Sensor storage container

• US 8,210,349 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Yamaoka, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US10/550,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20060191813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,022 Days
• Field of Search: 206/438, 206/499, 206/459.5, 206/718, 600/345, 20440301-40315, 205/775, 205/777.5, 205/780.5, 205/792, 422 55- 58
• US Class Current: 206/438
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/004 mediator-assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage

Abstract

A sensor storage container is provided that allows sensors to be checked visually from the outside. A container is used for storing sensors including an oxidation-reduction enzyme that oxidizes or reduces an object to be analyzed, a mediator that mediates the transfer of electrons caused by oxidation or reduction, and a detection means that detects the oxidation or reduction reaction. The container is transparent or semi-transparent in whole or in part and thereby the sensors can be checked visually from the outside of the container. This container may be composed of a container body and a lid. The container body may be provided with a scale. Preferably, the sensors are those produced using a ruthenium metal complex as the mediator.

Claims

1. A sensor-container combination comprising a transparent or semi-transparent container comprising at least one of polypropylene and polyethylene, wherein the container comprises a container body, a lid and a bottom part;

and

a plurality of unshielded sensors stored in the container,

wherein

the sensors each include

an oxidation-reduction enzyme;

a ruthenium complex; and

a means for detecting changes in current resulting from action of the oxidation-reduction enzyme.

2. The sensor-container combination according to claim 1, wherein the container has a scale for determining the number of the sensors in the container.

3. The sensor-container combination according to claim 1, wherein the sensors have lightfastness.

4. The sensor-container combination according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is electrodes that detect current produced by oxidation or reduction of the ruthenium complex, and the sensors are electrode sensors.

5. The sensor-container combination according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is a substrate of the oxidation-reduction enzyme that colors through oxidation or reduction, and the sensors are colorimetric sensors.

6. The sensor-containing combination according to claim 1, wherein

the container body has a circular opening,

the lid has a circular projection, and

the circular projection of the lid is capable of fitting into the circular opening of the container body.

7. The sensor-container combination according to claim 1, wherein the container body and the lid are connected to each other with a hinge.

8. The sensor-container combination according to claim 1, wherein a color of the bottom part of the container is selected from the group consisting of black, gray, brown, blue, green, red, yellow, and white.