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US 11,994,489 B2Granted
Solid state ion selective electrodes
AssigneeBeckman Coulter, Inc.
InventorsJohn M. Wallach, Xihai Mu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ion selective electrode (“ISE”) assembly may be installed within a sample path of a biological testing system to measure ion concentration within sample fluid flowing through the sample path. A transducer membrane is placed within a housing and positioned to contact the sample path. A threaded portion is advanced into a socket of the housing and forces the membrane against a sealing portion of the sample path to prevent retention of sample fluid within the housing after testing. Sealing may be accomplished without adhesives or sealants and instead relies upon mechanical pressure of the threaded portion.
Claims20
An ion selective electrode comprising:
- (a) a housing comprising:
- (i) a sample path passing through the housing, the sample path comprising a sensing aperture,
- (ii) an electrode socket defined by an opening in the housing, the electrode socket comprising a cavity within the housing accessible from the opening,
- (iii) a transducer receiver positioned within the cavity and connected to the sample path via the sensing aperture, and
- (iv) a transducer seal disposed in the transducer receiver;
- (b) a sensor comprising a membrane structure and a membrane, wherein the membrane is a solid-state ion selective membrane, wherein the membrane is positioned proximate the sensing aperture with the transducer seal directly abutting the membrane when the sensor is placed in the transducer receiver, wherein the membrane produces an electrical potential based upon contact with a liquid solution;
- (c) a socket plug, wherein the socket plug is shaped to be received in the electrode socket, wherein the membrane is biased against the sensing aperture when the socket plug is received in the electrode socket;
- and
- (d) an electrical contact passing through the socket plug and coupled with the sensor, wherein the electrical contact is usable to measure the electrical potential from outside the housing.
6 more elements
An ion selective electrode comprising:
- (a) a housing, wherein the housing defines a sample path extending therethrough, wherein the sample path includes a testing portion, wherein the housing defines a transducer assembly socket, wherein the housing comprises a transducer seal within the transducer assembly socket;
- (b) a transducer assembly, wherein the transducer assembly comprises:
- (i) a threaded portion, wherein the threaded portion includes a first side and a spaced apart second side, wherein the threaded portion is shaped to be removably received in the transducer assembly socket,
- (ii) a transducer, wherein the transducer extends outwardly away from the first side of the threaded portion, the transducer comprising:
- (A) a body formed of a conductive material, wherein the body defines a recessed portion;
- and
- (B) a solid-state ion selective membrane disposed in the recessed portion of the body, wherein the solid-state ion selective membrane is integrative with the body, wherein the solid-state ion selective membrane produces an electrical potential based upon contact with a liquid solution, wherein the transducer seal is in direct contact with the solid-state ion selective membrane when the threaded portion is received in the transducer assembly socket, and
- (iii) a probe, wherein the probe is conductively coupled with the transducer, wherein the probe extends from the transducer, through the threaded portion, to extend outwardly away from the second side of the threaded portion, wherein the probe conducts the electrical potential from the transducer to outside the housing when the threaded portion is received in the transducer assembly socket.
5 more elements
A solid-state ion selective electrode comprising:
- (a) a housing comprising:
- (i) a sample path passing through the housing, the sample path comprising a sensing aperture,
- (ii) an electrode socket defined by an opening in the housing, the electrode socket comprising a cavity within the housing accessible from the opening, and
- (iii) a transducer receiver positioned within the cavity and connected to the sample path via the sensing aperture;
- (b) a sensor comprising a membrane structure and a solid-state ion selective membrane, wherein the solid-state ion selective membrane is positioned proximate the sensing aperture when the sensor is placed in the transducer receiver, wherein the solid-state ion selective membrane produces an electrical potential based upon contact with a liquid solution;
- (c) a socket plug, wherein the socket plug is shaped to be received in the electrode socket, wherein the solid-state ion selective membrane is biased against the sensing aperture when the socket plug is received in the electrode socket;
- and
- (d) an electrical contact passing through the socket plug and coupled with the sensor, wherein the electrical contact is usable to measure the electrical potential from outside the housing.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.