ELECTROCHEMICAL ELECTRODE WITH HEATING MEANS

• US 3,795,239 A
• Filed: 09/02/1971
• Issued: 03/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kontron (S&T AG)
• Original Assignee: Konrad Hammacher, Patrick Eberhard, Wolfgang Mindt
• Inventors: Eberhard, Patrick, Mindt, Wolfgang, Hammacher, Konrad
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US05/177,231
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2E,2.1E,399,303.1 324/3R 204/195B,195P
• US Class Current: 600/358
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• 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

An electrode arrangement for application to a body surface for bloodless measurement in connection with the concentration or the partial pressure of a gas in the blood comprising a sensor unit having a face member for body contact, and a heating unit coupled to the sensor unit for transmitting to said face member a thermal condition for thermal stimulation of the local blood circulation. In a further embodiment, the sensor unit includes at the face member a cover membrane permeable for a gas to be measured.

Claims

1. An electrode arrangement for application to a body surface for bloodless measurement in connection with the concentration or the partial pressure of a gas in the blood including, sensor means for deriving in vivo electrical signals indicative of the partial pressure of gas in blood and having a face member adapted for body contact, the improvement comprising:

heating means in direct thermal contact with said sensor means and adapted to transmit to said face member a thermal condition for thermal stimulation at the applied body surface of local blood circulation.

2. An electrode arrangement according to claim 1 whereby said heating means includes a current source and a resistance winding connected from said current source.

3. An electrode arrangement according to claim 2 whereby said heating means also includes:

thermally conductive block means positioned in thermal contact with said sensor means and said winding being mounted on said block means.

4. An electrode arrangement according to claim 3 whereby said face member is of a material adapted for catalysing the electrochemical reaction at the body surface to which applied.

5. An electrode arrangement according to claim 4 whereby the face member of said sensor means is of platinum.

6. An electrode arrangement according to claim 3 whereby said sensor means further includes at said face member a cover membrane, permeable for the gas to be measured.

7. An electrode arrangement according to claim 1, whereby said heating means includes:

temperature regulating means having a temperature-measuring element the measuring probe of which is mounted in the vicinity of said sensor means.

8. An electrode arrangement for application to a body surface for bloodless measurement in connection with the concentration or the partial pressure of a gas in the blood comprising:

a substantially cylindrical electrically and heat conductive member provided with an encircling recess about its outer surface and a first axial boring on one end-face;

smoothly cylindrical electrode means lying on the member end-face opposite said boring and electrically and heat-conductIvely coupled with said member;

heating winding means mounted in said recess for generating a thermal condition for application to said body surface;

temperature measuring means mounted in said axial boring;

annular reference electrode means mounted concentrically with the electrode means;

a contact face of said reference electrode lying in a common plane with the end-face of the electrode means distal to said member;

an electrolyte film covering the contact face and the end-face of the electrode means;

membrane means covering said electrolyte film, adapted for body contact; and

lead means electrically coupled with said electrode means for deriving in vivo electrical signals indicative of the partial pressure of gas in blood.