Devices for testing fluid
First Claim
1. A fluid testing device comprising an analytical system for performing a test on an introduced fluid sample to determine a characteristic of said introduced fluid, an output circuit for providing information indicative of said characteristic, and an electrochemical battery for powering at least one of said analytical system and said output circuit, whose electrolyte includes at least in part the introduced fluid sample.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improvement is described to disposable devices for performing chemical or biological tests on a sample of fluid, and the method by which such devices perform tests. The power for the device comes from an electrochemical battery, where a portion of the fluid sample itself provides the electrolyte for the battery. Furthermore, the time of diffusion of the fluid into the battery provides the timing signal for activation of the system. Communication between the improved device and an information system is provided by a transponder system built into the device which requires no direct electrical connection. Rather, the device is placed in proximity with a reader which can interrogate the device, obtain the results of the test and if necessary provide power for the device to perform the test, and/or communicate the information. The improvements and methods are particularly applicable to devices for performing in vitro diagnostic tests on a sample of body fluid.
-
Citations
32 Claims
- 1. A fluid testing device comprising an analytical system for performing a test on an introduced fluid sample to determine a characteristic of said introduced fluid, an output circuit for providing information indicative of said characteristic, and an electrochemical battery for powering at least one of said analytical system and said output circuit, whose electrolyte includes at least in part the introduced fluid sample.
- 17. An electrochemical battery comprising at least two cells, each of which consists of electrodes, a porous separator membrane, and an electrolyte, the porous separator membrane separating the two cells, wherein the electrolyte includes at least in part an introduced fluid, and, wherein said two cells are positioned along said membrane to a time delay by the diffusion of said electrolyte along said membrane between the activation of said first cell and the activation of said second cell.
-
26. A method for performing one or more analytic tests on a fluid sample, comprising the steps of:
-
introducing the fluid sample to an assay device;
using a sensor to analyze said fluid sample to determine a characteristic associated with said fluid sample;
using at least a part of said fluid sample in said device for providing at least part of the electrolyte of an electrochemical battery, said battery being configured to provide power to said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification