Measuring device and methods for use therewith
First Claim
1. A method for use in a handheld test equipment apparatus having an electrochemical cell disposed to receive a bodily fluid of a human user, said electrochemical cell comprising first and second electrodes and a reagent reactive with an analyte in the bodily fluid to yield a current in response to an applied potential when the analyte is present, the apparatus comprising electronic circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:
- under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, applying a potential to the electrochemical cell by means of a source of potential external to the cell and measuring said current indicative of the presence of analyte;
thereafter, under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, ceasing the application of the potential to the cell;
thereafter, under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, measuring a decay in chemical potential at the cell; and
evaluating the measured current and the measured decay of chemical potential to evaluate a measure of the analyte in the bodily fluid.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The ability to switch at will between amperometric measurements and potentiometric measurements provides great flexibility in performing analyses of unknowns. Apparatus and methods can provide such switching to collect data from an electrochemical cell. The cell may contain a reagent disposed to measure glucose in human blood.
31 Citations
85 Claims
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1. A method for use in a handheld test equipment apparatus having an electrochemical cell disposed to receive a bodily fluid of a human user, said electrochemical cell comprising first and second electrodes and a reagent reactive with an analyte in the bodily fluid to yield a current in response to an applied potential when the analyte is present, the apparatus comprising electronic circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:
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under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, applying a potential to the electrochemical cell by means of a source of potential external to the cell and measuring said current indicative of the presence of analyte; thereafter, under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, ceasing the application of the potential to the cell; thereafter, under automatic control of the electronic circuitry, measuring a decay in chemical potential at the cell; and evaluating the measured current and the measured decay of chemical potential to evaluate a measure of the analyte in the bodily fluid. - 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)
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28. A handheld test equipment comprising:
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an electrochemical cell comprising at least first and second electrodes and a reagent reactive with a constituent of a human bodily fluid; a source of potential external to the electrochemical cell; potentiometric circuitry external to the electrochemical cell; electronic control means;
the electronic control means coupled with the source of potential to controllably apply the source of potential to the electrochemical cell, thereby allowing current to flow through the cell;amperometric means external to the electrochemical cell for measuring the flow of current through the electrochemical cell; wherein the electronic control means is coupled with the potentiometric circuitry to automatically cease application of potential to the electrochemical cell, and then cause the potentiometric circuitry to measure a decay in chemical potential at the electrochemical cell in the absence of the applied potential. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 75)
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57. A handheld test equipment comprising:
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a housing; a connector at the housing having at least first and second contacts; a source of potential; potentiometric circuitry within the housing; electronic control means within the housing;
the electronic control means coupled with the current source or source of potential to controllably apply the source of potential to the at least first and second contacts;amperometric means within the housing for measuring the current flowing through the at least first and second contacts;
wherein the electronic control means is coupled with the potentiometric circuitry to automatically cease application of the potential to the at least first and second contacts, and then cause the potentiometric circuitry to measure a decay of chemical potential at the at least first and second contacts in the absence of the applied current or potential. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A test equipment comprising:
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an electrochemical cell comprising first and second electrodes and a reagent reactive with a constituent of a human bodily fluid; a source of potential external to the electrochemical cell; potentiometric circuitry external to the electrochemical cell; electronic control means;
the electronic control means coupled with the source of potential to controllably apply the potential to the electrochemical cell, thereby allowing current to flow through the cell in the presence of an analyte of interest;amperometric means external to the electrochemical cell for measuring the current passed through the electrochemical cell; wherein the electronic control means is coupled with the potentiometric circuitry to automatically cease application of potential to the electrochemical cell, and then cause the potentiometric circuitry to measure a decay in chemical potential at the electrochemical cell in the absence of the applied potential.
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Specification