Abstract: An analytical test strip for the determination of an analyte (such as glucose and/or hematocrit) in a bodily fluid sample (such as a whole blood sample) includes a first capillary sample-receiving chamber, a second capillary sample-receiving chamber, and a physical barrier island disposed between the first and second capillary sample-receiving chambers. Moreover, the physical island barrier is disposed such that bodily fluid sample flow between the first capillary sample-receiving chamber and the second capillary sample-receiving chamber is prevented during use of the analytical test strip.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample are provided. The system includes a test strip with a sample chamber adapted to receive a fluid sample. The sample chamber can be associated with a filter membrane. The test strip also includes a reference cell. The oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber can be read by a readout device interconnected to a test lead that is in electrical contact with the sample chamber, and a reference lead that is in electrical contact with the reference cell. Electrical contact between a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber and the reference cell can be established by a bridge. The bridge may comprise filter element such as a piece of filter paper that is wetted, for example by the fluid sample, or an electrolytic gel. The oxidation-reduction potential may be read as an electrical potential between the test lead and the reference lead of the test strip.

Abstract: A disposable electrochemical test sensor designed to facilitate sampling of fluid samples. It has a fluid chamber having a novel extra wide sampling entrance, but no additional air escape vent. The chamber provides a reservoir from which a sample fluid can be drawn into the chamber through capillary action. The sampling entrance provided can draw fluid into the chamber through any part of the opening, allowing easy targeting the samples with small volume, picking up smeared samples, and added tolerance to users who jam the tip of the sensor into users' finger. The sampling entrance also serves as air escape vent. Such one opening sensor alleviates over-flow issue often encountered in convenient sensors.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a gas sensor is described that includes a membrane disposed between a sensing electrode and a counter electrode. The membrane is a polymer membrane, such as an ionomer, having an ionic liquid retained therein.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for concentrating particles (e.g., bacteria, viruses, cells, and nucleic acids) suspended in a liquid. Electric-field-induced forces urge the particles towards a first electrode immersed in the liquid. When the particles are in close proximity to (e.g., in contact with) the first electrode, the electrode is withdrawn from the liquid and capillary forces formed between the withdrawing electrode and the surface of the liquid immobilize the particles on the electrode. Upon withdrawal of the electrode from the liquid, the portion of the electrode previously immersed in the liquid has particles immobilized on its surface.

Abstract: A disposable electrochemical test sensor designed to facilitate sampling of fluid samples. It has a fluid chamber having a novel extra wide sampling entrance, but no additional air escape vent. The chamber provides a reservoir from which a sample fluid can be drawn into the chamber through capillary action. The extra wide sampling entrance provided by the present invention can draw blood into the chamber through any part of the opening, thus it allows easy targeting the samples with small volume, picking up smeared samples and it is more tolerant to users who jam the tip of the sensor into users' finger.

Abstract: A potentiometric sensor includes an elongate non-glass, non-metal housing having opposite first and second longitudinal ends and a length extending between the first and second longitudinal ends. The housing defines a lumen extending along the length of the housing. A measuring half-cell assembly is received in the lumen of the housing and secured to the housing. The measuring half-cell assembly includes a glass body having opposite first and second longitudinal ends and a length extending between the first and second ends of the glass body. The second longitudinal end of the glass body is adjacent the second longitudinal end of the housing and a longitudinal extent of the glass body is less than the length of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the moving speed of a substance, both of which can adjust the moving speed of a substance to a desired speed. The control method and control apparatus cause a substance to pass through an internal space, in which an electro-osmotic flow is generated, of a surround electrode formed so as to surround part of the moving path of the substance, whereby the control method and control apparatus change the moving speed of the substance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide transducers capable of functioning as electronic sensors and redox cycling sensors. Transducers comprise two electrodes separated by a nanogap. Molecular binding regions proximate to and within the nanogap are provided. Methods of fabricating nanogap transducers and arrays of nanogap transducers are also provided. Arrays of individually addressable nanogap transducers can be disposed on integrated circuit chips and operably coupled to the integrated circuit chip.

Abstract: Methods and devices for improving measurements of test meter, and in particular for detecting a presence of an electrochemical sensor or strip in the test meter and a start time of an electrochemical reaction, are provided. In one exemplary embodiment of an electrochemical system includes an electrochemical sensor, a test meter, and a circuit. The circuit is configured to form an electrical connection with the electrochemical sensor such that the circuit can detect three distinct voltage ranges. The voltage ranges can be indicative of an absence of the electrochemical sensor, a presence of the sensor that is devoid of a sample, and a presence of the sensor with a sample. Test meters, methods for detecting when a sample starts to fill an electrochemical sensor for establishing when a reaction starts, and circuits for use with electrochemical strips, are also provided.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for performing droplet-based solid phase processing steps on a digital microfluidic device. A solid phase material, which may be a porous solid phase material such as a porous polymer monolith is formed or located on a digital microfluidic element. The solid phase may be formed by an in-situ method in which the digital microfluidic array is actuated to transport a droplet of solid phase pre-cursor solution to a selected element on the array, and subsequently processed to form a solid phase on the array element. The integration of a solid phase material with a digital microfluidic array enables a wide range of applications including solid phase extraction and sample concentration.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing disconnection of an oxygen sensor includes measuring, by a controller, a voltage supplied to an oxygen sensor through a voltage divider; measuring a voltage of a reference cell of the oxygen sensor; determining whether the voltage supplied to the oxygen sensor and the voltage of the reference cell fall within a reference range from preset reference values, respectively; and determining that a ground wire of the oxygen sensor is disconnected, when the voltage of the oxygen sensor or the voltage of the reference cell deviates from the reference range.

Abstract: Various embodiments that allow a more accurate electrochemical test strip measurement by identifying erroneous output signals during a glucose measurement thereby ensuring a much more accurate glucose test system.

Abstract: Various embodiments that allow a more accurate electrochemical test strip measurement by identifying erroneous output signals during a glucose measurement thereby ensuring a much more accurate glucose test system.

Abstract: Described are methods of reducing the incidence and/or magnitude of artifacts in denaturing nucleic acid capillary electrophoresis (CE). Methods and systems described serve to dismiss non-denatured DNA from the tip of the capillary after sample injection and prior to electrophoretic separation of loaded nucleic acids. Among the methods disclosed are the application of a brief reverse-polarity pulse to the capillary prior to separation but after removal of the capillary from the sample reservoir, and transiently heating the capillary to cause expansion of the separation matrix after removal of the capillary from the sample reservoir.

Abstract: A detector for detecting sodium hypochlorite concentration includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a processing unit. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed opposite each other, and are soaked in a sodium hypochlorite solution under detection. An electrical path is formed among the first electrode, the sodium hypochlorite solution and the second electrode. The processing unit, electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, measures a plurality of ions in the sodium hypochlorite solution transmitted in the electrical path to obtain a conductivity of the sodium hypochlorite solution and to accordingly calculate concentration of the sodium hypochlorite solution. Compared to a conventional measurement apparatus adopting an optical detector, the invention not only can be fabricated at low production costs, but also can instantly obtain the detected concentration without involving analysis of an externally connected computer.

Abstract: Various embodiments for a method that allow for a more accurate analyte concentration with a biosensor by determining at least one physical characteristic of the sample and determining whether a sample fill condition is erroneous by monitoring the working electrodes and flagging an error if the signal outputs of the working electrodes do not meet certain thresholds.

Abstract: A bio-fluid test strip includes a fluid receiving area and a contact pad area for interfacing with a fluid sensing device. The test strip includes a fluid sensing electrodes and a first temperature sensing resistor in the fluid receiving area. The test strip further includes a second temperature sensing resistor in the contact pad area. The first and second temperature sensing resistors together provide an indication of the temperature difference between the fluid sensing area and ambience.

Abstract: An electrochemical strip is disclosed. The electrochemical strip includes a substrate and an electrode deposited on the substrate. The electrode includes a conductive paste layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a third metal layer, and a fourth metal layer. The conductive paste is made of a material selected from the group consisting of copper paste, nickel paste, silver paste, and silver-carbon paste. The first metal layer is made of a group VIII metal. The second metal layer is made of nickel. The third metal layer is made of a group VIII metal. The fourth metal layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of palladium, gold, and platinum.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and compounds for detecting modified nucleic acid bases are disclosed and described. The methods provide for detecting a nucleic acid lesion and can include directing a nucleic acid adduct into a channel, wherein the nucleic acid adduct includes a nucleic acid having a lesion and a current modulating compound coupled to the nucleic acid at the lesion (110), and measuring a change in current through the channel in response to the current modulating compound to detect the lesion (112). The method can optionally include forming the nucleic acid adduct. Also provided is a method for identifying the number of repeat nucleotides in at least a portion of a nucleic acid strand, a method of assigning a registration marker within a nucleic acid, and a method of obtaining sequence information from a nucleic acid comprising assigning a registration marker on the nucleic acid.