Electrode-containing device with capillary transport between electrodes
First Claim
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1. In a device for determining the activity of an ionic analyte of a liquid, said device including a pair of solid electrodes each constructed to generate an electrical potential that is proportional to the activity of an ionic analyte of a contacting quantity of such a liquid, and flow control means for directing flow of respective quantities of two such liquids each to a different one of said electrodes and to a junction between said liquids;
- the improvement wherein said flow control means includes(a) two opposed liquid transport surfaces extending from a first location disposed adjacent one of said electrodes to a second location adjacent the other of said electrodes, said surfaces being spaced apart a distance effective to induce capillary flow between said surfaces of introduced liquid and to create a transport zone, said transport zone being in liquid communication with said electrodes and comprising a void zone with fibers in an amount that is from 0 to 5% of the total volume of said zone; and
(b) means defining first and second liquid passageways extending from an exterior surface of said device to said zone;
whereby each of said liquids, when deposited in a different one of said passageways, respectively flows into contact with an electrode and through said transport zone to form a junction with the other liquid intermediate said first and second locations.
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Abstract
A device suitable for potentiometric analysis of liquid ions is disclosed, wherein a liquid transport member extending between and adjacent to two electrodes comprises two opposed surfaces spaced apart a distance to induce capillary flow of liquid between the surfaces.
87 Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a device for determining the activity of an ionic analyte of a liquid, said device including a pair of solid electrodes each constructed to generate an electrical potential that is proportional to the activity of an ionic analyte of a contacting quantity of such a liquid, and flow control means for directing flow of respective quantities of two such liquids each to a different one of said electrodes and to a junction between said liquids;
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the improvement wherein said flow control means includes (a) two opposed liquid transport surfaces extending from a first location disposed adjacent one of said electrodes to a second location adjacent the other of said electrodes, said surfaces being spaced apart a distance effective to induce capillary flow between said surfaces of introduced liquid and to create a transport zone, said transport zone being in liquid communication with said electrodes and comprising a void zone with fibers in an amount that is from 0 to 5% of the total volume of said zone; and (b) means defining first and second liquid passageways extending from an exterior surface of said device to said zone; whereby each of said liquids, when deposited in a different one of said passageways, respectively flows into contact with an electrode and through said transport zone to form a junction with the other liquid intermediate said first and second locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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5. In a device for determining the activity of an ionic analyte of a liquid, said device including a pair of solid, generally flat electrodes each constructed to generate an electrical potential that is proportional to the activity of an ionic analyte of a contacting quantity of such a liquid, and flow control means for directing flow of respective quantities of two such liquids each to a different one of said electrodes and to a junction between said liquids;
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the improvement wherein said flow control means includes (a) two opposed liquid transport surfaces extending from a first location disposed adjacent one of said electrodes to a second location adjacent the other of said electrodes, said surfaces being spaced apart a distance effective to induce capillary flow between said surfaces of introduced liquid and to create a transport zone, said transport zone being in liquid communication with said electrodes and comprising a void zone with fibers in an amount that is from 0 to 5% of the total volume of said zone; and (b) means defining first and second liquid passageways extending from an exterior surface of said device to said zone; whereby each of said liquids, when deposited in a different one of said passageways, respectively flows into contact with an electrode and through said transport zone to form a junction with the other liquid intermediate said first and second locations.
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18. In a device for determining the activity of an ionic analyte of a liquid, said device including a pair of solid electrodes each constructed to generate an electrical potential that is proportional to the activity of an ionic analyte of a contacting quantity of such a liquid, and flow control means for directing flow of such liquid to at least one of said electrodes;
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the improvement wherein said flow control means includes (a) two opposed liquid transport surfaces extending from a first location disposed adjacent one of said electrodes to a second location adjacent the other of said electrodes, said surfaces being spaced apart a distance effective to induce capillary flow between said surfaces of introduced liquid and to create a transport zone, said transport zone being in liquid communication with said electrodes and comprising a volume containing fibers in an amount no greater than 5% of the total volume of said zone; and (b) means defining a liquid passageway extending from an exterior surface of said device to said zone; whereby a quantity of such liquid deposited in said passageway flows into contact with an electrode. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A multi-analyte test device for the analysis of a plurality of different ionic analytes in a quantity of a liquid, the device comprising,
a first sheet, a second covering sheet, said sheets having opposing surfaces, means for spacing apart said sheets a distance effective to induce capillary flow between said surfaces of introduced liquid and to create a transport zone, said zone further including fibers in an amount that is from 0 to 5% of the total volume of said zone, one of said sheets including means permitting introduction of a quantity of a test liquid and a reference liquid into said zone, and a plurality of electrically isolated electrodes disposed in liquid communication with said zone, at least a first one of said electrodes comprising a test composition specific to the analysis of one of said analytes, and at least a second of said electrodes comprising a test composition specific to the analysis of a different one of said analytes, and vent means for permitting air to exit from said zone ahead of advancing liquid.
Specification