Universal sensor cartridge for use with a universal analyzer for sensing components in a multicomponent fluid
First Claim
1. A re-useable cartridge for facilitating analytical measurement of a solution, comprising:
- (a) a housing,(b) a chamber having a cross-section for containing a predefined volume of solution, said chamber having a first end and a second end being disposed within said housing,(c) an inlet port in fluid communication with said chamber, said port being located proximate to said first chamber end,(d) a waste reservoir of preselected volume in fluid communication with said chamber and located proximate to said second chamber end,(e) inlet ports for introducing fluids directly into said chamber,(f) means for positively forcing fluid in said chamber to flow out of said chamber and into said reservoir,(g) means for substantially preventing fluid back-flow from said reservoir to said chamber,(h) sensor elements having cross-sections disposed in said housing and interfacing with said chamber at a preselected location between said first end and said fluid backflow preventing means; and
(i) means for conveying signals generated by said sensor elements through and out of said housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatus employs a method for accurate, reproducible analytical solution evaluation eliminating the need for a reference sensor by determining the activity of selected species employing species specific sensors and species combination sensors in conjunction with Nernst-type equations. The apparatus includes sensor structures for elimination of edge effects to signals thereby yielding accurate, reproducible measurements, and a cartridge structure adapted to incorporate an array of the new sensors for employment of the new method where the cartridge is particularly adapted for miniaturization, maintaining a fixed volume of solution for analysis and providing an anaerobic testing environment. Lastly, a compact instrument embodying miniaturization especially adapted for field use and use of the cartridge is provided herein.
221 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A re-useable cartridge for facilitating analytical measurement of a solution, comprising:
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(a) a housing, (b) a chamber having a cross-section for containing a predefined volume of solution, said chamber having a first end and a second end being disposed within said housing, (c) an inlet port in fluid communication with said chamber, said port being located proximate to said first chamber end, (d) a waste reservoir of preselected volume in fluid communication with said chamber and located proximate to said second chamber end, (e) inlet ports for introducing fluids directly into said chamber, (f) means for positively forcing fluid in said chamber to flow out of said chamber and into said reservoir, (g) means for substantially preventing fluid back-flow from said reservoir to said chamber, (h) sensor elements having cross-sections disposed in said housing and interfacing with said chamber at a preselected location between said first end and said fluid backflow preventing means; and (i) means for conveying signals generated by said sensor elements through and out of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A re-useable, miniaturized cartridge for use in measuring at least two substances in solution adapted for insertion into a receptacle of predetermined dimension, comprising:
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a housing having upper and lower regions, said upper region having a chamber of predefined volume; a first inlet means for introducing the solution into said chamber, a second inlet means for introducing a calibration fluid into said housing; three substance sensitive means, two of said three substance sensitive means sensitive to one each of the substances and one of said three substance sensitive means sensitive to both of said at least two substances, each of the substance sensitive means being secured within said housing and having means for interfacing with said chamber and extending to the lower region of said housing; a reservoir for receiving fluid displaced from said chamber, said reservoir being contained within said housing and extending into the lower housing region, said reservoir having a fluid containing volume considerably greater than that of the chamber; a fluid flow impedance means being disposed between said sensitive means and said reservoir; wherein said lower housing region is adapted to be received within a complementary receptacle and said sensitive means establish signal contact with corresponding signal conductive elements within the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification