US4342964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for electrochemical measurements
Assignee: CUSTOMEDIX Corp
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Filing: 1980-02-14
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Granted: 1982-08-03
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Expires: 2000-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for measuring a chemical characteristic of a liquid such as its hydrogen ion activity or pH value. A disposable cassette having a reference and indicating electrode therein utilizes the same solution to first calibrate the device and then as an electrolytic bridge from the liquid sample to the reference electrode. The solution has the properties of a buffered pH and also provides a stable electrochemical environment around the reference electrode. In one embodiment, a volume of a liquid sample is placed into a capillary tube and the open end of the tube is then placed over the indicating electrode immersed in the solution. The electrical potential between the indicating electrode and the spaced reference electrode in the electrolyte solution provides a measurement of the pH value of the liquid when compared to the calibration potential previously measured without the liquid sample contacting the indicating electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Diamond
- 👤 Steven E. Enzer
- 👤 Joseph Flowers, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/4163; G01N27/4165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A device for measuring chemical characteristics of a liquid, said device comprising: a housing having upper and lower end surfaces; a longitudinally extending channel in said housing terminating at one end thereof at least upper surface of the housing and adapted to receive a capillary tube containing a sample of the liquid; an indicating electrode located about the longitudinal axis of said channel, with said indicating electrode having a tip projecting upwardly into said channel; a reference electrode spaced from said indicating electrode; a chamber in said housing bridging said reference and indicating electrodes; means for introducing an electrolyte into said chamber to cover said electrodes; and wherein said channel is adapted to guide an open end of the capillary tube containing the liquid into engagement with the tip of the indicating electrode to displace the electrolyte therefrom whereupon an electrical property is established between the electrodes encompassing the electrolyte which is indicative of the chemical characteristic of the liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A device for measuring chemical characteristics of a liquid, said device comprising: a housing having upper and lower end surfaces; a longitudinally extending channel in said housing terminating at one end thereof at least upper surface of the housing and adapted to receive a capillary tube containing a sample of the liquid; an indicating electrode located about the longitudinal axis of said channel, with said indicating electrode having a tip projecting upwardly into said channel; a reference electrode spaced from said indicating electrode; a chamber in said housing bridging said reference and indicating electrodes; means for introducing an electrolyte into said chamber to cover said electrodes; and wherein said channel is adapted to guide an open end of the capillary tube containing the liquid into engagement with the tip of the indicating electrode to displace the electrolyte therefrom whereupon an electrical property is established between the electrodes encompassing the electrolyte which is indicative of the chemical characteristic of the liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the liquid is blood and the chemical characteristic is its pH value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said indicating electrode comprises a rigid rod coated about its circumference with an insulating material and wherein the tip of said rod has a layer of a chemically active material thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said chemically active material is antimony.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said reference electrode is comprised of silver/silver-chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said electrolyte has a concentration of ions reactant with the reference electrode substantially the same as blood to thereby prevent diffusion of said reactant ions in the blood to said reference electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said electrolyte has a chloride ion concentration substantially the same as that of blood.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said electrolyte has a pH value in the range between 7 and 9.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte is contained in a sealed member carried by the housing and adapted to be ruptured to cover the electrodes with said electrolyte.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 which further comprises connector means coupled to said electrodes for providing electrical connection to external circuitry.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus for measuring chemical characteristics of a liquid, said apparatus comprising: a cassette containing spaced indicating and reference electrodes; means containing an electrolyte solution; and socket means for receiving said cassette, said socket means including means for making electrical connection to said electrodes and for causing said electrolyte solution to cover the electrodes when the cassette is inserted in the socket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus for measuring chemical characteristics of a liquid, said apparatus comprising: a cassette containing spaced indicating and reference electrodes; means containing an electrolyte solution; and socket means for receiving said cassette, said socket means including means for making electrical connection to said electrodes and for causing said electrolyte solution to cover the electrodes when the cassette is inserted in the socket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11 which further comprises: electronic measurement means connected to the socket for measuring an electrical property between the electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said cassette includes a channel for guiding a capillary tube containing the liquid onto a tip of said indicating electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said electronic measurement means is adapted to measure the electrical property first established between the electrodes when covered by the electrolyte solution to establish a calibration factor and to secondly measure the subsequently established electrical property between the electrodes when the liquid is contacting said indicating electrode whereby the chemical characteristics of the liquid may be derived from said measurements.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
48 words
A device for measuring chemical characteristics of a liquid comprising a housing containing spaced indicating and reference electrodes bridged by a chamber; and a sealed member containing an electrolyte solution, said member being adapted to be broken to introduce the electrolyte into the chamber to cover the electrodes.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
48 words
A device for measuring chemical characteristics of a liquid comprising a housing containing spaced indicating and reference electrodes bridged by a chamber; and a sealed member containing an electrolyte solution, said member being adapted to be broken to introduce the electrolyte into the chamber to cover the electrodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said member is carried by said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 15 which further includes a channel for guiding a capillary tube containing the liquid onto a tip of the indicating electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
128 words
A machine for measuring electrochemical characteristics of a liquid, said machine being adapted to receive a cartridge containing spaced indicating and reference electrodes, said cartridge carrying a container filled with an electrolyte solution initially isolated from said electrodes, said machine comprising: means for making electrical connection with said electrodes; means for urging said electrolye from said container to cover both of said electrodes with the electrolyte; means for measuring a first electrial property developed between the electrodes bridged by the electrolyte thereby establishing a calibration factor; and means for measuring a second electrical property developed between the electrodes when the indicating electrode comes into contact with the liquid to be measured whereby the chemical characteristics of the liquid can be calculated from the first and second electrical properties.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
128 words
A machine for measuring electrochemical characteristics of a liquid, said machine being adapted to receive a cartridge containing spaced indicating and reference electrodes, said cartridge carrying a container filled with an electrolyte solution initially isolated from said electrodes, said machine comprising: means for making electrical connection with said electrodes; means for urging said electrolye from said container to cover both of said electrodes with the electrolyte; means for measuring a first electrial property developed between the electrodes bridged by the electrolyte thereby establishing a calibration factor; and means for measuring a second electrical property developed between the electrodes when the indicating electrode comes into contact with the liquid to be measured whereby the chemical characteristics of the liquid can be calculated from the first and second electrical properties.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The machine of claim 18 which includes a receptacle for making electrical connection with said electrodes and for breaking the integrity of said container to cover the electrodes with the electrolyte when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-02 | 1986-02-01 | 1986-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-02 | 1990-02-01 | 1990-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-02 | 1994-02-01 | 1994-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |