APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING AUGMENTED OSMOTIC PRESSURE IN A REFERENCE CAVITY
First Claim
1. Apparatus for measuring augmented osmotic pressure in a reference cavity filled with an osmotic active solution, wherein the reference cavity is bounded on one side by an attached semi-permeable membrane coupled with at least one transducer device operable therewith, the at least one transducer device is capable of sensing any mechanical induced bulging in the semi-permeable membrane due to augmented osmotic pressure in the reference cavity, and providing a sensing measurement output consistent with the amount of augmented osmotic pressure, wherein at least one sensing element of the transducer device(s) is located along edges of the semi-permeable membrane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for measuring augmented osmotic pressure in a reference cavity is provided, in which the device comprise a substrate frame (4) attached to a support structure (1) in which a plurality of transducer devices (2) are buried. An array of osmotic membranes (3) is integrated by the support structure and which acts to facilitate a trans-membrane pressure gradient as a function of the osmotic pressure change in a sealed cavity (7). The sealed cavity is formed by rigid substrate materials (5,6) in which the membranes, support structure and transducer devices only will be subject to induced stress in response to augmented osmotic pressure and thereby generate a pressure induced signal change observed from the transducer devices. The transducer devices may be arranged as piezoresistive elements, as micromechanical switches, as variable capacitive elements or as an optical light source and detector. The device can be used to monitor changes in osmotic pressure in response to a concentration change of a specified dissolved solute particle.
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Citations
34 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for measuring augmented osmotic pressure in a reference cavity filled with an osmotic active solution, wherein the reference cavity is bounded on one side by an attached semi-permeable membrane coupled with at least one transducer device operable therewith, the at least one transducer device is capable of sensing any mechanical induced bulging in the semi-permeable membrane due to augmented osmotic pressure in the reference cavity, and providing a sensing measurement output consistent with the amount of augmented osmotic pressure, wherein at least one sensing element of the transducer device(s) is located along edges of the semi-permeable membrane.
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3. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
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34. Apparatus for measuring augmented osmotic pressure in a reference cavity filled with an osmotic active solution, wherein the reference cavity is bounded on one side by an attached semi-permeable membrane coupled with at least one transducer device operable therewith, the at least one transducer device is capable of sensing any mechanical induced bulging in the semi-permeable membrane due to augmented osmotic pressure in the reference cavity, and providing a sensing measurement output consistent with the amount of augmented osmotic pressure, wherein at least one sensing element of the transducer device(s) is located in areas where the induced stress from an osmotic trans-membrane pressure gradient will inflict the largest relative rate of change of displacement or induced stress in a support structure or supporting frame of the semi-permeable membrane.
Specification