Sensor having electrode for determining the rate of flow of a fluid

US6801041B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Abbott Laboratories · US

Inventors

• Shridhara Alva Karinka · Pleasanton, US
• Isabella Moser · Teningen, DE
• Gerhard Jobst · Teningen, DE
• Uwe Tietjen · Glückstadt, DE
• Panagiota Petrou · Kapandriti, GR
• Uwe Herberth · Gundelfingen, DE
• Gerald Urban · Neuzelle, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 14, 2002
• Grant date: Oct 5, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 18, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12Q1/006
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Sensors that are capable measuring the rate of flow of a fluid that passes over the electrodes of the sensor. In these sensors, an electrode, designated the flow rate-determining electrode, is used in conjunction with the conventional electrodes, e.g., the working electrode, the reference electrode, and the counter electrode, to determine the rate of flow of the fluid. In one aspect, this invention provides a sensor for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a sample of fluid when the sample flows continuously over the electrodes of the sensor, especially when the rate of flow of the sample is relatively low. In another aspect, this invention provides a method for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a sample of fluid, wherein the rate of flow of the sample varies during the period of time that the sensor is in place. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor employs four electrodes, namely, a working electrode, a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a flow rate-determining electrode. Alternatively, a single electrode that performs both the function of the reference electrode and the function of the counter electrode can replace the reference electrode and the co…