Method for determining an analyte in a water sample by means of a mobile water analysis arrangement

• US 10,261,009 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hach Lange GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hach Lange GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Lundgreen, Ulrich, Farjam, Aria, Uthemann, Rolf, Mitreiter, Andreas, Huenig, Isabel, Lenhard, Markus, Froemel, Rainer, Kumpch, Hans-Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Siefke, Samuel P
• Application Number:
  US14/700,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20150233817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0475 specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3151 using two sources of radiation of different wavelengths G01N21/33 - G01N21/39 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0245 with insertable-removable part
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/061 Sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/30 Electrodes, e.g. test electrodes; Half-cells G01N27/414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4167 pH electrodes therefor G01N27/302, G01N27/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4168 Oxidation-reduction potential, e.g. for chlorination of water water analysis G01N33/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1886 using probes, e.g. submersible probes, buoys
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1893 using flow cells

Abstract

A basic unit for a mobile water analyzing system includes a photometer comprising a light source configured to generate a measurement beam and a light detector configured to receive the measurement beam, a test element receptacle configured to allow a test element to be inserted therein, and a photometric measuring track arranged between the light source and the light detector. The measurement beam is coincident with the photometric measuring track during a photometric measurement, and not in a cross direction thereto.

Claims

1. A test element for a mobile water analysis system, the test element comprising:

a microfluidic sample line comprising;

an inlet opening disposed at a first end, the inlet opening being configured to receive a water sample;

a pump port disposed at a second end of the microfluidic sample line;

an inlet section disposed between the inlet opening and the pump port;

a measuring section comprising at least one window arranged at an end of the measuring section, the measuring section being arranged between the inlet section and the pump port and being coincident with a sample pathway, the measuring section forming a photometric measuring track for a photometer so that a measurement beam of the photometer and the photometric measuring track are aligned during a photometric measurement so that the photometric measurement occurs along a length of each of the photometric measuring track and the measuring section, and not in a cross direction thereto;

a first reagent section disposed either between the inlet opening and the measuring section or between the measuring section and the pump port; and

a reagent disposed in the first reagent section of the microfluidic sample line, wherein,

the measuring section is formed by a longitudinal section of the sample line which is arranged perpendicular to a length of the test element and parallel to a widest width of the test element, and

the length of the test element is a longest side of the test element.

2. The test element for a mobile water analysis system as recited in claim 1, wherein the microfluidic sample line further comprises:

a second reagent section disposed between the measuring section and the pump port; and

a second reagent disposed in the second reagent section.

3. The test element for a mobile water analysis system as recited in claim 2, wherein the microfluidic sample line further comprises:

a third reagent section disposed between the second reagent section and the pump port; and

a third reagent disposed in the third reagent section.

4. The test element as recited in claim 1, further comprising a seal element configured to surround the pump port, the seal element being configured to provide a gas-tight connection between the microfluidic sample-line and a sample pump of a basic unit when the test element is inserted in the basic unit.

5. The test element as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pump membrane arranged above the pump port, the pump membrane being configured to be pushed by a pump rod of a pump actuator of a basic unit when the test element is inserted in the basic unit so as to move the water sample through the test element.

6. The test element as recited in claim 1, further comprising a positioning element configured to cooperate with a snap element of the basic unit when the test element is inserted in the basic unit so that the test element is reproducibly fixed in the basic unit when the test element is inserted therein.

7. The test element as recited in claim 1, wherein the test element is provided as an electrochemical-optical test-element comprising:

a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrochemical-optical measuring section each of which is arranged in the microfluidic sample-line;

a first contact;

a second contact;

a first contact line configured to connect the first electrode with the first contact; and

a second contact line configured to connect the second electrode with the second contact,

wherein,

the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged opposite to each other,

the first contact is configured to contact a first contact of the basic unit when the test element is inserted in the basic unit, and

the second contact is configured to contact a second contact of the basic unit when the test element is inserted in the basic unit.