Inventors:
Balazs I. Bodai - Sacramento CA
Michael D. Grandon - Sausalito CA
Scott J. Gilbert - Cupertino CA
Douglas J. Littlejohn - Sunnyvale CA
Kyle E. Lemons - San Jose CA
Richard L. Fellows - Mountain View CA
Michael R. Barry - Palo Alto CA
Michael D. Delapp - San Jose CA
Assignee:
Biologix, Inc. - Sacramento CA
International Classification:
G01N 3506
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.