Test element, system, and method of controlling the wetting of same
First Claim
1. Test element for the testing of a liquid sample, the test element comprising:
- a sample application area having an exposed surface on which a liquid sample can be applied;
a test field at which a measuring parameter that is characteristic of the test is measured, the test field comprising a reagent which reacts with a medically significant analyte present in the liquid sample to produce the measuring parameter, wherein the measuring parameter that is characteristic of the analysis can be measured with a measuring facility and can be analyzed by an analytical device to achieve a result of a test performed with the test element;
a sample transport path extending between the sample application area and the test field; and
an actuator field assigned to the test field and including an electrically-conductive layer, the actuator field being switchable between a first state attracting the sample and a second state attracting the sample less than in the first state, the actuator field being switchable by applying an electric voltage that is different from an earth potential to the conductive layer, andwherein the actuator field comprises a section that is disposed along the sample transport path intermediate the sample application area and the test field, the section being arranged at about the same distance from the sample application area as the test field, measured along the sample transport path, such that by applying a voltage to the actuator field, a wetting of the test field which includes a spreading of the sample over the test field can be controlled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a test element for the testing of a liquid sample. The test element includes a sample application area, a test field, a sample transport path extending between the sample application area and the test field and an actuator field including an electrically-conductive layer. The actuator field is switchable between a first state attracting the sample and a second state attracting the sample less by applying to the conductive layer an electric voltage that is different from an earth potential. The actuator field has a section that is arranged at about the same distance from the sample application area as the test field, measured along the sample transport path. Such that, a wetting of the test field by the sample can be controlled by applying a voltage to the actuator field.
22 Citations
46 Claims
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1. Test element for the testing of a liquid sample, the test element comprising:
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a sample application area having an exposed surface on which a liquid sample can be applied; a test field at which a measuring parameter that is characteristic of the test is measured, the test field comprising a reagent which reacts with a medically significant analyte present in the liquid sample to produce the measuring parameter, wherein the measuring parameter that is characteristic of the analysis can be measured with a measuring facility and can be analyzed by an analytical device to achieve a result of a test performed with the test element; a sample transport path extending between the sample application area and the test field; and an actuator field assigned to the test field and including an electrically-conductive layer, the actuator field being switchable between a first state attracting the sample and a second state attracting the sample less than in the first state, the actuator field being switchable by applying an electric voltage that is different from an earth potential to the conductive layer, and wherein the actuator field comprises a section that is disposed along the sample transport path intermediate the sample application area and the test field, the section being arranged at about the same distance from the sample application area as the test field, measured along the sample transport path, such that by applying a voltage to the actuator field, a wetting of the test field which includes a spreading of the sample over the test field can be controlled. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 45)
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38. A test element analysis system for the testing of a liquid sample, comprising:
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a test element including a sample application area having an exposed surface on which a liquid sample can be applied, a test field at which a measuring parameter that is characteristic of the test is measured and comprising a reagent which reacts with a medically significant analyte present in the liquid sample to produce the measuring parameter, wherein the measuring parameter that is characteristic of the analysis can be measured with a measuring facility and can be analyzed by an analytical device to achieve a result of a test performed with the test element, a sample transport path extending between the sample application area and the test field, and an actuator field assigned to the test field and including an electrically-conductive layer, the actuator field being switchable between a first state attracting the sample and a second state attracting the sample less than in the first state, the actuator field being switchable by applying an electric voltage that is different from an earth potential to the conductive layer, and wherein the actuator field comprises a section that is disposed along the sample transport path intermediate the sample application area and the test field, the section being arranged at about the same distance from the sample application area as the test field, measured along the sample transport path such that a wetting of the test field which includes a spreading of the sample over the test field can be controlled by applying a voltage to the actuator field; and an analytical device with a measuring facility, by which a measuring parameter that is characteristic of a test can be measured at the test element. - View Dependent Claims (39, 46)
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40. A method for controlling the wetting of a test element, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing the test element, wherein the test element includes a sample application area having an exposed surface, a test field, a sample transport path extending between the sample application area and the test field, and an actuator field assigned to the test field and including an electrically-conductive layer, the actuator field being switchable between a first state attracting the sample and a second state attracting the sample less than in the first state, the actuator field being switchable by applying an electric voltage that is different from an earth potential to the conductive layer, and wherein the actuator field comprises a section that is disposed along the sample transport path intermediate the sample application area and the test field, the section being arranged at about the same distance from the sample application area as the test field, measured along the sample transport path; applying a liquid sample to the exposed surface of the sample application area; switching the actuator field from the first state to the second state, thereby controlling the wetting of the test field, which wetting includes a spreading of the sample over the test field; and reacting a reagent of the test field with an analyte present in the liquid sample and measuring a measuring parameter at the test field that is characteristic of the test, wherein the measuring parameter that is characteristic of the analysis can be measured with a measuring facility and can be analyzed by an analytical device to achieve a result of a test performed with the test element. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification