# US 2019/0317038 A1 · Cartridge, kit comprising cartridge, electric measuring apparatus, and electric measuring method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0317038 A1 - Document ID: US20190317038A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/384,025 - Filed: 2019-04-15 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-07 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Yoichi Katsumoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190317038A1 ## CPC - G01N 27/226: {Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor} - B01L 3/508: {Rigid containers without fluid transport within} - B01L 3/5082: {Test tubes per se} - B01L 3/50825: {Closing or opening means, corks, bungs} - G01N 33/4875: {Details of handling test elements, e.g. dispensing or storage, not specific to a particular test method (test-elements per se B01L, automatic analysers G01N35/00, in-vivo analysis on the human body for medical diagnosis A61B)} - G01N 33/4905: {Determining clotting time of blood (by chemical methods G01N33/86, C12Q1/56)} - B01L 2200/141: Preventing contamination, tampering - B01L 2300/042: Caps; Plugs - B01L 2300/047: Additional chamber, reservoir - B01L 2300/0645: Electrodes - B01L 2300/0858: Side walls - G01N 27/026: {Dielectric impedance spectroscopy (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for measuring corrosion G01N17/02)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE ## Abstract In embodiments, there is provided a cartridge comprising a container comprising an opening and a holding portion to hold a sample and/or a reagent, an electrode disposed on a container wall of the container, and a removable separator to separate at least some of the holding portion of the container from the electrode when the removable separator is inserted into the holding portion. The cartridge may be combined in a kit with a member to insert the sample, or in an electrical measuring apparatus comprising a circuit to measure electrical characteristic(s) of a second signal, resulting from application of a first signal to the electrode, and indicative of electrical characteristic(s) of the sample and/or the reagent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge comprising: a container comprising an opening and a holding portion to hold a sample and/or a reagent; an electrode disposed on a container wall of the container; and a removable separator to separate at least some of the holding portion of the container from the electrode when the removable separator is inserted into the holding portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the electrode is integrally formed with the container wall and is at a fixed position on the container wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein: the container wall comprises a location having a planar shape; and the electrode is disposed at the location having the planar shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a part of the electrode extending through the container wall to the holding portion is flush with an interior of the container wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the removable separator is at least partially disposed within the container and forms a liquid-tight seal with the container wall to separate the at least some of the holding portion from the electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the liquid-tight seal separates the sample and/or the reagent from the electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein: the opening of the container is on a top of the container; and a shape of the container comprises a gradient, spreading from a container bottom to the opening, on at least a portion of an interior of the container wall of the container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein a shape of the removable separator comprises a gradient, spreading from a bottom of the removable separator toward a top of the removable separator, on at least a portion of an exterior of a wall of the removable separator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cartridge of claim 8, wherein: the gradient of the portion of the interior of the container wall is equivalent to the gradient of the portion of the exterior of the wall of the removable separator; and when inserted into the container, the removable separator is subject to stress toward a top of the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a clamp that fixes relative positions of the container and the removable separator when the removable separator is inserted into the holding portion and separates the at least some of the holding portion from the electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cartridge of claim 10, wherein the clamp is arranged to be released from clamping and to be incapable of re-clamping after release. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The cartridge of claim 10, wherein: the clamp comprises a notched portion provided in the container and a claw provided on the removable separator and arranged to catch in the notched portion when the removable separator is inserted into the holding portion; the claw is flexible; the clamp is arranged to be released from clamping by deforming the claw or cutting the claw to a state in which the notched portion does not catch in the notched portion following release. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a bottom of the removable separator comprises a hole that is open when the removable separator is not inserted into the holding portion and is closed when the removable separator is inserted into the holding portion to separate the at least some of the holding portion of the container from the electrode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the electrode is disposed in the holding portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the container wall comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side; the electrode is disposed on the first side; and the cartridge further comprises an opposite electrode disposed on the second side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to apply an electrical signal to the sample and/or the reagent. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the container and/or the removable separator comprises a resin selected from a group of resins consisting of polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylic, and polysulfone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1 in a kit, the kit further comprising a member to introduce the sample into the container. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The kit of claim 18, wherein the member is a pipet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The kit of claim 18, wherein the member is an injection needle. ### Claim 21 An electric measuring apparatus comprising: a cartridge comprising: a container comprising an opening and a holding portion to hold a sample and/or a reagent; an electrode disposed on a container wall of the container and configured to apply an electrical signal to the sample and/or the reagent; and a removable separator to separate at least some of the holding portion of the container from the electrode when the removable separator is inserted into the holding portion; a cartridge holder into which the cartridge is inserted; a signal generating circuit to generate a first signal to be applied to the electrode of the cartridge; and a measuring circuit to measure at least one electrical characteristic of a second signal, resulting from application of the first signal to the electrode of the cartridge, indicative of one or more electrical characteristics of the sample and/or the reagent disposed in the holding portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The electric measuring apparatus of claim 21, wherein the electrode is disposed in the holding portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The electric measuring apparatus of claim 22, wherein the container wall comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side; the electrode is disposed on the first side; and the cartridge further comprises an opposite electrode disposed on the second side. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The electric measuring apparatus of claim 21, wherein: the cartridge further comprises a clamp, the clamp comprising a notched portion provided in the container and a claw provided on the removable separator and arranged to catch in the notched portion when the removable separator is inserted into the holding portion; and the cartridge holder further comprises a sealing release member to, upon insertion of the cartridge into the cartridge holder, release the claw of the clamp from the notched portion. ### Claim 25 A method comprising: removing a removable separator from a container of a cartridge, the cartridge comprising a sample and/or a reagent disposed in the container and an electrode at least partially disposed in the container, wherein prior to removal the removable separator formed a liquid-tight seal separating the sample and/or the reagent from the electrode; applying at least one electrical signal to the electrode of the cartridge; measuring at least one second signal resulting from application of the at least one electrical signal to the electrode of the cartridge; and determining at least one diagnostic result of a sample disposed with the sample and/or the reagent in the container based at least in part on the measuring.