# US 8,543,345 B1 · Electrochemical potentiostat employing smart electrodes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,345 B1 - Document ID: US8543345B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/535,585 - Filed: 2009-08-04 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-04 - Assignees: ADA Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Kent Douglas Henry - Inventors: Kent Douglas Henry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543345B1 ## CPC - G01N 27/286: {Power or signal connectors associated therewith} - G01N 27/4166: {measuring a particular property of an electrolyte} - 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) ## Abstract The present invention is directed to an electrochemical tool consisting of a potentiostat and user replaceable sensors and/or electrodes accompanied by an electronic memory that contains information that directs the potentiostat operation. The potentiostat is designed to operate with sensors employing a user customizable sensor and/or electrode memory. The customizable memory allows storing of information from a user and/or manufacturer related to a unique sensor identifier, calibration information, and/or an operational sequence to be employed by the potentiostat to properly operate the sensor and/or electrodes. A further aspect is to provide an electrode with pre-programmed electrode attributes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A measuring system, comprising: a potentiostat; a sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes; and a connector electrically connected to the electrodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes comprises a memory, wherein the connector comprises an operational sequence to be employed by the potentiostat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The measuring system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes comprise electrode information comprising one or more of an electrode attribute, electrode manufacture time and/or date, electrode manufacturer identifier, manufacturer part number, electrode expiration time and/or date, and a unique electrode identifier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The measuring system of claim 2, wherein the electrode information differs from the sensor information and wherein the sensor information further comprises a plurality of a type identifier of a type of physical data sensed by the sensor, an identifier of the user, a time and/or date of manufacture of the sensor, a time and/or date of first use of the sensor, an expiration time and/or date of the sensor, a maintenance time and/or date to service the sensor, an engineering unit corresponding to the sensor type, a unique sensor identifier, and calibration information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The measuring system of claim 2, wherein the electrode information comprises an electrode attribute and wherein the electrode attribute is material type, electrode material shape, and/or dimensions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The measuring system of claim 2, wherein the electrode information comprises at least one of an electrode manufacture time and/or date and an electrode expiration time and/or date. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The measuring system of claim 2, wherein the electrode information comprises a unique electrode identifier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The measuring system of claim 3, wherein the sensor information comprises at least one of an expiration time and/or date of the sensor, a time and/or date of first use of the sensor, and a maintenance time and/or date to service the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The measuring system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is replaceable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the operating sequence is at least one of pre-conditioning, operation, data collection, and post-conditioning. ### Claim 10 A method, comprising: determining, by a potentiostat, that at least one of a sensor and an electrode is connected to a port, the sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes; receiving, by the potentiostat, an operational sequence, the operational sequence provided-by a connector, the connector electrically connected to the electrodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes comprises a memory; and performing, by the potentiostat, the operational sequence. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the operational sequence pattern is programmed into the connector by a user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor information comprises a plurality of a type identifier of a type of physical data sensed by the sensor, an identifier of the user, a time and/or date of manufacture of the sensor, a time and/or date of first use of the sensor, an expiration time and/or date of the sensor, a maintenance time and/or date to service the sensor, an engineering unit corresponding to the sensor type, a unique sensor identifier, and calibration information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes comprise electrode information comprising one or more of an electrode attribute, electrode manufacture time and/or date, electrode manufacturer identifier, manufacturer part number, electrode expiration time and/or date, and a unique electrode identifier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining, by the potentiostat, that an operational life of the at least one of a sensor and an electrode has expired; and in response, not performing, by the potentiostat, the operational pattern. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining, by the potentiostat, that a service period associated with the at least one of a sensor and an electrode has expired; and in response, not performing, by the potentiostat, the operational sequence until predetermined service is performed by a user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes has a respective electrode memory comprising a corresponding unique electrode identifier. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: receiving, by a potentiostat and from a user, an operational sequence; and storing, in a memory of at least one of a sensor and an electrode, the operational sequence, wherein the electrode comprises a memory. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving, by a potentiostat and from a user, a unique identifier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one of a unique identifier and operational sequence is the operational sequence. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the memory of the at least one of a sensor and an electrode comprises a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising at least one of a unique identifier and the operational sequence.