Miniature probe containing multifunctional electrochemical sensing electrodes

• US 3,923,627 A
• Filed: 11/01/1974
• Issued: 12/02/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leonard W. Niedrach, William H. Stoddard Jr
• Original Assignee: Leonard W. Niedrach, William H. Stoddard Jr
• Inventors: Niedrach, Leonard W., Stoddard, William H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, G. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/519,797
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 204/195R,195P,195M,195L,1T 128/2E,2.1E 324/29
• US Class Current: 204/414
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/333 Ion-selective electrodes or membranes glass electrodes G01N27/36

Abstract

A miniature probe contains multifunctional electrochemical electrodes which measure specific ion activities. One of these electrodes is a specific ion electrode while the other electrode is a different specific ion electrode. Each of the electrodes is coupled with the same separate reference electrode or the reference electrode can surround the probe thereby providing a first specific ion sensor and a second specific ion sensor.

Claims

1. A MINIATURE PROBE CONTAINING A FIRSY SPECIFER ION ELECTRODE AND A SECOND SPECIFIC ION ELECTRODE WHICH COMPRISES A FLEXIBLE, ELONGATED ELECTROD LEAD, THE ELECTRODE LEAD COMPRISING A METALLIC BASE MEMBER, AN ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVE REGION SHOWING RESPONSE TO THE FIRST SPECIFIC ION ADHERING TIGHTLY TO AND IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH ONE END PORTION OF THE METALLIC BASE MEMBER, AND ELECTRICAL INSULATION SURROUNDING THE METALLIC BASE MEMBER AND A PORTION OF THE ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVE REGION AND THEREBY FORMING A FIRST SPECIFIC ION ELECTRODE EXPOSED AT THE END OF THE METALLIC BASE MEMBER BEYOND THE ELECTRIC INSULATION;

A SECOND METALLIC ELECTRODE LEAD SURROUNDING AT LEAST PARTIALLY AND SPACED FROM THE METALLIC BASE MEMBER OF THE FIRST ELECTRODE LEAD BY THE ELECTRODICAL INSULATION THEREON, A SECOND ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVE REGION SHOWING RESPONSE TO THE SECOND SPECIFIC ION ON THE SECOND ELECTRODW LEAD AT ONE END THEREOF, ELECTRICAL INSULATION SURROUNDING THE SECOND METALLIC ELECTRODE LEAD, AN ELECTROLYTE CONTACTING THE SECOND ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVE REGION, AND AN OUTER SHEATH OF A MEMBRANE PERMEABLE TO THE SECOND SPECIFIER IONS ENCAPSULATING THE SECOND ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVE REGION AND THE ELECTROLYTE AND FORMING A TIGHT JOINT WITH THE ELECTRICAL INSULATIONS THEREBY FORMING A SECOND SPECIFIC ION ELECTRODE, BUT NOT ENCAPSULATING THE EXPOSED ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVE REGION OF THE FIRST SPECIFIC ION ELECTRODE.

2. A miniature probe as in claim 1, in which the outer sheath is a potassium ion diffusion barrier material.

3. A miniature probe as in claim 1, in which the electrolyte is an immobilized aqueous solution.

4. A miniature probe as in claim 1, in which the electrolyte is a cation exchange resin material.

5. A miniature probe containing a first specific ion electrode and a second specific ion electrode which comprises a flexible, elongated electrode lead, the electrode lead comprising an electronically conductive metallic base member, an electrochemically active region showing response to the first specific ion adhering tightly to and in electrical contact with one end portion of the metallic base member, electrical insulation surrounding the metallic base member, an electrolyte contacting the electrochemically active region, and an outer sheath of a membrane permeable to the first specific ions encapsulating the electrolyte and forming a tight joint with the electrical insulation thereby forming a first specific ion electrode;

a second metallic electrode lead surrounding at least partially and spaced from the metallic base member of the first electrode lead by the electrical insulation thereon, a second electrochemically active region showing response to the second specific ions on the second electrode lead at one end thereof, electrical insulation surrounding the second metallic electrode lead, an electrolyte contacting the second electrochemically active region, and an outer sheath of a membrane permeable to the second specific ions encapsulating the second electrochemically active region and the electrolyte and forming a tight joint with the electrical insulations thereby forming a second specific ion electrode.

6. A miniature probe as in claim 5, in which one outer sheath is a potassium ion permeable membrane and the other outer sheath is a hydrogen ion permeable membrane.

7. A miniature probe as in claim 5, in which both of the electrolytes are immobilized aqueous solutions.

8. A miniature probe as in claim 5, in which both electrolytes are cation exchange resin materials.

9. A miniature probe containing a first specific ion electrode and a second specific electrode which comprises a flexible, elongated electrode lead, the electrode lead comprising an electronically conductive base member, an electrochemically active region showing response to the first specific ion adhering tightly to and in electrical coNtact with one end portion of the metallic base member, electrical insulation surrounding the metallic base member, and an outer sheath of a membrane permeable to the first specific ions encapsulating the electrochemically active region and forming a tight joint with the electrical insulation thereby forming a first specific ion electrode;

a second metallic electrode lead surrounding at least partially and spaced from the base member of the first electrode lead by the electrical insulation thereon, a second electrochemically active region showing response to the second specific ions on the second electrode lead at one end thereof, electrical insulation surrounding the second metallic electrode lead, an electrolyte contacting the second electrochemically active region, and an outer sheath of a membrane permeable to the second specific ions encapsulating the second electrochemically active region and the electrolyte and forming a tight joint with the electrical insulations thereby forming a second specific ion electrode.

10. A miniature probe as in claim 9, in which one outer sheath is a potassium ion permeable membrane and the other outer sheath is a hydrogen ion permeable membrane.

11. A miniature probe as in claim 9, in which the electrolyte is an immobilized aqueous solution.

12. A miniature probe as in claim 9, in which the electrolyte is a cation exchange resin material.