Sensor assembly suitable for blood gas analysis and the like and the method of use
First Claim
1. A hand-holdable sensor assembly suitable for use in a device for blood gas analysis and the like at the bedside of a patient comprising:
- a portable housing sized to be held by the hand of a user having an open end;
electrode means, including electrodes for sensing oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions located inside said housing and spaced from said open end by a recess;
a gas-permeable, ion-impermeable membrane positioned within said recess and covering said oxygen and carbon dioxide electrodes;
means for connecting said electrodes into an electrical circuit which includes means for measuring and displaying values of pO2, pCO2 and pH sensed by the respective electrodes; and
a blood sampler having a cavity covered by a gas and ion-permeable membrane, a port communicating with said cavity for the entry of blood therein, said port adapted for connection to a needle for penetrating a blood vessel of the patient, and a vent port communicating with said cavity, said vent port including means for allowing air to pass out of said cavity, but not blood, said sampler being removably positioned in said recess so that said membranes are in substantially face-to-face engagement and said ion electrode is in contact with said gas and ion-permeable membrane of said sampler.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor assembly for electrochemical analysis of a substance comprises a housing and electrodes for sensing selective gases and ions within the housing. A sampler is associated with the housing for introducing the substance to be analyzed into the housing and for allowing the selective gas and ion content thereof to be sensed without physical contact with the gas and ion sensing electrodes. A method of detecting gases and ions in a substance comprises withdrawing a quantity of a substance from a source and directly contacting the substance with a gas and ion permeable medium as it is withdrawn from the source. Gases and ions are caused to permeate through the medium whereupon the gases and ions are detected by a sensing mechanism.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A hand-holdable sensor assembly suitable for use in a device for blood gas analysis and the like at the bedside of a patient comprising:
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a portable housing sized to be held by the hand of a user having an open end; electrode means, including electrodes for sensing oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions located inside said housing and spaced from said open end by a recess; a gas-permeable, ion-impermeable membrane positioned within said recess and covering said oxygen and carbon dioxide electrodes; means for connecting said electrodes into an electrical circuit which includes means for measuring and displaying values of pO2, pCO2 and pH sensed by the respective electrodes; and a blood sampler having a cavity covered by a gas and ion-permeable membrane, a port communicating with said cavity for the entry of blood therein, said port adapted for connection to a needle for penetrating a blood vessel of the patient, and a vent port communicating with said cavity, said vent port including means for allowing air to pass out of said cavity, but not blood, said sampler being removably positioned in said recess so that said membranes are in substantially face-to-face engagement and said ion electrode is in contact with said gas and ion-permeable membrane of said sampler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A hand-holdable sensor assembly for use in a device for blood gas analysis at the bedside of a patient comprising:
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a wand-like, portable housing sized to be held by the hand of a user and having an open end; an inner body positioned inside said housing and spaced from said open end by a recess, said body containing oxygen and carbon dioxide measuring electrodes and a common reference electrode associated with said measuring electrodes, all of said electrodes immersed in an electrolyte medium, said inner body being covered by a gas-permeable, ion-impermeable membrane facing said recess; pH and pH reference electrodes in said housing located near said recess; electrical lead wires attached to said electrodes for connecting same into an electrical circuit which includes means for measuring and displaying values of oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH sensed by the respective electrodes; and a blood sampler having a cavity covered by a gas and ion permeable membrane, a port communicating with said cavity for the entry of blood therein, said port adapted for connection to a needle for penetrating a blood vessel of the patient, a vent port communicating with said cavity including an air-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane thereacross adapted to allow air to pass out of said cavity but not blood, said sampler being removably positioned in said recess so that said membranes are in face-to-face engagement and said pH electrode is in contact with said gas and ion permeable membrane of said sampler.
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13. A hand-holdable sensor for use in a device for blood gas analysis and the like at the bedside of a patient comprising:
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a portable housing sized to be held by the hand of a user having an open end; electrode means, includng electrodes, for sensing oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions located inside said housing and spaced from said open end by a recess; a gas-permeable, ion-permeable membrane positioned within said recess and covering only said oxygen and carbon dioxide electrodes; and means for connecting said electrodes into an electrical circuit to measure values of pO2, pCO2 and pH sensed by the respective electrodes.
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14. A method of measuring the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide and the pH level of arterial blood of a patient at bedside comprising:
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withdrawing blood from an artery of a patient; directing said blood as it is withdrawn into in vitro contact with a gas and ion-permeable membrane located at the bedside of a patient; causing oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions to permeate through said membrane and be sensed by measuring electrodes located at the bedside of the patient; and providing information at bedside relating to measured values of the partial pressures of arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide and pH. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of detecting gases and ions in blood comprising:
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withdrawing blood from a living source; directly contacting said blood with a gas and ion-permeable medium as it is being withdrawn; causing gases and ions to permeate through said medium; and detecting said gases and ions by sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of measuring the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide and the pH level of arterial blood of a patient at bedside comprising:
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placing a blood sampler having a gas and ion-permeable membrane into close proximity to measuring electrodes sensitive to oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions; inserting a needle into an artery of a patient; withdrawing blood from said artery directly into said sampler at the bedside of the patient; causing oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions to permeate through said membrane and be sensed by said electrodes; displaying the sensed values of pO2, pCO2 and pH related to said arterial blood; and removing said sampler from its position adjacent said electrodes after the values are sensed.
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27. A method of detecting gases and ions in a substance comprising:
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withdrawing a quantity of a substance from a source; directly contacting said substance with a gas and ion-permeable medium as it is withdrawn from the source; causing gases and ions to permeate through said medium; and detecting said gases and ions by sensing means.
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Specification