Analytical device having temperature detection unit

• US 7,655,456 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2003
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Shiraki, Yasunori, Oshiman, Eisaku
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin; Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, LYDIA E
• Application Number:
  US10/501,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20050019219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,576 Days
• Field of Search: 435/287.1, 374/120, 374/121, 374/132
• US Class Current: 435/287.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3274 Corrective measures, e.g. error detection, compensation for temperature or hematocrit, calibration coding of calibration information G01N33/48771

Abstract

The present invention relates to an analytical device (X1) including a mounting portion (10) for mounting an analytical tool (2) capable of outputting information for computation, a computation unit for conducting computation for analyzing a sample based on the information for computation, and a temperature detection unit (12) for outputting the temperature information. The temperature detection unit (12) is disposed in the mounting portion (10). The analytical device (X1) preferably further includes a temperature correction unit for correcting the computation results obtained in the computation unit, based on the temperature information. The temperature detection unit (12) includes, for example, a contact type temperature sensor (12A). In this case, the contact type temperature detection unit (12) may include a thermally conductive portion (12B) having a contact surface (12b) to be brought into contact with the temperature sensor (12A) and the analytical tool (2).

Claims

1. A combination of an analytical tool and a temperature detecting analytical device, the temperature detecting analytical device comprising a housing including a mounting portion for mounting the analytical tool capable of outputting information for computation, a computation unit for conducting computation for analyzing a sample based on said information for computation, and a temperature detection unit for outputting temperature information,

wherein said mounting portion comprises a table having a projecting portion protruding from said housing;

wherein said analytical tool comprises a substrate separate from said mounting portion and a reagent portion formed on said substrate, said reagent portion being located above said projecting portion of said table outside said housing when said analytical tool is mounted onto said mounting portion; and

wherein said temperature detection unit is located on said projecting portion of said table directly below and in vertical alignment with said reagent portion when said analytical tool is mounted on said mounting portion.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting analytical device further comprises a temperature correction unit for correcting the computation results obtained in said computation unit, based on said temperature information.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detection unit comprises a contact type temperature sensor.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said temperature detection unit comprises a thermally conductive portion having a contact surface for contact with said temperature sensor and said analytical tool.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein said thermally conductive portion is formed of a material with a thermal conductivity of higher than 0.10 cal/(°

C.·

cm·

sec).

6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein said thermally conductive portion is formed of a material with a thermal conductivity of higher than 0.15 cal/(°

C.·

cm·

sec).

7. The combination according to claim 4, wherein said temperature sensor and said thermally conductive portion are scaled wit a resin package in said projecting portion of said table.

8. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said temperature detection unit comprises a contact type temperature sensor, and

the temperature sensor is disposed in direct contact with said analytical tool when said analytical tool is mounted on said mounting portion.

9. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detection unit comprises a non-contact type temperature sensor.

10. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said reagent portion comprises an enzyme.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said enzyme has a catalytic action with respect to oxidation reaction of glucose.

12. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said analytical tool is disposable.

13. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said mounting portion comprises an insertion portion for inserting an end portion of said analytical tool.

14. The combination according to claim 13, further comprising a push-down portion disposed in said housing for pushing down said analytical tool against said table portion.

15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said analytical tool comprises an output unit for outputting said information for computation,

said push-down portion being brought into contact with said output unit and inputting said information for computing.

16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein said push-down portion is an electrically conductive plate spring.

17. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes an insertion opening directly above the table, the analytical tool further includes a cover formed over the substrate, the substrate extending beyond the cover for insertion into the insertion opening, the cover coming into stopping contact with the housing upon insertion of the substrate into the insertion opening for positioning said temperature detection unit directly below and in vertical alignment with said reagent portion.