Method and a device for monitoring a medical microsample in the flow measuring cell of an analyzer
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring a microsample in a flow measuring cell of an analyzer comprising:
- at least one electrode system comprising at least two single electrodes positioned within said flow measuring cell, whereinsaid electrode system is configured for measurement of at least one substance contained in the microsample by application of a measurement voltage which is essentially a DC voltage, and detection of absence of bubbles and/or positioning of said microsample by application of an alternating voltage to said flow measuring cell,both the alternating voltage and the measurement voltage are simultaneously and directly applied to the single electrodes of the respective electrode system, andthe measured AC component or the measured impedance provides a measure for the position of the microsample and/or the absence of bubbles; and
a circuit for producing the voltages to be applied to the single electrodes, which circuit has a summation point at which the alternating voltage for the purpose of monitoring the microsample with regard to position and/or absence of bubbles is superposed on the DC voltage serving as measurement voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and device for the monitoring of a medical microsample in the flow measuring cell of an analyzer with regard to position and absence of bubbles by means of an alternating voltage applied to the measuring cell, the measuring cell being provided with a multitude of electrode systems placed one behind the other, each system comprising a number of single electrodes for measuring a substance contained in the microsample by means of a measurement voltage which essentially is a DC voltage. To monitor the exact position of the microsample and/or to detect air bubbles in the area of each electrode system, the alternating voltage and the measurement voltage are simultaneously and directly applied to the single electrodes of the corresponding electrode system, and the measured AC component respectively the measured impedance gives a measure for the position of the microsample and the absence of bubbles.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring a microsample in a flow measuring cell of an analyzer comprising:
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at least one electrode system comprising at least two single electrodes positioned within said flow measuring cell, wherein said electrode system is configured for measurement of at least one substance contained in the microsample by application of a measurement voltage which is essentially a DC voltage, and detection of absence of bubbles and/or positioning of said microsample by application of an alternating voltage to said flow measuring cell, both the alternating voltage and the measurement voltage are simultaneously and directly applied to the single electrodes of the respective electrode system, and the measured AC component or the measured impedance provides a measure for the position of the microsample and/or the absence of bubbles; and a circuit for producing the voltages to be applied to the single electrodes, which circuit has a summation point at which the alternating voltage for the purpose of monitoring the microsample with regard to position and/or absence of bubbles is superposed on the DC voltage serving as measurement voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for monitoring a microsample in a flow measuring cell of an analyzer comprising:
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providing an analyzer including a flow measuring cell and a device comprising at least one electrode system, each said system comprising at least two single electrodes; introducing a microsample into said flow measuring cell, said microsample passing said electrode system; measuring at least one substance contained in the microsample by applying a measurement voltage to said flow measuring cell, which said measurement voltage is essentially a DC voltage; and detecting the absence of bubbles and/or position of said microsample in an area of said at least one electrode system by applying an alternating voltage to said flow measuring cell simultaneous with said measurement voltage via two single electrodes of said at least one electrode system, and detecting the AC component or impedance. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification