Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A disposable sensing device, adapted for insertion into reading apparatus, for sensing at least one component concentration in a fluid sample, comprising: a housing; at least one sensor located in a sensor region within the housing; sample retaining means within the housing, for retaining the sample out of contact with the sensor, prior to sensing; sample collection means within the housing including an orifice for drawing the sample into the sample retaining means; a sample conduit connecting the sample retaining means with the sensor; and sample displacement means for automatically displacing the sample by actively forcing the sample through the sample conduit and into contact with the sensor to permit sensing, the automatic displacement of the sample being under the control of the reading apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A disposable sensing device, adapted for insertion into reading apparatus, for sensing at least one component concentration in a fluid sample, comprising: a housing; at least one sensor located in a sensor region within the housing; sample retaining means within the housing, for retaining the sample out of contact with the sensor, prior to sensing; sample collection means within the housing including an orifice for drawing the sample into the sample retaining means; a sample conduit connecting the sample retaining means with the sensor; and sample displacement means for automatically displacing the sample by actively forcing the sample through the sample conduit and into contact with the sensor to permit sensing, the automatic displacement of the sample being under the control of the reading apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the sample retaining means and the sample conduit contains a dry reagent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 1, wherein the sensor region contains a dry reagent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 1, further comprising: a cavity within the housing for retaining an aqueous reagent out of contact with the sensor; and an aqueous reagent conduit for connecting the cavity with the sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 4, wherein the aqueous reagent conduit includes a dry reagent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 4, further comprising: a sealed deformable aqueous reagent pouch within the cavity for retaining the aqueous reagent; and rupturing means for permitting aqueous reagent to leave the pouch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 6 further comprising deforming means for deforming the pouch to displace the aqueous reagent through the aqueous reagent conduit into contact with the sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 6 wherein the rupturing means includes a pin within the cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 6 wherein the rupturing means includes a penetrating point within the pouch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 6 wherein the pouch is a foil pack formed of metal-plastic laminate and heat sealed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 10 wherein the pouch is pneumatically formed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 10 wherein the pouch is mechanically formed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 6 wherein the sample displacement means includes a deformable chamber for forcing the sample through the sample conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 7 wherein the sample displacement means includes a deformable chamber for forcing the sample through the sample conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 1 wherein the sensor is an electrochemical sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 15 wherein the electrochemical sensor is a thin-film chip device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 1 wherein the sample displacement means includes: an air bladder within the housing connected to the sample retaining means; and sealing means to prevent escape of fluids through the sample collection means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 17 wherein the housing comprises first and second members bonded together by a flexible membrane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 18 wherein the air bladder is formed by a chamber within the housing enclosed by the flexible membrane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 18 wherein the sensor includes an electrical contact for connection with the reading apparatus, and the flexible membrane further provides isolation of the electrical contact from exposure to fluids within the device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 17 wherein the sealing means includes a screw-on cap.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 17 wherein the sealing means includes a hinged snap-on cap.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 1 wherein the sample collecting means and sample retaining means include a capillary tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 23 wherein the capillary tube is a glass capillary tube imbedded in the housing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
165 words
A disposable sensing device, adapted for insertion into reading apparatus, for sensing at least one component concentration in a fluid sample, comprising: a housing; at least one sensor located within the housing; a cavity within the housing including a sealed deformable pouch for retaining an aqueous reagent out of contact with the sensor; an aqueous reagent conduit for connecting the cavity to the sensor; aqueous reagent displacement means under control of the reading apparatus for displacing the aqueous reagent from the cavity through the aqueous reagent conduit to the sensor; sample retaining means within the housing, for retaining the sample out of contact with the sensor, prior to sensing; sample collection means within the housing including an orifice for drawing the sample into the sample retaining means; a sample conduit connecting the sample retaining means with the sensor; and sample displacement means for forcibly displacing the sample from said sample retaining means through the sample conduit and into contact with the sensor to permit sensing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
165 words
A disposable sensing device, adapted for insertion into reading apparatus, for sensing at least one component concentration in a fluid sample, comprising: a housing; at least one sensor located within the housing; a cavity within the housing including a sealed deformable pouch for retaining an aqueous reagent out of contact with the sensor; an aqueous reagent conduit for connecting the cavity to the sensor; aqueous reagent displacement means under control of the reading apparatus for displacing the aqueous reagent from the cavity through the aqueous reagent conduit to the sensor; sample retaining means within the housing, for retaining the sample out of contact with the sensor, prior to sensing; sample collection means within the housing including an orifice for drawing the sample into the sample retaining means; a sample conduit connecting the sample retaining means with the sensor; and sample displacement means for forcibly displacing the sample from said sample retaining means through the sample conduit and into contact with the sensor to permit sensing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 25 wherein the aqueous reagent is a calibrant for the sensor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 25 further comprising a ventable chamber for receiving overflow fluids from the sensor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
A disposable sensing device as in claim 25 further comprising fluid detecting means for detecting the arrival of fluids at the sensor for providing information to the reading apparatus for use in the control of the aqueous reagent displacement means.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for sensing at least one component concentration in a fluid sample, comprising reading apparatus and a disposable sensing device, the disposable sensing device including: at least one sensor; sample retaining means for retaining the fluid sample out of contact with the sensor prior to sensing; sensor collection means including an orifice for drawing the sample into the sample retaining means; a sample conduit connecting the sample retaining means with the sensor; and sample displacement means for automatically and forcibly displacing the sample through the sample conduit and into contact with the sensor to permit sensing; the reading apparatus including: receiving means for receiving the disposable sensing device; control means for controlling the automatic displacement of the sample by the sample displacement means; and signal means for receiving information from the sensor.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for sensing at least one component concentration in a fluid sample, comprising reading apparatus and a disposable sensing device, the disposable sensing device including: at least one sensor; sample retaining means for retaining the fluid sample out of contact with the sensor prior to sensing; sensor collection means including an orifice for drawing the sample into the sample retaining means; a sample conduit connecting the sample retaining means with the sensor; and sample displacement means for automatically and forcibly displacing the sample through the sample conduit and into contact with the sensor to permit sensing; the reading apparatus including: receiving means for receiving the disposable sensing device; control means for controlling the automatic displacement of the sample by the sample displacement means; and signal means for receiving information from the sensor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as in claim 29, wherein: the sample displacement means of the disposable sensing device includes an air bladder connected to the sample retaining means; and the control means of the reading apparatus includes compression means for compressing the air bladder.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
91 words
A system as in claim 29, wherein the disposable sensing device includes: a cavity with a pouch therein for retaining an aqueous reagent out of contact with the sensor; an aqueous reagent conduit for connecting the cavity to the sensor; and aqueous reagent displacement means for displacing the aqueous reagent from the cavity through the aqueous reagent conduit to the sensor; and the reading apparatus includes actuating means for actuating the aqueous reagent displacement means of the disposable sensing device when the disposable sensing device is received by the reading apparatus.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as in claim 29, wherein: the sensor of the disposable sensing device is electrochemical; and the signal means of the reading apparatus includes an electrical connector for receiving an electrical signal from the sensor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as in claim 29, wherein: the disposable sensing device includes coding means for indicating what component concentration is to be sensed; and the reading apparatus includes test determining means for receiving the indications of the coding means.