US4844097A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for testing liquids
Assignee: Mds Germany GmbH
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Filing: 1986-05-21
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Granted: 1989-07-04
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Expires: 2006-05-21
Abstract
Abstract The application relates to a method and apparatus for testing the concentration of a selected atomic scale species in a thick liquid, such as blood. The blood flows through a chamber that is in part defined by a microporous dialysis membrane permeable to atomic scale species. A measuring cell including a second chamber filled with a clean liquid is defined by the other plane of the membrane. The measuring cell incorporates a sensor having an electrode coated with a material permeable only to a selected ionic species.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian J. Bellhouse
- 👤 Sydney M. Pugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:34
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/414
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for testing the concentration of a selected atomic scale species in a thick liquid, the apparatus comprising a first chamber which contains, in use, a thick liquid under test, the chamber being at least partly defined by one face of a microporous dialysis membrane which is permeable to atomic scale species; and a measuring cell incorporating a second chamber which is arranged to be filled with a clean liquid and which is at least partly defined by an opposite face of the membrane whereby atomic scale species in the thick liquid under test diffuse through the membrane and are present in a clean liquid in a concentration related to that at which they exist in a thick liquid under test; the cell also incorporating a sensing device having an active surface which is responsive substantially only to a selected species and which comprises an electrod in communication with the clean liquid in the second chamber, said electrode being coated with a material which is permeable substantially only to a selected ionic species whereby the device provides an output related to the concentration of a selected species.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for testing the concentration of a selected atomic scale species in a thick liquid, the apparatus comprising a first chamber which contains, in use, a thick liquid under test, the chamber being at least partly defined by one face of a microporous dialysis membrane which is permeable to atomic scale species; and a measuring cell incorporating a second chamber which is arranged to be filled with a clean liquid and which is at least partly defined by an opposite face of the membrane whereby atomic scale species in the thick liquid under test diffuse through the membrane and are present in a clean liquid in a concentration related to that at which they exist in a thick liquid under test; the cell also incorporating a sensing device having an active surface which is responsive substantially only to a selected species and which comprises an electrod in communication with the clean liquid in the second chamber, said electrode being coated with a material which is permeable substantially only to a selected ionic species whereby the device provides an output related to the concentration of a selected species.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the microporous membrane and the active surface of the sensor are spaced by substantially 0.1 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second chamber is provided with inlet and outlet ducts for flushing the second chamber with clean liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is a dissolved gas sensing device having an electrode which is responsive to a selected gaseous species.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is an ISFET having one or more gate electrodes coated with a material which is permeable substantially only to a selected ionic species.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, for testing the concentration of dissolved gases in the thick liquid, wherein the microporous membrane is a hydrophobic membrane made of polypropylene or PTFE.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is a dissolved gas sensing device having an electrode which is responsive to a selected gaseous species.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 for testing the concentration of an ionic species, wherein the microporous membrane is a dialysis membrane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sensor is an ISFET having one or more gate electrodes coated with a material which is permeable substantially only to the selected ionic species.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microporous membrane and the active surface of the sensor, which face one another, are spaced by a spacer formed with opening means which provide the second chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the spacer is a non-woven nylon or polyester mesh.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 for testing the concentration of an ionic species, wherein the microporous membrane is a dialysis membrane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber is a blood line connector, having in its wall an opening means which is spanned by the microporous membrane, the cell being mounted on the outside of the connector overlying the membrane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the microporous membrane and the active surface of the sensor, which face one another, are spaced by a spacer formed with openings which provide the second chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the second chamber is provided with inlet and outlet ducts for flushing the second chamber with clean liquid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the microporous membrane and the active surface of the sensor which face one another, are spaced by a spacer formed with opening means which provide the second chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the inlet and outlet ducts are closeable to seal the interior of the cell during test.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the microporous membrane and the active surface of the sensor, which face one another, are spaced by a spacer formed with opening means which provide the second chamber.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of testing the concentration of a selected atomic scale species in a flow of natural whole blood in an extracorporeal circuit, the method comprising continuously circulating the blood through a conduit having in its wall an aperture spanned by a microporous barrier membrane which is permeable to atomic scale species, but impermeable to proteins and other blood components of similar and larger size, whereby unselected atomic scale species pass through the barrier membrane into a measuring cell containing a clean liquid; sensing the concentration of the selected species in the clean liquid by means of a sensing device, which is responsive substantially only to the selected species, said device comprising an electrode coated with a material which is permeable substantially only to a selected ionic species; and providing an output related to the concentration of the selected species.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of testing the concentration of a selected atomic scale species in a flow of natural whole blood in an extracorporeal circuit, the method comprising continuously circulating the blood through a conduit having in its wall an aperture spanned by a microporous barrier membrane which is permeable to atomic scale species, but impermeable to proteins and other blood components of similar and larger size, whereby unselected atomic scale species pass through the barrier membrane into a measuring cell containing a clean liquid; sensing the concentration of the selected species in the clean liquid by means of a sensing device, which is responsive substantially only to the selected species, said device comprising an electrode coated with a material which is permeable substantially only to a selected ionic species; and providing an output related to the concentration of the selected species.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein the sensor comprises an electrode coated with a material, which is permeable substantially only to a selected ionic species under test, but which is foulable by blood components retained by the barrier membrane.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-03 | 1993-01-02 | 1993-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-03 | 1997-01-02 | 1997-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-03 | 2001-01-02 | 2001-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |