Patent ID: 7695601

Claim:
An electrochemical apparatus for scanning a plurality of test samples, said apparatus comprising: a support plate comprising a material which is electrically conductive but not ionically conductive, said plate being configured and operable to have a plurality of test samples supported thereupon in a spaced apart relationship, in electrical communication with said plate; a test probe, said test probe comprising: a housing; a porous body disposed in said housing, said porous body having a tip portion projecting from said housing; an electrolyte material retained in said porous body; and a body of electrode material which is in electrical communication with the porous body via the electrolyte; wherein when said projecting tip portion of said porous body is placed in contact with one of said plurality of test samples, said electrolyte establishes electrical and ionic communication between said sample and said body of electrode material so as to form an electrochemical cell, wherein said test sample constitutes one electrode of said electrochemical cell and said body of electrode material constitutes the other electrode of said electrochemical cell; and whereby, said electrochemical cell may be analyzed by an analyzer which is in electrical communication with said test sample and said electrode material of said probe.