US 5,399,256 A · Electrochemical detector cell

Abstract

An electrochemical detector cell includes a first block having a planar first working surface, and a first working electrode embedded in the first block member. The first working electrode includes analyte contacting surface disposed co-planarly with the first working surface. A second block member has the second working surface placeable in an opposed, adjacent relation to the first working surface, and has an inlet port disposed an opposed, adjacent relation to the analyte contacting surface of the first working electrode. The second block also includes a coupling means for permitting an analyte delivery tube to be coupled to the second block member to position an end of the analyte delivery tube adjacent to the inlet port. A generally circular circumferential channel for collecting analyte is disposed radially outwardly of the first working electrode. An outlet is disposed at the channel for conducting analyte away from the channel. A reference electrode is disposed in a diametrically opposed relation to the outlet, and a ring-like gasket is placeable between the first and second block members for maintaining the first and second working surfaces in a predetermined spaced relation. The gasket includes a radially inner diameter disposed radially outwardly of the channel. The inlet port, channel, first working electrode, first working surface, second working surface, gasket and outlet port are configured to create a generally centrosymmetric thin layer radial flow path for the analyte across the working electrode, and between the first and second working surfaces, into the channel and out of the outlet port.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An electrochemical detector cell for detecting the presence of an analyte in a material sample, the detector cell comprising:

(1) a first block member having a first working surface;
(2) a first working electrode means disposed on the first working surface;
(3) a second block member having
(a) a second working surface placeable in an opposed adjacent relation to the working surface of the first block member;
and
(b) an inlet means having an inlet port disposed in an opposed adjacent relation to the first working surface;
and
(4) a circumferential channel means for collecting analytes that have passed over the first working electrode,
the inlet port, channel means, first working electrode means, the first working surface and second working surfaces are configured to create a generally centrosymmetric radial thin layer flow path for the analyte across the working electrodes, between the first and second working surfaces and to the channel means.

6 more elements

An electrochemical detector cell comprising

(1) a first block member having a generally planar first working surface;
(2) a first working electrode imbedded in the first block member, the first working electrode including an analyte contacting surface disposed generally co-planarly with the first working surface;
(3) a second block member having
(a) a second working surface placeable in an opposed adjacent relation to the first working surface,
(b) an inlet means having an inlet port disposed in an opposed adjacent relation to the analyte surface of the first working electrode, and
(c) a coupling means for permitting an analyte delivery means to be coupled to the second block member to position an end of the analyte delivery means adjacent to the inlet port;
(4) a generally circular channel means for collecting analyte disposed radially outwardly of the first working electrode;
(5) an outlet means disposed at the channel means for conducting analyte away from the channel means;
(6) a reference electrode disposed in a diametrically opposed relation to the outlet means;
and
(7) a ring-shaped gasket means is placed between the first and second block members for maintaining the first and second working surfaces in a set spaced relation, the gasket means including a radially inner diameter disposed radially outwardly of the channel means, wherein the inlet port, channel means, first working electrode, first working surface, second working surface and gasket members and outlet port are configured to create a generally centrosymmetric thin layer radial flow path for the analyte across the working electrode and between the first and second working surfaces, into the channel means, and out the outlet port.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrochemical detector cell

Life of this patent

Electrochemical detector cell

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27