Portable analyte measuring system for multiple fluid samples
First Claim
1. Portable multiple sample fluid analyte cartridge for a fluid analyte measuring device, comprising:
- A. housing of the cartridge having the following;
1) at least one fluid inlet supportively connected to the housing for introduction of fluids to the housing;
2) flow cell supportively positioned within the cartridge housing having an opening for fluid communication with the inlet and associated with the inlet to receive fluids from the inlet, wherein the flow cell has a channel for fluid flow through the flow cell and from the flow cell at a second opening and having a sensor containment space and a spaced-apart reference electrode containment space and wherein the flow cell also has;
i) at least one sensor supportively located within the flow cell in the sensor containment space where the sensor is hydrated for sensing contact with fluids in the channel of the flow cell;
ii) reference electrode located in the reference electrode containment space in conductive contact with a contained quantity of reference fluid for the number of multiple sequential tests for the cartridge where the reference electrode containment space and sensor containment spaces are spaced apart from each other and in conductive relation with each other;
iii) fluid occupying the channel of the flow cell where the fluid is selected from the group consisting of storage fluid, hydrating fluid, flush solution, calibrating fluid and sample fluid;
iv) electric circuit means attached for electrical conduction to the sensors and reference electrode and which is electrically isolated from the fluid samples in the channel;
3) signal conveyor connected to the electric circuit means to transmit signals responsive to the fluids contacting the sensors;
4) a expandable waste reservoir contained within the cartridge housing and in fluid communication with the flow cell to receive and retain the multiple sequential fluids passed through the flow cell;
5) at least one flow control means associated with the waste reservoir to retard back flow of the fluids received from the flow cell.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, ready-for-use analyte measuring device is provided for the measurement of multiple sequential fluid samples. The device has a disposable cartridge, a calibrating fluid external to the cartridge and an analyzer. The cartridge has a housing, inlet for introduction of fluids into the housing, flow cell in fluid connection with the inlet, a waste collection area or reservoir in fluid connection to receive fluids from the flow cell, and at least one flow control means in fluid connection with the reservoir. The flow cell has a flow-through channel with one or more hydrated sensors arranged along the channel that has fluid therein. Also the flow cell has one or more spaced-apart reference electrode containment spaces in conductive contact with a contained quantity of reference fluid for the number of multiple sequential tests for the cartridge. The reference electrode containment space is spaced apart from but in conductive relation with the one or more sensors. The flow cell also has an electric circuit attached for electrical conduction to the one or more sensors and reference electrode and which is electrically isolated from the fluid in the channel. The multi-test device also has signal conveyor connected to the electric circuit of the flow cell to transmit signals responsive to the fluids contacting the sensors to the analyzer. Both the cartridge and the calibrating fluid are associated with an encoded information carrier for sensor performance parameters and calibrant analyte concentrations for inputting into the encoded information reader of the analyzer.
-
Citations
36 Claims
-
1. Portable multiple sample fluid analyte cartridge for a fluid analyte measuring device, comprising:
A. housing of the cartridge having the following; 1) at least one fluid inlet supportively connected to the housing for introduction of fluids to the housing; 2) flow cell supportively positioned within the cartridge housing having an opening for fluid communication with the inlet and associated with the inlet to receive fluids from the inlet, wherein the flow cell has a channel for fluid flow through the flow cell and from the flow cell at a second opening and having a sensor containment space and a spaced-apart reference electrode containment space and wherein the flow cell also has; i) at least one sensor supportively located within the flow cell in the sensor containment space where the sensor is hydrated for sensing contact with fluids in the channel of the flow cell; ii) reference electrode located in the reference electrode containment space in conductive contact with a contained quantity of reference fluid for the number of multiple sequential tests for the cartridge where the reference electrode containment space and sensor containment spaces are spaced apart from each other and in conductive relation with each other; iii) fluid occupying the channel of the flow cell where the fluid is selected from the group consisting of storage fluid, hydrating fluid, flush solution, calibrating fluid and sample fluid; iv) electric circuit means attached for electrical conduction to the sensors and reference electrode and which is electrically isolated from the fluid samples in the channel; 3) signal conveyor connected to the electric circuit means to transmit signals responsive to the fluids contacting the sensors; 4) a expandable waste reservoir contained within the cartridge housing and in fluid communication with the flow cell to receive and retain the multiple sequential fluids passed through the flow cell; 5) at least one flow control means associated with the waste reservoir to retard back flow of the fluids received from the flow cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
25. Portable system for the measurement of at least one analyte in multiple fluid samples, comprising:
-
A. a cartridge having; 1) cartridge housing having the following; 2) at least one fluid inlet supportively connected to the housing for introduction of fluids including calibrant and optionally flush solution from sources external to the housing; 3) flow cell supportively positioned within the cartridge housing in fluid flow connection with the inlet and having a flow channel to provide for the flow through of the multiple fluids introduced at the inlet into the flow cell and having a containment space for at least one sensor, where the space is arranged to provide access of the sensor to the channel and to support the sensor in signal processing connection with a signal conveyor in the cartridge housing; 4) sensors positioned in the flow cell in the containment space and in sensing engagement with the channel for measuring at least one analyte; 5) signal conveyor connected to the sensor to transmit signals responsive to the fluids contacting the measuring sensor; 6) a waste reservoir contained within the cartridge housing to receive the fluids passed through the flow cell; 7) at least one fluid flow control means in fluid communication with the channel of the flow cell at the end away from the inlet and with the reservoir to retard back flow of the fluids from the reservoir; 8) encoded information carrier for the values of the sensor'"'"'s performance parameters for later retrieval by a microcomputing means; B. calibrator having; 1) a calibration fluid having a known amount of the one or more analytes to be measured by the sensors for introduction into the inlet and for contact with the sensor to determine a set point for calculating the unknown amount of the one or more analytes to be measured; 2) encoded information carrier for the values of the calibration fluid information for later retrieval by a microcomputing means when the calibrant is introduced at the inlet of the cartridge and over the sensor in the cartridge; C. flush solution for introduction to the inlet of the cartridge to prepare the sensor for the measurement of another sample; D. analyzer having; 1) electronic interpreter for the signals sent from the sensor for the calibrant and for the multiple samples having one or more analytes to calculate the amount of the one or more analytes in the multitude of fluids introduced into the cartridge for measurement; 2) reader for encoded information to place the encoded information for the sensor and the calibrant into the microcomputing means for use in calculating the values of the amounts of the analytes in the multiple samples introduced into the cartridge; 3) connector with the signal conveyor of the cartridge; 4) display means for displaying at least the calculated value of the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. Method of measuring a multitude of samples having unknown values of known analytes, comprising:
-
A. entering into a computer means encoded information of a sensor in a cartridge wherein the cartridge has; 1) cartridge housing having the following; 2) at least one fluid inlet supportively connected to the housing for introduction of fluids including calibrant and optionally flush solution from sources external to the housing sources; 3) flow cell supportively positioned within the cartridge housing in fluid flow connection with the inlet and having a flow channel to provide for the flow through of the multiple fluids introduced at the inlet into flow cell and having a containment space for at least one microsensor, where the space is arranged to provide access of the microsensor to the channel and to support the sensor in signal processing connection with a signal conveying means in the cartridge housing; 4) sensors positioned in the flow cell in the containment space and in sensing engagement with the channel for measuring at least one analyte; 5) signal conveying means connected to the sensor to transmit signals which are responsive to analyte concentration in the fluids contacting the measuring sensor; 6) a waste reservoir contained within the cartridge housing and in fluid communication with the valve to receive and retain the fluids passed through the flow cell; 7) at least one flow control means in fluid communication with the flow cell to prevent bi-directional flow of the fluids from the waste reservoir to the flow cell; B. enter into a microcomputer means encoded information of predetermined analyte values of a calibrant contained in a calibration means having; 1) a calibration fluid having a known amount of the one or more analytes to be measured by the sensors for introduction into the inlet and for contact with the sensor to determine a set point for calculating the unknown amount of the one or more analytes to be measured, 2) means for encoding the values of the calibration fluid information for later retrieval by a microcomputing means when the calibrant is introduced at the inlet of the cartridge and over the sensor in the cartridge; 3) flush solution for introduction to the inlet of the cartridge to prepare the sensor for the measurement of another sample; C. introducing calibrant into the cartridge that is electronically connected to the microcomputer and analyzing means having; 1) electronic means to interpret the signals sent from the sensor for the calibrant and for the multiple samples having one or more analytes to calculate the amount of the one or more analytes in the multitude of fluids introduced into the cartridge for measurement; 2) reading means for encoded information to place the encoded information for the sensor and the calibrant into the microcomputing means for use in calculating the values of the amounts of the analytes in the multiple samples introduced into the cartridge; 3) connecting means with the signal conveying means of the cartridge; 4) display means for displaying at least the calculated value of the analyte; D. introducing sample into the cartridge and obtaining the value of the one or more analytes from the microcomputer and analyzing means; E. introducing flush solution into the cartridge to clear the previous sample from the flow cell and to maintain the membrane of the sensor in a hydrated state; F. introducing another amount of calibrant to fill the flow cell to recalibrate the sensor; and G. introducing another sample into the cartridge for testing.
-
Specification