Method of filling an amperometric cell
AssigneeLifeScan, Inc.
InventorsAlastair M Hodges, Thomas W. Beck, Ian A. Maxwell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an amperometric electrochemical cell having a first insulating substrate carrying a first electrode, a second insulting substrate carrying a second electrode, said electrodes being disposed to face each other and spaced apart by less than 500 μm, and defining a sample reservoir therebetween, and wherein at least one, and preferably both, insulating substrates and the electrode carried thereon include an electromagnetic radiation transmissive portion in registration with said reservoir. The walls of the electrochemical cell may be formed from a thin metallic portion on a transparent substrate. Such cells are useful in providing visual confirmation of the validity of the electrochemical measurement.
Claims19
A method of filling, an amperometric cell comprising the steps of:
- a) drawing a liquid sample into said cell comprising a first insulating substrate carrying a first electrode, a second insulating substrate carrying a second electrode, said electrodes being disposed to face each other and spaced apart by less than 500 μm, and defining a sample reservoir therebetween, wherein at least one of said insulating substrates and the electrode carried thereon includes an electromagnetic radiation transmissive portion in registration with said reservoir, the cell further comprising a measuring circuit, an electromagnetic radiation source, and an electromagnetic radiation detector;
- b) exposing the transmissive portion to electromagnetic radiation;
- c) monitoring a property of the electromagnetic radiation passing and/or reflected through said transmissive portion;
- d) comparing said monitored property with a predetermined value indicative of the cell being filled;
- and
- e) continuing to draw the liquid sample into the cell until said monitored property reaches said predetermined value.
A method for monitoring an analyte in a liquid sample comprising the steps of:
- a) drawing the sample into an amperometric electrochemical cell comprising a first insulating substrate carrying a first electrode, a second insulating substrate carrying a second electrode, said electrodes being disposed to face each other and spaced apart by less than 500 μm, and defining a sample reservoir therebetween, wherein at least one of said insulating substrates and the electrode carried thereon includes an electromagnetic radiation transmissive portion in registration with said reservoir, the cell further comprising a measuring circuit, an electromagnetic radiation source, and an electromagnetic radiation detector;
- b) exposing the transmissive portion to electromagnetic radiation;
- c) monitoring a property of the electromagnetic radiation passing and/or reflected through said transmissive portion;
- d) comparing said monitored property with a predetermined value indicative of the cell being filled;
- and
- e) prior to, simultaneously with or after any one of steps b) to d) applying a potential across the electrochemical cell and measuring the resultant current to detect the analyte.
A method of determining whether an amperometric cell is filled with a liquid sample, said cell comprising a first insulating substrate carrying a first electrode, a second insulating substrate carrying a second electrode, said electrodes being disposed to face each other and spaced apart by less than 500 μm, and defining a sample reservoir therebetween, wherein at least one of said insulating substrates and the electrode carried thereon includes an electromagnetic radiation transmissive portion in registration with said reservoir, the cell further comprising a measuring circuit, an electromagnetic radiation source, and an electromagnetic radiation detector, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) exposing said transmissive portion to electromagnetic radiation;
- b) monitoring a property of the electromagnetic radiation passing and/or reflected through said transmissive portion;
- and
- c) comparing said monitored property with a predetermined value indicative of the cell being filled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.