Electrochemical sensor and method for analyzing liquid sample

• US 8,038,859 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hmd Biomedical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hmd Biomedical Inc.
• Inventors: Hsu, Tien-Tsai
• Primary Examiner(s): Noguerola; Alex
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaur; Gurpreet
• Application Number:
  US11/413,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20070251836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 204411-412, 204/403.04, 20440309-40311, 205/77.5, 205/778, 205/792, 436 62- 71, 436500-548, 422 681- 98, 435 4- 4052
• US Class Current: 204/403.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52

Abstract

An electrochemical sensor for analyzing a liquid sample, which is adapted to be connected with an electrochemical meter, comprises a channel for delivering the liquid sample; and a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion separated and exposed in the channel; wherein the first conducting portion generates a first pulse signal when it is contacted by the liquid sample, and the second conducting portion generates a second pulse signal when it is contacted by the liquid sample. The electrochemical meter obtains viscosity of the liquid sample according to a time difference between the first and second pulse signals.

Claims

1. An electrochemical sensing device for analyzing a liquid sample, comprising:

a U-shaped timing electrode having a first conducting portion electrically connected to a second conducting portion, wherein the first and second conducting portions are substantially parallel to each other;

a counter electrode enclosed by the timing electrode, the counter electrode having a U-shaped portion enclosing and electrically connected to a third conducting portion, the U-shaped portion having a first conducting portion electrically connected to a second conducting portion, wherein the first, second, and third conducting portions of the counter electrode are substantially parallel to each other;

a U-shaped working electrode enclosed by the U-shaped portion of the counter electrode, the U-shaped working electrode enclosing the third conducting portion of the counter electrode and having a first conducting portion electrically connected to a second conducting portion, wherein the first and second conducting portions of the U-shaped working electrode are substantially parallel to each other;

a test reagent formed on both the working and counter electrodes to react with an analyte in the liquid sample; and

an electrochemical meter electrically connected to the timing electrode, the counter electrode, and the U-shaped working electrode,

wherein a first pulse signal is generated when the liquid sample contacts both the first conducting portion of the counter electrode and the first conducting portion of the timing electrode;

wherein a second pulse signal different from the first pulse signal is generated when the liquid sample contacts both the second conducting portion of the counter electrode and the second conducting portion of the timing electrode;

wherein the electrochemical meter is programmed to calculate the viscosity of the liquid sample based on both the first and second pulse signals; and

wherein the electrochemical meter is programmed to calculate a concentration of the analyte according to an analyte-responsive signal transmitted to the electrochemical meter when the liquid sample contacts both the U-shaped working electrode and counter electrode.

2. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid sample is one of blood and urine, and said analyte is selected from the group consisting of glucose, cholesterol, uric acid and lactic acid.

4. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the liquid sample is obtained by calculating a time difference between the first and second pulse signals.

3. The electrochemical sensing device as claimed in claim l, wherein said timing electrode, said counter electrode and said working electrode are disposed on an insulating layer.