Patent ID: 8038859

Claim:
An electrochemical sensing device for analyzing a liquid sample, comprising: a U-shaped timing electrode having a first conducting portion electrically connected to a second conducting portion, wherein the first and second conducting portions are substantially parallel to each other; a counter electrode enclosed by the timing electrode, the counter electrode having a U-shaped portion enclosing and electrically connected to a third conducting portion, the U-shaped portion having a first conducting portion electrically connected to a second conducting portion, wherein the first, second, and third conducting portions of the counter electrode are substantially parallel to each other; a U-shaped working electrode enclosed by the U-shaped portion of the counter electrode, the U-shaped working electrode enclosing the third conducting portion of the counter electrode and having a first conducting portion electrically connected to a second conducting portion, wherein the first and second conducting portions of the U-shaped working electrode are substantially parallel to each other; a test reagent formed on both the working and counter electrodes to react with an analyte in the liquid sample; and an electrochemical meter electrically connected to the timing electrode, the counter electrode, and the U-shaped working electrode, wherein a first pulse signal is generated when the liquid sample contacts both the first conducting portion of the counter electrode and the first conducting portion of the timing electrode; wherein a second pulse signal different from the first pulse signal is generated when the liquid sample contacts both the second conducting portion of the counter electrode and the second conducting portion of the timing electrode; wherein the electrochemical meter is programmed to calculate the viscosity of the liquid sample based on both the first and second pulse signals; and wherein the electrochemical meter is programmed to calculate a concentration of the analyte according to an analyte-responsive signal transmitted to the electrochemical meter when the liquid sample contacts both the U-shaped working electrode and counter electrode.