Measuring instrument and concentration measuring device

• US 7,491,303 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Kasai, Tokuo, Sakata, Tetsuya, Kobayashi, Taizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Noguerola; Alex
• Application Number:
  US10/491,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20040244151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 20440301-40305, 204416-418, 204/400, 205/777.5, 205/775, 205/778, 205/792
• US Class Current: 204/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48771 Coding of information, e.g. calibration data, lot number
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00693 Calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers

Abstract

The measurement instrument includes an attribute information output section to output attribute information about the attributes of the measurement instrument as an electric physical value. The attribute information is based on at least one of the conditions including a resistance of the attribute information output section, a location of the attribute information output section, and the size of a region on which the attribute information output section is formed. The attribute information may be used to select the calibration curve suitable for the measurement instrument. The attribute information may be one that relates to a specific measurement standard applied to the measurement instrument.

Claims

1. A measurement instrument which is attached to a concentration measuring device for calculating a concentration based on concentration calculation information and is capable of outputting the concentration calculation information to the concentration measuring device, the measurement instrument comprising,

a working electrode,

a counterpart electrode paired with the working electrode,

a reagent part bridging between the working electrode and the counterpart electrode, and

an attribute information output section for outputting attribute information relating to an attribute of the measurement instrument as an electric physical quantity,

wherein the attribute information output section comprises a plurality of attribute-indicating electrodes provided in addition to the working electrode and the counterpart electrode, and a plurality of connection-breakable parts bridging between the attribute-indicating electrodes, and

wherein the attribute information correlates with a resistance of the attribute information output section.

2. The measurement instrument according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information is utilized for enabling the concentration measuring device to select a calibration curve suitable for the measurement instrument.

3. The measurement instrument according to claim 2, wherein the attribute information is utilized for enabling the concentration measuring device to select a calibration curve suitable for sensitivity of the measurement instrument.

4. The measurement instrument according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information relates to a measurement standard applied to the measurement instrument.

5. The measurement instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate at least having an end portion inserted into the concentration measuring device for concentration measurement.

6. The measurement instrument according to claim 1, further comprising:

a substrate having an end portion inserted into the concentration measuring device for concentration measurement;

wherein the attribute-indicating electrodes of the attribute information output section are provided between the working electrode and the counterpart electrode.

7. The measurement instrument according to claim 1, wherein the attribute-indicating electrodes of the attribute information output section are brought into contact with terminals of the concentration measuring device, and

wherein the attribute information is provided in the attribute information output section by selectively breaking or leaving intact at least one of the connection-breakable parts.

8. The measurement instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a correction information output section for outputting correction information correlating with a discrepancy between an actual resistance of the attribute information output section and a resistance preset for the attribute information output section.

9. The measurement instrument according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information output section is arranged to output identification information for informing the concentration measuring device that the measurement instrument is arranged to output the concentration calculation information.

10. A method of making a measurement instrument as defined in claim 1, the method comprising disconnecting at least one of the connection-breakable parts in accordance with information outputted from the attribute information output section.

11. The measurement instrument according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information output section also outputs measurement standard information regarding a measurement standard applied to the measurement instrument.

12. A combination of a concentration measuring device and the measurement instrument defined in claim 1 for attachment to the concentration measuring device, the concentration measuring device comprising:

a recognizer for detecting the attribute information from the measurement instrument,

wherein a concentration calculation-related operation is performed based on the attribution information detected by the recognizer.

13. The combination of the concentration measuring device and the measurement device according to claim 12, wherein the attribute information output section is arranged to output calibration curve selection information, as the attribution information, for selecting a calibration curve suitable for the measurement instrument, the concentration measuring device further comprising:

a storage unit storing information regarding a plurality of calibration curves; and

a calibration curve selection unit selecting a specific calibration curve suitable for the measurement instrument from the plurality of calibration curves.

14. The combination of the concentration measuring device and the measurement device according to claim 12, wherein the attribute information output section is arranged to output measurement standard information, as the attribution information, regarding a measurement standard applied to the measurement instrument, the concentration measuring device further comprising a judging unit determining whether it is possible or not to perform concentration measurement with the measurement instrument based on the attribute information.

15. The combination of the concentration measuring device and the measurement device according to claim 12, wherein the recognizer comprises a plurality of terminals brought into contact with the attribute-indicating electrodes of the attribute information output section, the recognizer being arranged to detect the attribute information when constant voltage or constant current is applied to the attribute information output section via the terminals.

16. A measurement instrument which is attached to a concentration measuring device for calculating a concentration based on concentration calculation information and is capable of outputting the concentration calculation information to the concentration measuring device, the measurement instrument comprising,

a working electrode,

a counterpart electrode paired with the working electrode,

a reagent part bridging between the working electrode and the counterpart electrode, and

an attribute information output section for outputting attribute information relating to an attribute of the measurement instrument as an electric physical quantity,

wherein the attribute information output section comprises a plurality of attribute-indicating electrodes provided in addition to the working electrode and the counterpart electrode, and a plurality of connection-breakable parts bridging between the attribute-indicating electrodes, and

wherein the attribute information output section is arranged to output identification information for informing the concentration measuring device that the measurement instrument is arranged to output the concentration calculation information.