Abstract: The invention disclosed in this application is a method and device for combining the sampling and analyzing of sub-dermal fluid samples, e.g., interstitial fluid or whole blood, in a device suitable for hospital bedside and home use. It is applicable to any analyte that exists in a usefully representative concentration in the fluid, and is especially suited to the monitoring of glucose.

Abstract: The invention disclosed in this application is a method and device for combining the sampling and analyzing of sub-dermal fluid samples, e.g., interstitial fluid or whole blood, in a device suitable for hospital bedside and home use. It is applicable to any analyte that exists in a usefully representative concentration in the fluid, and is especially suited to the monitoring of glucose.

Abstract: This invention describes a quantitative, inexpensive, disposable immunosensor that requires no wash steps and thus generates no liquid waste. Moreover, in preferred embodiments of the sensor no timing steps are required of the user, and the sensor can be readily adapted to antigen-antibody interactions over a wide kinetic range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal electrode stabilised by a coating, the coating comprising a sulfur containing moiety in its molecular structure. The coating may also include a hydrophilic group and a spacer between the sulfur containing moiety and the hydrophilic group. Preferably, the sulphur-containing moiety is selected from the group comprising thiol, disulphide and SOx, and the hydrophilic group is selected from the group comprising hydroxyl, amine, carboxyl, carbonyl, oligo (ethylene oxide) chain, and zwitterionic species. Compounds useful in the present invention include 2-mercaptoethanol, 2-mercaptoethylamine, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, thiophene, 4-carboxythiophene, cysteine, homocysteine, and cystine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrochemical cells including a first working electrode 32, a first counter electrode 34, a second working electrode 36, and a second counter electrode 38, wherein the electrodes are spaced such that reaction products from the first counter electrode 34 arrive at the first working electrode 32, and reaction products from the first and second counter electrodes 34, 38 do not reach the second working electrode 36. Also provided is a method of using such electrochemical cells for determining the concentration of a reduced or oxidized form of a redox species with greater accuracy than can be obtained using an electrochemical cell having a single working and counter electrode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring the level of an oxidant or antioxidant analyte in a fluid sample. The device comprises a disposable electrochemical cell, such as a thin layer electrochemical cell, containing a reagent capable of undergoing a redox reaction with the analyte. When the device or method is to be used with slow-reacting analytes, heat may be applied to the sample by a resistive heating element in the device or by an exothermic material contained within the electrochemical cell. Application of heat will accelerate the rate of the redox reaction between the reagent and the analyte and thus facilitate the electrochemical measurement of slow-reacting analytes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal electrode stabilised by a coating, the coating comprising a sulfur containing moiety in its molecular structure. The coating may also include a hydrophilic group and a spacer between the sulfur containing moiety and the hydrophilic group. Preferably, the sulfur containing moiety is selected from the group comprising thiol, disulfide and SOx, and the hydrophilic group is selected from the group comprising hydroxyl, amine, carboxyl, carbonyl, oligo (ethylene oxide) chain, and zwitterionic species. Compounds useful in the present invention include 2-mercaptoethanol, 2-mercaptoethylamine, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, thiophene, 4-carboxythiophene, cysteine, homocysteine, and cystine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring hemoglobin in a fluid sample. The device comprises a disposable electrochemical cell, such as a thin layer electrochemical cell, containing a reagent capable of being reduced by hemoglobin. A suitable fluid sample that may be analyzed according the present invention is whole blood. If the hemoglobin to be analyzed is present in red blood cells, a lysing agent may be added to the sample to release the hemoglobin prior to analysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring the level of an oxidant or antioxidant analyte in a fluid sample. The device comprises a disposable electrochemical cell, such as a thin layer electrochemical cell, containing a reagent capable of undergoing a redox reaction with the analyte. When the device or method is to be used with slow-reacting analytes, heat may be applied to the sample by a resistive heating element in the device or by an exothermic material contained within the electrochemical cell. Application of heat will accelerate the rate of the redox reaction between the reagent and the analyte and thus facilitate the electrochemical measurement of slow-reacting analytes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring hemoglobin in a fluid sample. The device comprises a disposable electrochemical cell, such as a thin layer electrochemical cell, containing a reagent capable of being reduced by hemoglobin. A suitable fluid sample that may be analyzed according the present invention is whole blood. If the hemoglobin to be analyzed is present in red blood cells, a lysing agent may be added to the sample to release the hemoglobin prior to analysis.

Abstract: This invention describes a quantitative, inexpensive, disposable immunosensor that requires no wash steps and thus generates no liquid waste. Moreover, in preferred embodiments of the sensor no timing steps are required of the user, and the sensor can be readily adapted to antigen-antibody interactions over a wide kinetic range.

Abstract: The invention disclosed in this application is a method and device for combining the sampling and analyzing of sub-dermal fluid samples, e.g., interstitial fluid or whole blood, in a device suitable for hospital bedside and home use. It is applicable to any analyte that exists in a usefully representative concentration in the fluid, and is especially suited to the monitoring of glucose.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of heating the sample and measuring the concentration of the analyte or the concentration of a species representative thereof in the sample at a predetermined point on a reaction profile by means that are substantially independent of temperature. Also provided is an electrochemical cell comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, means for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, and means for heating a sample contained within the cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of heating the sample and measuring the concentration of the analyte or the concentration of a species representative thereof in the sample at a predetermined point on a reaction profile by means that are substantially independent of temperature. Also provided is an electrochemical cell comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, means for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, and means for heating a sample contained within the cell.

Abstract: The invention disclosed in this application is a method and device for combining the sampling and analyzing of sub-dermal fluid samples, e.g., interstitial fluid or whole blood, in a device suitable for hospital bedside and home use. It is applicable to any analyte that exists in a usefully representative concentration in the fluid, and is especially suited to the monitoring of glucose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the measurement of the progress of a chemical reaction that generates an electroactive reaction product that is subsequently detected at an electrode amperometrically or coulometrically. The method is useful in applications where it is desirable to follow the progress of a chemical reaction, particularly in sensor applications where the progress of the reaction of an analyte can be useful in determining the analyte concentration.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of heating the sample and measuring the concentration of the analyte or the concentration of a species representative thereof in the sample at a predetermined point on a reaction profile by means that are substantially independent of temperature. Also provided is an electrochemical cell comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, means for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, and means for heating a sample contained within the cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of heating the sample and measuring the concentration of the analyte or the concentration of a species representative thereof in the sample at a predetermined point on a reaction profile by means that are substantially independent of temperature. Also provided is an electrochemical cell comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, means for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, and means for heating a sample contained within the cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the measurement of the progress of a chemical reaction that generates an electroactive reaction product that is subsequently detected at an electrode amperometrically or coulometrically. The method is useful in applications where it is desirable to follow the progress of a chemical reaction, particularly in sensor applications where the progress of the reaction of an analyte can be useful in determining the analyte concentration.

Abstract: A method of treating an ion exchange material, the method including: (a) positioning at least two regions of ion exchange material between an anode and cathode electrode, wherein at least a portion of the two regions being in electrical contact and being separated by a non-ion specific permeable interface; (b) supplying water to the at least two regions; (c) applying an electric potential between the electrodes thereby causing generation of hydrogen ions at the anode and hydroxide ions at the cathode, which ions are caused to move through each region towards the oppositely-charged electrode and thereby displacing at least a portion of any anions or cations associated with the ion exchange material in each region such that the displaced anions and cations are also caused to move through the regions towards the oppositely charged electrode; and (d) removing at least some of the cations and/or anions formed during step (c) which reach the interface.