Disposable sensing device for real time fluid analysis

A disposable sensing device, adapted for insertion into reading apparatus, for sensing at least one component concentration in a fluid sample, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one sensor located within the housing;
• a cavity within the housing including a sealed deformable pouch for retaining an aqueous reagent out of contact with the sensor;
• an aqueous reagent conduit for connecting the cavity to the sensor;
• aqueous reagent displacement means under control of the reading apparatus for displacing the aqueous reagent from the cavity through the aqueous reagent conduit to the sensor;
• sample retaining means within the housing, for retaining the sample out of contact with the sensor, prior to sensing;
• sample collection means within the housing including an orifice for drawing the sample into the sample retaining means;
• a sample conduit connecting the sample retaining means with the sensor;
• and
• sample displacement means for forcibly displacing the sample from said sample retaining means through the sample conduit and into contact with the sensor to permit sensing.

A system for sensing at least one component concentration in a fluid sample, comprising reading apparatus and a disposable sensing device, the disposable sensing device including:

• at least one sensor;
• sample retaining means for retaining the fluid sample out of contact with the sensor prior to sensing;
• sensor collection means including an orifice for drawing the sample into the sample retaining means;
• a sample conduit connecting the sample retaining means with the sensor;
• and
• sample displacement means for automatically and forcibly displacing the sample through the sample conduit and into contact with the sensor to permit sensing;
• the reading apparatus including:
• receiving means for receiving the disposable sensing device;
• control means for controlling the automatic displacement of the sample by the sample displacement means;
• and
• signal means for receiving information from the sensor.