US5690893A
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US
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Analyzer having sensor with memory device
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-06-05
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2015-06-05
Abstract
Abstract An analyzer includes an exchangeable and consumable element such as a sensor, column or reagent the characteristic of which specifies an analyzing condition. The element is provided with a non-volatile semiconductor memory which holds an analyzing condition adapted for the element as data. When the element is mounted on an analyzer body, a controller of the analyzer reads the analyzing condition from the memory to update an analyzing condition inherently provided in the analyzer body. The result of analysis and/or operational history information of use of the element may be written into the memory with which the element is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoshi Ozawa
- 👤 Takafumi Kikuchi
- 👤 Yoshiki Murakami
- 👤 Masaaki Nakai
- 👤 Koutarou Yamashita
- 👤 Toshiko Fujii
- 👤 Yuji Miyahara
- 👤 Yoshio Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00732; G01N35/00594; G01N35/00613; G01N35/00663; G01N2035/00683; G01N2035/00742; G01N2035/00782; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/115831; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/2575
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample; and an assembly detachably mounted on said analyzer body, said assembly including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage, and said memory means, said memory means being for holding the analyzing condition defined by said sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample; and an assembly detachably mounted on said analyzer body, said assembly including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage, and said memory means, said memory means being for holding the analyzing condition defined by said sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said assembly further includes second memory means for holding the result of said analysis of said sample, and said analyzer body further includes means for writing the result of said analysis of said sample into said second memory means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said assembly further includes third memory means for holding operational history information of use of said sensing means, and said analyzer body further includes means for writing the operational history information of use of said sensing means into said third memory means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said memory means is attachable to and detachable from said sensing means, and said sensing means is attachable to and detachable from said analyzer body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
An analyzer body on which an assembly is to be detachably mounted, said assembly including a passage through which a sample passes during analysis of said sample, sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage, and memory means for holding the analyzing condition defined by said sensing means, the analyzer body comprising: means for holding said sample; means for reading the analyzing condition from said memory means; means for performing said analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition; and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
An analyzer body on which an assembly is to be detachably mounted, said assembly including a passage through which a sample passes during analysis of said sample, sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage, and memory means for holding the analyzing condition defined by said sensing means, the analyzer body comprising: means for holding said sample; means for reading the analyzing condition from said memory means; means for performing said analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition; and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An analyzer body according to claim 6, wherein said assembly further includes second memory means; and wherein said analyzer body further comprises means for writing said result of said analysis of said sample into said second memory means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An analyzer body according to claim 6, wherein said assembly further includes third memory means; and wherein said analyzer body further comprises means for writing operational history information of use of said sensing means into said third memory means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
An assembly which is to be detachably mounted on an analyzer body, said analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, the assembly comprising: a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample; sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage; and said memory means, said memory means being for holding the analyzing condition defined by said sensing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
An assembly which is to be detachably mounted on an analyzer body, said analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, the assembly comprising: a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample; sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage; and said memory means, said memory means being for holding the analyzing condition defined by said sensing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly according to claim 9, further comprising second memory means for holding said result of said analysis of said sample.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly according to claim 9, further comprising third memory means for holding operational history information of use of said sensing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly according to claim 9, wherein said memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said second memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly according to claim 11, wherein said third memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly according to claim 9, wherein said memory means is attachable to and detachable from said sensing means, and said sensing means is attachable to and detachable from said analyzer body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
172 words
An assembly which is to be detachably mounted on an analyzer body, said analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, the assembly comprising: a sensing means package including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage, and first connecting means for detachably connecting said sensing means package to said analyzer body; a memory unit including said memory means, said memory means being for holding said analyzing condition defined by said sensing means, and second connecting means for connecting said memory means to said reading means of said analyzer body; and third connecting means for detachably connecting said sensing means package and said memory unit to each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
172 words
An assembly which is to be detachably mounted on an analyzer body, said analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, the assembly comprising: a sensing means package including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage, and first connecting means for detachably connecting said sensing means package to said analyzer body; a memory unit including said memory means, said memory means being for holding said analyzing condition defined by said sensing means, and second connecting means for connecting said memory means to said reading means of said analyzer body; and third connecting means for detachably connecting said sensing means package and said memory unit to each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said memory unit further includes second memory means for holding said result of said analysis of said sample.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said memory unit further includes third memory means for holding operational history information of use of said sensing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly according to claim 17, wherein said second memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly according to claim 18, wherein said third memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
165 words
A sensing means package which is to be detachably mounted on an analyzer body, said analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, the sensing means package comprising: a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample; sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage; first connecting means for detachably connecting said sensing means package to said analyzer body; and mounting means on which a memory unit is to be detachably mounted, said memory unit including said memory means, said memory means being for holding said analyzing condition defined by said sensing means, and second connecting means for connecting said memory means to said reading means of said analyzer body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
165 words
A sensing means package which is to be detachably mounted on an analyzer body, said analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, the sensing means package comprising: a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample; sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said sensing means being in contact with said passage; first connecting means for detachably connecting said sensing means package to said analyzer body; and mounting means on which a memory unit is to be detachably mounted, said memory unit including said memory means, said memory means being for holding said analyzing condition defined by said sensing means, and second connecting means for connecting said memory means to said reading means of said analyzer body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
174 words
A memory unit which is to be detachably mounted on an analyzer body, said analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, the memory unit comprising: said memory means, said memory means being for holding said analyzing condition; first connecting means for connecting said memory means to said reading means of said analyzer body; and mounting means for detachably mounting the memory unit on a sensing means package, said sensing means package including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said memory means being for holding said analyzing condition defined by said sensing means, said sensing means being in contact with said passage, and second connecting means for detachably connecting said sensing means package to said analyzer body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
174 words
A memory unit which is to be detachably mounted on an analyzer body, said analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from memory means, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, the memory unit comprising: said memory means, said memory means being for holding said analyzing condition; first connecting means for connecting said memory means to said reading means of said analyzer body; and mounting means for detachably mounting the memory unit on a sensing means package, said sensing means package including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said memory means being for holding said analyzing condition defined by said sensing means, said sensing means being in contact with said passage, and second connecting means for detachably connecting said sensing means package to said analyzer body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A memory unit according to claim 23, further comprising second memory means for holding said result of said analysis of said sample.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A memory unit according to claim 23, further comprising third memory means for holding operational history information of use of said sensing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
A memory unit according to claim 23, wherein said memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A memory unit according to claim 24, wherein said second memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A memory unit according to claim 25, wherein said third memory means includes a non-volatile memory.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
115 words
An automatic blood analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from a non-volatile memory, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample; and an assembly detachably mounted on said analyzer body, said assembly including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, an electrode having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said electrode being in contact with said passage, and said non-volatile memory, said non-volatile memory being for holding the analyzing condition defined by said electrode.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
115 words
An automatic blood analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading an analyzing condition from a non-volatile memory, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of the read analyzing condition, and means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample; and an assembly detachably mounted on said analyzer body, said assembly including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, an electrode having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample, said electrode being in contact with said passage, and said non-volatile memory, said non-volatile memory being for holding the analyzing condition defined by said electrode.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
141 words
An analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of a predetermined analyzing condition, means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, and means for writing the result of said analysis of said sample and/or operational history information of use of sensing means into memory means; and an assembly detachably mounted on said analyzer body, said assembly including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, said sensing means, said sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample and being in contact with said passage, and said memory means, said memory means being for holding said result of said analysis of said sample and/or said operational history information of use of said sensing means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
141 words
An analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for performing analysis of said sample on the basis of a predetermined analyzing condition, means for outputting a result of said analysis of said sample, and means for writing the result of said analysis of said sample and/or operational history information of use of sensing means into memory means; and an assembly detachably mounted on said analyzer body, said assembly including a passage through which said sample passes during said analysis of said sample, said sensing means, said sensing means having a characteristic of inherently defining an analyzing condition of said sample and being in contact with said passage, and said memory means, said memory means being for holding said result of said analysis of said sample and/or said operational history information of use of said sensing means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
97 words
An analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading software from memory means, the software describing a procedure for performing analysis of the sample, means for performing the analysis of the sample on the basis of the procedure described by the software, and means for outputting a result of the analysis of the sample; and an assembly detachably mounted on the analyzer body, the assembly including an element having a characteristic of inherently defining the procedure for performing the analysis of the sample described by the software, and the memory means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
97 words
An analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading software from memory means, the software describing a procedure for performing analysis of the sample, means for performing the analysis of the sample on the basis of the procedure described by the software, and means for outputting a result of the analysis of the sample; and an assembly detachably mounted on the analyzer body, the assembly including an element having a characteristic of inherently defining the procedure for performing the analysis of the sample described by the software, and the memory means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
An analyzer according to claim 31, wherein the element and the memory means are incorporated in the assembly such that the memory means is not detachable from the assembly.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
An analyzer according to claim 31, wherein the memory means is attachable to and detachable from the element, and the element is attachable to and detachable from the analyzer body.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
112 words
An analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading software from memory means, the software describing a procedure for performing analysis of the sample, means for performing the analysis of the sample on the basis of the procedure described by the software, and means for outputting a result of the analysis of the sample; and an assembly detachably mounted on the analyzer body, the assembly including an element having a characteristic of inherently defining the procedure for performing the analysis of the sample described by the software, the memory means, and a circuit for carrying out serial communication between the memory means and the analyzer body.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
112 words
An analyzer comprising: an analyzer body including means for holding a sample, means for reading software from memory means, the software describing a procedure for performing analysis of the sample, means for performing the analysis of the sample on the basis of the procedure described by the software, and means for outputting a result of the analysis of the sample; and an assembly detachably mounted on the analyzer body, the assembly including an element having a characteristic of inherently defining the procedure for performing the analysis of the sample described by the software, the memory means, and a circuit for carrying out serial communication between the memory means and the analyzer body.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
An analyzer according to claim 34, wherein the element and the memory means are incorporated in the assembly such that the memory means is not detachable from the assembly.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
An analyzer according to claim 34, wherein the memory means is attachable to and detachable from the element, and the element is attachable to and detachable from the analyzer body.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes an ion-selective electrode.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
An analyzer body according to claim 6, wherein said sensing means includes an ion-selective electrode.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly according to claim 9, wherein said sensing means includes an ion-selective electrode.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said sensing means includes an ion-selective electrode.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sensing means package according to claim 22, wherein said sensing means includes an ion-selective electrode.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
15 words
A memory unit according to claim 23, wherein said sensing means includes an ion-selective electrode.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
An automatic blood analyzer according to claim 29, wherein said electrode is an ion-selective electrode.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
An analyzer according to claim 30, wherein said sensing means includes an ion-selective electrode.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
34 words
An analyzer according to claim 31, wherein the assembly further includes a passage through which the sample passes during the analysis of the sample; and wherein the element is in contact with the passage.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
13 words
An analyzer according to claim 31, wherein the element includes an ion-selective electrode.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
34 words
An analyzer according to claim 34, wherein the assembly further includes a passage through which the sample passes during the analysis of the sample; and wherein the element is in contact with the passage.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
13 words
An analyzer according to claim 34, wherein the element includes an ion-selective electrode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |