US 12,135,304 B2
Electroanalytical instrument for determining by amperometry the presence or quantity of an analyte in an aqueous sample
Simon Richard Johnston, Chollerton (GB); and Kevin McDermott, Heaton (GB)
Assigned to PALINTEST LIMITED, Kingsway (GB)
Appl. No. 16/641,744
Filed by Palintest Limited, Kingsway (GB)
PCT Filed Oct. 15, 2018, PCT No. PCT/GB2018/052956
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 25, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/077321, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 25, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1717286 (GB), filed on Oct. 20, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0249192 A1, Aug. 6, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 27/28 (2006.01); G01N 27/416 (2006.01); G01N 27/49 (2006.01); G01N 33/18 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 27/286 (2013.01) [G01N 27/4161 (2013.01); G01N 27/49 (2013.01); G01N 33/182 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electroanalytical instrument for determining by amperometry the presence or quantity of an analyte in an aqueous sample comprising:
a sealed housing which is compartmentalized, wherein the sealed housing has an exterior compartment defining a receptacle for the aqueous sample and interior compartments;
an elongated pivotal arm mounted pivotally at a proximal end on the sealed housing, wherein the elongated pivotal arm houses a potentiostat;
a pivotal forearm joined pivotally to or adjacent to a distal end of the elongated pivotal arm;
an electrochemical sensor mounted in or on an anterior wall of the pivotal forearm extending inferiorly to the elongated pivotal arm, wherein on an inferior part of the electrochemical sensor there is a reference electrode, a counter electrode and at least one working electrode which is dosed with a reagent formulation for electroanalysis and on a superior part of the electrochemical sensor each of the reference electrode, each of the counter electrode and the at least one working electrode terminate in an electrical contact; and
electrical contact pins provided on the distal end of the elongated pivotal arm, the electrical contact pins electrically connected to the potentiostat to apply a potential to the electrochemical sensor,
the elongated pivotal arm configured to pivot between a fully extended position and a fully flexed position whereat the inferior part of the electrochemical sensor is immersed in the aqueous sample in the receptacle thereby initiating dissolution of the reagent formulation into the aqueous sample and wherein the pivotal forearm is pivotally joined to the distal end of the elongated pivotal arm such that the pivotal forearm is pivotable between a fully open position whereat the electrical contact pins are exposed and a fully closed position whereat the anterior wall of the pivotal forearm is positioned flush against the distal end of the elongated pivotal arm and the electrical contacts on the superior part of the electrochemical sensor are in operative contact with the electrical contact pins whereby when the elongated pivotal arm is in the fully flexed position and the pivotal forearm is in the fully closed position the electrochemical sensor is configured to interface with the electrical contact pins and the aqueous sample.