Avl Medical Instruments Ag

Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Avl Ag

Other

Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich

Christoph Ritter

Bernhard Schaffar

Hermann J Marsoner

Wolfgang Huber

Andreas Martin Dolezal

Erich Kleinhappl

Helmut Offenbacher

Heinz Kontschieder

Massoud Ghahramani

Marie-Luise Schinnerl

Dieter Mangold

Norbert Oranth

Wolf-Dietrich Steinbock

Valerie Winckler-Desprez

Marco Jean Pierre Leiner

Helmut Zach

Johann Harer

Michael Brauner

Gerd Schweiger

Winfried Strutz

Susanne Lang

Ursula Spichiger

G&uuml;nther Pucher

Wolf-Dietrich Steinb&ouml;ck

Gregor Steiner

Christian Neuhold

Thomas Kotnig

Franz-Josef Krysl

Franz Josef Krysl

Gert DI Schweiger

The invention concerns a sensor cassette that can be inserted into an analyzer comprising a continuous measuring channel for receiving fluidic media and sensory elements for determining chemical and/or physical parameters of the fluidic media. According to the invention the sensor cassette consists of at least two permanently connected but separately manufactured modules which each have a housing and a measuring channel section wherein the measuring channel sections of adjacent modules are connected to the continuous measuring channel by a fluidic coupling and wherein at least one of the connected modules is designed as a sensor module and has a sensor array comprising at least two sensory elements. Furthermore, a memory element is allocated to the sensor cassette on which specific information for the sensor cassette in particular with regard to its construction from the respective modules is stored.

Modular sensor cassette

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining an analyte in a fluid. Provided in the device is a stirring zone formed in an optionally microfluidic three-dimensional structure, into which stirring zone a sample of the fluid can be introduced and in which there is a stirring device which can be operated in a contactless manner and is optionally designed as a microstirrer, the stirring device being configured so as to stir the sample of fluid introduced into the stirring zone and being loaded with at least one reagent which reacts with the analyte. The invention also provides a stirring device which can be operated in a contactless manner and is optionally designed as a microstirrer, the stirring device being loaded with the at least one reagent which reacts with the analyte.

Apparatus and method for determining an analyte in a fluid

The invention relates to a potentiometric, ion-selective electrode for the measurement of cation concentration in a sample, which electrode is made of electrically conductive electrode material applied on an electrically insulating substrate using a thick-film technique and covered in the measurement area by an ion-sensitive membrane, preferably a liquid polymeric membrane. At least one water-soluble alkaline-earth metal salt is homogeneously dispersed in the electrode material. The water solubility of the alkaline-earth metal salt is preferably greater than 1&#xd7;10&#x3bc;/l, and lies preferably between 1&#xd7;10and 1&#xd7;10g/l.

Potentiometric, ion-selective electrode

An electrochemical sensor includes an electrochemically active sensor layer (sensor spot), which is applied by means of thick film techniques in at least one region of an electrically insulating, planar substrate, the surface of the sensor layer being brought into contact in a measuring area with the aqueous sample to be determined. At least one conductive path for signal pick-up is also applied on the substrate by means of thick film techniques. The sensor layer contains at least one oxide of metal from subgroups and wof the Periodic Table as sensor component. The contact between the electrochemically active sensor layer and the conductor is effected via an electrically conductive bridge layer which extends from the measuring area in a direction essentially parallel to the surface of the substrate. The bridge layer consists of corrosion-resistant material.

Electrochemical sensor

An electrochemical measuring device comprises an essentially planar sensor substrate with at least one electrochemical sensor, and a cover part in which a tunnel-shaped measuring channel is formed. At least one guiding groove is provided in parallel with the measuring channel. A sealing element which is positioned between the sensor substrate and the cover part to seal the measuring channel is provided with guiding bodies along its length, at least one of which guiding bodies projects into the guiding groove of the cover part. The sealing element is provided with narrow sealing lips bounding the measuring channel. Each short side of the sealing element has a guiding body projecting into recesses in the sensor substrate. The guiding bodies are disposed on that side of a sealing plane defined by the sealing lips, which faces away from the cover part.

Electrochemical measuring device with an planar sensor substrate

A membrane for use in chloride-sensitive electrodes, comprises a polymer matrix with at least one electroactive component. The polymer matrix of the membrane contains an epoxy resin with an amino compound as a curing agent. For the purpose of reducing the danger of contamination and improving the useful life of the electrode, the epoxy resin is provided with at least one epoxy resin compatible flexibilizer, and the content of epoxy resin plus added flexibilizer in the electrode membrane amounts to more than 60% by weight, while that of the electroactive component is not more than 35% by weight, and preferably not more than 30% by weight.

Chloride-sensitive electrode membrane

A device for performing electrochemical and/or optical measurements in fluids, includes a sensor part of substantially planar configuration carrying a plurality of sensors that are connected to conductive paths; a cover part, which includes a groove-shaped measuring channel through which the fluid will flow; and a sealing element positioned between the sensor part and the cover part for sealing the measuring channel. The cover part includes grooves which extend in parallel with the measuring channel and which define respective ridges between the grooves and the measuring channel, and the sealing element substantially includes guiding bodies which are retained in the grooves of the cover part and are provided with integrally molded narrow sealing lips protruding in the area of the ridge. The sensor part and the cover part are joined by a plurality of locking elements which are distributed along the measuring channel.

Device for performing measurements in fluids

Diagnostic flow through cell device

A planar sensor for determining a chemical parameter of a sample, includes a substrate whose surface is at least partly plane and is provided with at least one potentiometric or amperometric and, possibly, an optical transducer, and one or more biochemical components. The transducer and the biochemical component are provided on the surface of the substrate, or at least part of the surface, as a sensor spot, and a cover membrane surrounding this sensor spot, is heat welded to the surface of the substrate. Those sensor spots that include a potentiometric or amperometric transducer are in contact with a strip conductor attached to the plane surface of the substrate and the thermal seal of the cover membrane is interrupted where the conducting strips lead away from the sensor spots.

Planar sensor for determining a chemical parameter of a sample

An electrode arrangement includes at least one potentiometric measuring electrode located in a sample channel, a reference electrode located in a branch line, and a suction pump downstream of the diaphragmless entrance opening of the branch line into the sample channel the reference electrode being an ion-sensitive, i.e., preferably chloride-sensitive, membrane electrode.

Electrode arrangement

In order to simplify the performance of serial measurements by means of a measuring device for determining chemical parameters of an aqueous sample, with at least one symmetrical, ion-sensitive membrane being located between the sample and an electrolytic medium and the sample and the electrolytic medium being in contact with reference electrodes connected to an evaluation unit, a measuring element is provided which can be inserted into a measuring device and which has a sample chamber connected with a reference chamber via a bore. At least one measuring chamber is provided, which is separated from the sample chamber by a symmetrical, ion-sensitive membrane. The reference chamber and all measuring chambers contain electrolytic media into which are dipped the reference electrodes located in the measuring device.

Measuring device for determining chemical parameters of an aqueous sample

In order to produce a sensitive membrane electrode with high selectivity with respect to other anions and lipophilic ions or interfering substances, the membrane is based on an unplasticized polymer matrix whose content of electroactive component is between 50 and 90 percent by weight.

Ion-sensitive membrane electrode

An analyzing apparatus for the analysis of liquid samples is provided with a single sample input unit and a serial sample input unit which may alternatively be connected to a joint evaluation unit by means of a change-over switch. This will permit the measurement of single samples during a serial sample run by interrupting the automated process, additional provisions ensuring an automatic return to the serial sample mode.

Analyzing apparatus for the analysis of liquid samples

Method for making an electrode having an axial capillary bore with an intersecting bore. An extensible tube is inserted in the axial bore and a polymerizable mixture is inserted in the intersecting bore and permitted to polymerize against the tube which is stretched to facilitate removal of the tube. The tube is selected to swell under the action of the solvent and the tube is filled with solvent.

Method for making an ion-sensitive capillary electrode

In a capillary reference electrode with a capillary body which comprises a measuring chamber connected through an electrolytic bridge to a test sample which is adapted to be introduced into a capillary bore, the inlet orifice for the electrolyte is arranged at a point of the measuring chamber which is in a low position when the element is installed and the outlet orifice is arranged at a high position of the measuring chamber. The electrolytic bridge is formed through a communicating passage which has a substantially conical narrow end adjacent to the capillary bore with a very fine communication bore leading to the capillary bore. The resulting economy in electrolyte-consumption and absence of sensitivity in respect of potentially occuring air bubbles are further improved by providing the said communication bore with a substantially annular cross section.

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Graz, Austria

Christoph Ritter