Ion Selective Electrode Module for Clinical Diagnostics

• US 20110000796A1
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Situ, Richard Lou, Xie, Youqin E., Xie, Yuan M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,297,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/775
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/333 Ion-selective electrodes or membranes glass electrodes G01N27/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4915 using flow cells flow cytometry G01N15/14

Abstract

A method of determining an electrolyte in a sample including adding the sample to an electrolyte module, the electrolyte module including a dilution cup, a flow cell, and a pump, the flow cell having a flow channel with a first end and a second end, the first end fluidically coupled to the dilution cup, and the second end fluidically coupled to the pump; combining the sample with a diluent in the dilution cup to produce a diluted sample; operating the pump to aspirate the diluted sample into the flow cell; measuring the electrolyte in the diluted sample in the flow cell; and reversing the pump to dispense fluid through the second end to displace the diluted sample from the flow cell back into the dilution cup.

Claims

1. A method of determining an electrolyte in a sample, the method comprising:

adding the sample to an electrolyte module, the electrolyte module including a dilution cup, a flow cell, and a pump, the flow cell having a flow channel with a first end and a second end, the first end fluidically coupled to the dilution cup, and the second end fluidically coupled to the pump;

combining the sample with a diluent in the dilution cup to produce a diluted sample;

operating the pump to aspirate the diluted sample into the flow cell;

measuring the electrolyte in the diluted sample in the flow cell; and

reversing the pump to dispense fluid through the second end to displace the diluted sample from the flow cell back into the dilution cup.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising draining the displaced diluted sample from the dilution cup.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the flow cell further includes a side channel having a junction end and a free end, the junction end fluidically coupled to the flow channel at an intersection in between the first end and the second end, and wherein the method further includes a step of dispensing fluid from the pump to the side channel through the free end.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein operating the pump includes removing flow channel contents through the second end, thereby forming a liquid junction at the intersection.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring an isolation valve on the electrolyte module between the dilution cup and the flow cell, and wherein operating the pump includes opening the isolation valve.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein measuring the electrolyte includes closing the isolation valve.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein combining the sample with a diluent includes injecting a first diluent aliquot, adding the sample, and injecting a second diluent aliquot.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the volume of the second diluent aliquot is greater than the sum of the volumes of the first diluent aliquot and the sample.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the injection rate of the second diluent aliquot is about 500 microliters per second.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising rinsing the dilution cup.

11. A method of determining an electrolyte in a sample, the method comprising:

providing an electrolyte module including an integrated body and a dilution cup formed within the integrated body, the dilution cup having an open top, a hemispherical bottom, and a diluent conduit fluidically connected to the dilution cup;

forming a diluted sample in the dilution cup by injecting a first diluent aliquot, adding the sample, and injecting a second diluent aliquot; and

measuring the electrolyte in the diluted sample,

wherein the volume of the second diluent aliquot is greater than the sum of the volumes of the first diluent aliquot and the sample.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising connecting the diluent conduit to the dilution cup within the hemispherical bottom so that the diluent conduit extends parallel to the open top, and injecting a second diluent aliquot into the dilution cup through the diluent conduit.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the injection rate of the second diluent aliquot is about 500 microliters per second.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the electrolyte module further includes a transfer probe movably disposed with respect to the dilution cup and aligned with the open top, and wherein the sample enters the dilution cup through the transfer probe.

15. An electrolyte module for determining an electrolyte in a sample, the electrolyte module comprising:

a dilution cup;

a flow cell including;

a flow channel with a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with the dilution cup;

a side channel having a junction end and a free end, the junction end connecting to the flow channel at an intersection intermediate the first end and the second end;

a reference electrode in fluid communication with the side channel; and

a pump in fluid communication with the second end and with the free end.

16. The electrolyte module of claim 15 wherein the flow cell further includes an analyte electrode and a ground electrode, the analyte electrode and the ground electrode each in fluid communication with the flow channel such that, when the flow cell is filled with conductive fluid, the conductive fluid establishes an electrical connection between each of the analyte electrode, the ground electrode, and the reference electrode.

17. The electrolyte module of claim 16 wherein the dilution cup has a vertical axis, an open top, a hemispherical bottom, and a diluent conduit;

the open top disposed perpendicularly to the vertical axis;

the diluent conduit disposed substantially parallel to the open top and directed toward the vertical axis; and

the diluent conduit connected to the hemispherical bottom.

18. The electrolyte module of claim 17 further comprising an isolation valve intermediate the dilution cup and the flow cell.

19. The electrolyte module of claim 18 further comprising a diluent pump in fluid communication with the diluent conduit.

20. The electrolyte module of claim 18 further comprising a reference valve in fluid communication with the pump, the second end and with the free end;

the reference valve configured to couple the pump to one of the second end or the free end.