration measuring electrode with a diffusion-limiting membrane, said concentration measuring portion means being formed at an upper portion of said casing and at a downstream portion in the thin sheet moving direction, said concentration measuring portion means being apart by a predetermined distance from said depositing portion means in the thin sheet moving direction.

2. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a sheet driving means for moving the thin sheet in one direction.

3. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a sheet driving means for moving the thin sheet to and fro in a predetermined direction.

4. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said depositing portion means includes a larger opening than the through hole, and said depositing portion means and said concentration measuring portion means are apart one from the other by the distance between neighboring through holes.

5. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second depositing portion means formed at the upper portion of said casing, said first and second depositing portion means being apart one from the other by a predetermined distance, and a cover means for selectively covering said first and second depositing portion means.

6. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said cover means includes an opening smaller than an opening in said first or second depositing portion means, the smaller opening being formed at a predetermined position in said cover means, said smaller opening being able to be located opposite to one of said through holes.

7. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second depositing portion means formed at the upper portion of said casing, said first and second depositing portion means being apart one from the other by a predetermined distance, and a lighting device disposed below an elongated sheet opposite to one of said depositing portion means.

8. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising electrode driving means for moving said concentration measuring electrode to and fro on a plane which is parallel to a moving plane of the thin sheet and for moving said concentration measuring electrode upward and downward when said concentration measuring electrode is moved to a limit on the plane.

9. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a wetting liquid housing member opposite to said concentration measuring electrode when said concentration measuring electrode moves to a position not opposite to said measuring portion means.

10. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said electrode driving means moves said concentration measuring electrode to and fro in a direction which is not parallel to a moving direction of said thin sheet on the plane.

11. A test apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said electrode driving means moves said concentration measuring electrode to and fro in a direction which is parallel to a moving direction of said thin sheet on the plane.

12. A test apparatus for measuring a concentration of a test substance in a liquid, comprising:

a cartridge for housing a diffusion-limiting membrane holding member, said holding member including a thin sheet in which through holes for penetrating test solution therethrough are formed at every predetermined distance, and diffusion-limiting membranes are adhered to said thin sheet to cover corresponding through holes, said holding member being movable in a predetermined direction;

a casing for housing said cartridge therein in a removable manner;

a concentration measuring electrode provided within said casing;

a first opening for depositing test solution onto one of said membranes covering one of said through holes, said first opening being formed at an upstream portion of said cartridge in a thin sheet moving direction; and

a second opening for contacting said concentration measuring electrode with a diffusion-limiting membranes, said second opening being formed at a downstream portion of said cartridge in the thin sheet moving direction, and being apart by a predetermined distance from said opening in the thin sheet moving direction.