Analysis instrument

• US 8,460,523 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Shiraki, Yasunori, Kusaka, Yasuhide, Kobayashi, Taizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hendricks, Keith
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, BACH T
• Application Number:
  US10/537,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20060042943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,480 Days
• Field of Search: 2044031-40315, 205/775, 2057775-778, 422 55- 57
• 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

The present invention relates to an analytical tool (X1) to be mounted to an analytical apparatus (1) which includes a plurality of terminals (11, 12) and an analysis circuit (13). The analytical tool includes a plurality of electrodes (21, 22) coming into contact with the plurality of terminals (11, 12) when mounted to the analytical apparatus (1). In the analytical tool (X1), at least one (12) of the electrodes (21, 22) serves as a disturbing-noise countermeasure electrode to which disturbing noise is more likely to come in comparison with the other electrodes (11) than the above-mentioned electrode (12).

Claims

1. An analytical tool to be mounted to an analytical apparatus which includes a plurality of terminals and an analysis circuit, the analytical tool comprising:

an elongate substrate including a first end edge, a second end edge opposite to the first end edge, a first longitudinal edge, and a second longitudinal edge opposite to the first longitudinal edge;

a plurality of electrodes formed on the substrate for coming, into contact with the plurality of terminals when mounted to the analytical apparatus, each of the electrodes extending along the substrate between the first end edge and the second end edge;

a reagent portion formed on the substrate adjacent the first end edge of the substrate;

a flow path for moving a sample; and

an air vent for discharging air from the flow path;

wherein at least one of the electrodes serves as a disturbing-noise countermeasure electrode to which disturbing noise is more likely to come in comparison with the electrode or electrodes other than said at least one of the electrodes, another of the electrodes serving as a working electrode;

wherein the disturbing-noise countermeasure electrode includes a first exposed end located adjacent to the second end edge of the substrate, a first main line portion extending from the first exposed end toward the first end edge of the substrate along the first longitudinal edge of the substrate, a second main line portion extending from the first main line portion toward the second longitudinal edge of the substrate along the first end edge of the substrate, and a third main line portion extending from the second main line portion toward the second end edge of the substrate along the second longitudinal edge of the substrate;

wherein the working electrode includes a second exposed end located adjacent to the second end edge of the substrate and extends from the second exposed end toward the first end edge of the substrate between the first and third main line portions of the disturbing-noise countermeasure electrode;

wherein the disturbing-noise countermeasure electrode includes a noise inputting exposed portion for allowing input of static electricity;

wherein the reagent portion bridges between the working electrode and the second main line portion of the disturbing-noise countermeasure electrode;

wherein the noise inputting exposed portion of the disturbing-noise countermeasure electrode is exposed through the air vent;

wherein the disturbing-noise countermeasure electrode further includes an island provided directly below the air vent and partially covered by an insulating film; and

wherein the insulating film includes an opening for partially exposing the island to serve as the noise inputting exposed portion.