Measuring device, measuring apparatus and method of measuring

• US 8,399,259 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2010
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukunaga, Atsushi, Nakaminami, Takahiro, Kamei, Akihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon, Krishnan S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fritchman, Rebecca M
• Application Number:
  US12/769,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20100273270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 436/149, 436/164, 436/165, 436/168, 205/792, 600/347
• US Class Current: 436/149
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1062 for testing the liquid while it is in the transfer device
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence

Abstract

The measuring device of the invention includes: a first container and a second container for holding a sample; and an optical measurement part for carrying out an optical measurement. The first container has a first sample supply inlet for supplying a sample containing an analyte to the first container and at least one electrode. The second container has a second sample supply inlet for supplying the sample to the second container and a reagent holding part for holding a reagent for the optical measurement.

Claims

1. A method for measuring concentrations of first and second analytes contained in a sample utilizing a measuring device, comprising the following steps (A) to (F):

a step (A) of preparing an analysis utilizing the measuring device,

wherein the measuring device comprises a tubular first container and a tubular second container;

a longitudinal direction of the tubular first container is in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the tubular second container,

the tubular first container is formed integrally with and adjacently to the tubular second container,

one end of the measuring device comprises a first sample supply inlet and a second sample supply inlet which communicate with the tubular first container and the tubular second container respectively,

the other end of the measuring device comprises a sucking port which communicates with the tubular second container and an air vent which communicates with the tubular first container,

a pair of electrodes are provided in the tubular first container, and

a reagent for optical measurement is provided in the tubular second container,

a step (B) of immersing the first sample supply inlet and the second sample supply inlet with the sample to suck the sample into the tubular first container through the first sample supply inlet with capillarity after the step (A),

a step (C) of determining whether the sample is sucked into the tubular first container or not, and sucking the sample from the second sample supply inlet toward the sucking port to supply the sample into the tubular second container if the sample is sucked into the tubular first container after the step (B),

a step (D) of measuring the concentration of the first analyte contained in the sample sucked into the tubular first container with the pair of electrodes,

a step (E) of dissolving the reagent with the sample supplied into the tubular second container, and

a step (F) of irradiating the sample dissolving the reagent to measure the concentration of the second analyte contained in the sample dissolving the reagent after the step (E).

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the step (F) is carried out after the step (D).

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the step (D) is carried out after the step (F).

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the distance Y from the first sample supply inlet to the tip of the pair of electrodes is longer than the distance X from the second sample supply inlet to the reagent.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the tubular first container is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the first sample supply inlet and the second sample supply inlet are pulled out of the sample after the step (C).