AMPEROMETRIC IN-PIPE ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSING PROBE

• US 20100122905A1
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neroxis SA
• Original Assignee: Silsens SA
• Inventors: DE COULON, Yves, BERIET HERRERA, Carine
• Granted Patent: US 8,608,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/406
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/404 Cells with anode, cathode and cell electrolyte on the same side of a permeable membrane which separates them from the sample fluid , e.g. Clark-type oxygen sensors

Abstract

A sensing probe intended to measure the content of an oxygen reducible substance in a fluid, includes:

• • a probe body containing an interface and processing circuit,
  • a dry sensing head including an amperometric sensor intended to measure the content of the oxygen reducible substance. The sensing head is removable. The sensing head and the probe body include respectively coupling elements cooperating with each other and able to be separated, and the sensing probe furthermore includes connecting elements designed to connect the removable sensing head to the interface and processing circuit of the probe body.

Claims

1. A sensing probe, intended to measure the content of an oxygen reducible substance in a fluid, comprising

a probe body containing an interface and processing circuit,

a dry sensing head comprising an amperometric sensor intended to measure the content of said oxygen reducible substance,

wherein said sensing head is a removable sensing head, said sensing head and said probe body comprising respectively coupling means cooperating with each other and able to be separated, and wherein said sensing probe furthermore comprises connecting elements designed to connect said removable sensing head to the interface and processing circuit of said probe body.

2. The sensing probe according to claim 1, wherein said probe body comprises a male threaded portion and wherein said removable sensing head comprises a female threaded portion that cooperates with said male threaded portion of said probe body.

3. The sensing probe according to claim 2, wherein it furthermore comprises sealing means between the probe body and the removable sensing head.

4. The sensing probe according to claim 1, wherein the removable sensing head furthermore comprises a PCB, said PCB being mounted oriented transversally with respect to said sensing probe, the amperometric sensor being mounted on the PCB, on the face opposed to the probe body.

5. The sensing probe according to claim 4 furthermore comprising a non-volatile memory and an interface integrated circuit, said non-volatile memory and interface integrated circuit being mounted on said PCB, and wherein said non-volatile memory stores calibration data of said amperometric sensor.

6. The sensing probe according to claim 5, wherein said PCB furthermore comprises metalized concentric circular traces, said metalized concentric traces being engraved on the side opposed to the amperometric sensor and being electrically connected to said amperometric sensor and said non-volatile memory.

7. The sensing probe according to claim 4, wherein a protective resin is casted onto the whole surface of the PCB on which the amperometric sensor is mounted, except the surface taken by said amperometric sensor.

8. The sensing probe according to claim 4 wherein said removable sensing head furthermore comprises lateral protecting tabs, said tabs being disposed on the periphery of the removable sensing head, and oriented vertically with respect to said PCB.

9. The sensing probe according to claim 1, wherein said amperometric sensor is a micro fabricated silicon amperometric sensor.

10. The sensing probe according to claim 1, wherein said amperometric sensor comprises a working electrode, a counter electrode and a reference electrode, said electrodes being planar and micro structured.

11. The sensing probe according to claim 10, wherein the working electrode is covered by a selective membrane and wherein the selective membrane is covered partially or totally by a packaging membrane.

12. The sensing probe according to claim 10, wherein the working electrode and the counter electrode are covered by a selective membrane and wherein the selective membrane is covered partially or totally by a packaging membrane.

13. The sensing probe according to claim 1 wherein said interface and processing circuit furthermore comprises a wireless communication circuit, and wherein the probe body furthermore comprises a battery.

14. The sensing probe according to claim 1 wherein said removable sensing head furthermore comprises a battery, and wherein connecting elements are replaced by a short range radio interface.