US4929426A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable blood chemistry measuring apparatus
Assignee: Biologix Inc
•
Filing: 1988-11-02
•
Granted: 1990-05-29
•
Expires: 2008-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A portable apparatus for measuring the electrochemical characteristics of a sample is disclosed. A disposable cartridge, including a plurality of interconnected flow chambers, houses a printed circuit board substrate upon which reference and indicating electrodes are formed. The electrodes are employed in the presence of chemical reagents to aid in the electrochemical determination of a sample undergoing analysis. A thermal sensing element is in close proximity to the electrodes to permit the correction of the measurement for variations in temperature. After a pH value has been determined, the used cartridge can be mechanically ejected thus eliminating user exposure to the blood sample being measured. In this way, the pH of a blood sample can be determined quickly, effectively, inexpensively and with a minimum amount of sample and reagent preparation.
Inventors
- 👤 Balazs I. Bodai
- 👤 Michael D. Grandon
- 👤 Scott J. Gilbert
- 👤 Douglas J. Littlejohn
- 👤 Kyle E. Lemons
- 👤 Richard L. Fellows
- 👤 Michael R. Barry
- 👤 Michael D. Delapp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/4925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A portable apparatus for measuring the electrochemical characteristics of a sample, said apparatus comprising: a shell housing a cartridge bay configured so as to receive a plurality of cartridges from a clip; spring loaded means for advancing one of the cartridges into a measurement position within said shell; measuring structure means for measuring an electrochemical characteristic of a sample; means for in situ, automatic calibration of the measuring structure means within the cartridge prior to introduction of the sample into the cartridge when said cartridge is in the measurement position; means for indicating the electrochemical characteristics of the sample as measured by and received from the measuring structure means; and means for ejecting the cartridge holding the sample from the shell after information corresponding to the electrical characteristics of the sample has been indicated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A portable apparatus for measuring the electrochemical characteristics of a sample, said apparatus comprising: a shell housing a cartridge bay configured so as to receive a plurality of cartridges from a clip; spring loaded means for advancing one of the cartridges into a measurement position within said shell; measuring structure means for measuring an electrochemical characteristic of a sample; means for in situ, automatic calibration of the measuring structure means within the cartridge prior to introduction of the sample into the cartridge when said cartridge is in the measurement position; means for indicating the electrochemical characteristics of the sample as measured by and received from the measuring structure means; and means for ejecting the cartridge holding the sample from the shell after information corresponding to the electrical characteristics of the sample has been indicated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The portable apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cartridge bay of said shell comprises a linear channel capable of receiving a single file row of cartridges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The portable apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring loaded means comprises a loaded spring in contact with and delivering a constant force to and driving an unused cartridge into measurement position upon ejection of a used cartridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
180 words
A portable apparatus for measuring the electro-chemical characteristic of a sample, said apparatus comprising: a shell housing a linearly channeled cartridge bay having a first end at a measurement position and a second end, the cartridge bay configured so as to receive a single file row of cartridges from a clip; a loaded spring having a first end attached to said shell and a second end in contact with the cartridges in the second end of the cartridge bay, said spring delivering a force to the cartridges in the direction of the measurement position; measuring structure means for measuring an electrochemical characteristic of a sample; means for in situ, automatic calibration of said measuring structure means within the cartridge prior to introduction of the sample into the cartridge when said cartridge is in the measurement position; means for indicating the electro-chemical characteristics of the sample as measured by and received from the measuring structure means; and means for ejecting the cartridge holding the sample from the apparatus after information corresponding to the electrical characteristics of the sample has been indicated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
180 words
A portable apparatus for measuring the electro-chemical characteristic of a sample, said apparatus comprising: a shell housing a linearly channeled cartridge bay having a first end at a measurement position and a second end, the cartridge bay configured so as to receive a single file row of cartridges from a clip; a loaded spring having a first end attached to said shell and a second end in contact with the cartridges in the second end of the cartridge bay, said spring delivering a force to the cartridges in the direction of the measurement position; measuring structure means for measuring an electrochemical characteristic of a sample; means for in situ, automatic calibration of said measuring structure means within the cartridge prior to introduction of the sample into the cartridge when said cartridge is in the measurement position; means for indicating the electro-chemical characteristics of the sample as measured by and received from the measuring structure means; and means for ejecting the cartridge holding the sample from the apparatus after information corresponding to the electrical characteristics of the sample has been indicated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3467582A
Cited
US3556950A
Cited
US3638109A
Cited
US3648159A
Cited
US3658478A
Cited
US3897216A
Cited
US3920396A
Cited
US3926766A
Cited
US4083638A
Cited
US4074971A
Cited
US4152390A
Cited
US4178345A
Cited
US4324256A
Cited
US4293307A
Cited
US4214968A
Cited
US4187077A
Cited
US4190420A
Cited
US4339317A
Cited
US4257862A
Cited
US4272245A
Cited
US4342964A
Cited
US4338175A
Cited
US4517160A
Cited
US4301116A
Cited
US4401547A
Cited
US4340457A
Cited
US4312734A
Cited
US4452682A
Cited
US4397725A
Cited
US4336121A
Cited
US4436610A
Cited
USD269548S
Cited
US4584275A
Cited
US4545382A
Cited
US4473457A
Cited
US4589418A
Cited
US4454007A
Cited
US4536274A
Cited
US4685465A
Cited
US4568519A
Cited
US4761268A
Cited
US4561963A
Cited
US4615340A
Cited
US4764342A
Cited
US4761381A
Cited
US4695430A
Cited
US4662996A
Cited
US4738824A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-28 | 1993-11-27 | 1994-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-28 | 1997-11-27 | 1998-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-28 | 2001-11-27 | 2002-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |