Patent US4762594A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4762594A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and methods for sensing fluid components
Assignee: MEDTEST SYSTEMS Inc A CORP OF MARYLAND
•
Filing: 1987-01-29
•
Granted: 1988-08-09
•
Expires: 2007-01-29
Abstract
Abstract Provided herein is a method for accurate, reproducible analytical solution evaluation eliminating the need for a reference sensor by determining the activity of selected species employing species specific sensors and species combination sensors in conjunction with Nernst-type equations. Also provided are sensor structures for elimination of edge effects to signals thereby yielding accurate, reproducible measurements, and a cartridge structure adapted to incorporate an array of the new sensors for employment of the new method where the cartridge is particularly adapted for miniaturization, maintaining a fixed volume of solution for analysis and providing an anaerobic testing environment. Lastly, a compact instrument embodying miniaturization especially adapted for field use and use of the cartridge is provided herein.
Inventors
- 👤 Vinodhini Guruswamy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:45
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B11/00; C25B11/02; G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/4163; G01N27/4165; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/492; G01N33/4925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for calibration measurement of chemicals in a solution employing only N+1 sensors when N is equal to the number, including one, of chemicals to be sensed, at least a first chemical species to be sensed in a solution having at least two chemicals and employing at least a first ion specific sensor and a second ion specific sensor where the first sensor is a combination electrode sensitive only to the first and a second dissimilar chemical species and the second sensor is sensitive only to the second species, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the sensors with a solution containing at least the first and second dissimilar chemical species, (b) obtaining a first signal determined by the differences of the electrical charges developed by the two sensors when contacted by the solution (c) conveying the first signal to a signal processor, (d) contacting the sensors with at least a second solution containing known quantities of the first and second species and obtaining at least a second signal corresponding to the difference between the charges developed in response to the second solution by the first and second sensors, (e) conveying at least the second signal to a signal processor, (f) establishing algebraic constants from at least the second signal, (g) inputing the constants into a calculating device for determining the concentration of the first dissimilar chemical species.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for calibration measurement of chemicals in a solution employing only N+1 sensors when N is equal to the number, including one, of chemicals to be sensed, at least a first chemical species to be sensed in a solution having at least two chemicals and employing at least a first ion specific sensor and a second ion specific sensor where the first sensor is a combination electrode sensitive only to the first and a second dissimilar chemical species and the second sensor is sensitive only to the second species, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the sensors with a solution containing at least the first and second dissimilar chemical species, (b) obtaining a first signal determined by the differences of the electrical charges developed by the two sensors when contacted by the solution (c) conveying the first signal to a signal processor, (d) contacting the sensors with at least a second solution containing known quantities of the first and second species and obtaining at least a second signal corresponding to the difference between the charges developed in response to the second solution by the first and second sensors, (e) conveying at least the second signal to a signal processor, (f) establishing algebraic constants from at least the second signal, (g) inputing the constants into a calculating device for determining the concentration of the first dissimilar chemical species.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 where the concentration of the first species is determined by calculations using the half cell voltage produced by the second sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 2 where the voltages from the sensors are multiplexed and passed to a differential amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 including the steps of providing the sensors with a substantially uniform geometry at the solution interface and minimizing flux density.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of minimizing flux density variations caused by edge effects.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1, further including the steps of arraying the sensors along a surface of a chamber isolated from the ambient environment and introducing a precise volume of solution into the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the step of contacting the first and second sensors with a calibrant solution containing the first and second species.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 where the first and second sensors are contacted by solution in vivo.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the step of sterilizing the first and second sensors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the step of sterilizing the first, and second.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the method is practiced by sensors providing single point calibration, the method further comprising flowing N+1 solutions over the electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises, establishing a uniform space charge distribution at the reactive surfaces of the sensors.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for calibration measurement of chemicals in a solution employing only N+1 sensors where N is equal to the number, including one, of chemicals to be sensed, at least a first chemical species to be sensed in a solution having at least two chemicals and employing at least a first ion specific sensor and a second ion specific sensor where the first sensor is a combination electrode sensitive only to the first and a second dissimilar chemical species and the second sensor is sensitive only to the second species, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the sensors with a solution containing at least the first and second dissimilar chemical species, (b) obtaining a first signal determined by the differences of the electrical charges developed by the two sensors when contacted by the solution (c) contacting the sensors with at least a second solution containing known quantities of the first and second species and obtaining at least a second signal corresponding to the difference between the charges developed in response to the second solution by the first and second sensors, (d) inputting said signals into signal processing means to determine the concentration of the first chemial species.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for calibration measurement of chemicals in a solution employing only N+1 sensors where N is equal to the number, including one, of chemicals to be sensed, at least a first chemical species to be sensed in a solution having at least two chemicals and employing at least a first ion specific sensor and a second ion specific sensor where the first sensor is a combination electrode sensitive only to the first and a second dissimilar chemical species and the second sensor is sensitive only to the second species, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the sensors with a solution containing at least the first and second dissimilar chemical species, (b) obtaining a first signal determined by the differences of the electrical charges developed by the two sensors when contacted by the solution (c) contacting the sensors with at least a second solution containing known quantities of the first and second species and obtaining at least a second signal corresponding to the difference between the charges developed in response to the second solution by the first and second sensors, (d) inputting said signals into signal processing means to determine the concentration of the first chemial species.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3413199A
Cited
US3572400A
Cited
US3629089A
Cited
US4214968A
Cited
US4272245A
Cited
US4233031A
Cited
US4340457A
Cited
US4336121A
Cited
US4397725A
Cited
JPS5899745A
Cited
US4431508A
Cited
US4549951A
Cited
US4568445A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-09 | 1992-02-08 | 1992-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-09 | 1996-02-08 | 1996-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-09 | 2000-02-08 | 2000-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |