Ionic component sensor and method for making and using same
First Claim
1. A composition of matter useful in sensing the concentration of an ionic component in a medium comprising:
- a first layer including a first matrix material which is solid and is permeable to the ionic component, and a sensing component in an amount effective to provide a signal which varies as the concentration of the ionic component in the medium varies; and
a second layer which includes a second matrix material which is solid, is permeable to the ionic component, and is compatible with said first matrix material, and an opaque agent in an amount sufficient to render said second layer effectively opaque, said first layer and said second layer being partially intermingled to form an intermingled zone;
wherein said second layer and said intermingled zone are formed by solubilizing said second matrix material in a liquid medium, contacting said first layer with said liquid medium such that a portion of said first matrix material in said first layer is also solubilized in said liquid medium, and solidifying the solubilized first matrix material and the solubilized second matrix material such that said solidified first matrix material and a portion of said solidified second matrix material form said intermingled zone and the remainder of said solidified second matrix material forms said second layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A composition of matter useful in a sensor for sensing the concentration of an ionic component a medium is disclosed. This composition comprises a first material including a sensing component in an amount effective to provide a signal which varies as the concentration of the ionic component in the medium varies, and a first matrix material, and a second material which includes a second matrix material which is compatible with the first matrix material, and an opague agent in an amount sufficient to render the second material effectively opaque. The first material and the second material are partially intermingled. Apparatus including such composition of matter and methods for making and using such compositions of matter are also disclosed.
35 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A composition of matter useful in sensing the concentration of an ionic component in a medium comprising:
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a first layer including a first matrix material which is solid and is permeable to the ionic component, and a sensing component in an amount effective to provide a signal which varies as the concentration of the ionic component in the medium varies; and a second layer which includes a second matrix material which is solid, is permeable to the ionic component, and is compatible with said first matrix material, and an opaque agent in an amount sufficient to render said second layer effectively opaque, said first layer and said second layer being partially intermingled to form an intermingled zone; wherein said second layer and said intermingled zone are formed by solubilizing said second matrix material in a liquid medium, contacting said first layer with said liquid medium such that a portion of said first matrix material in said first layer is also solubilized in said liquid medium, and solidifying the solubilized first matrix material and the solubilized second matrix material such that said solidified first matrix material and a portion of said solidified second matrix material form said intermingled zone and the remainder of said solidified second matrix material forms said second layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus useful in sensing the concentration of an ionic component in a medium comprising:
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sensor means comprising a first layer which includes a first matrix material which is solid and is permeable to the ionic component and a sensing component in an amount effective to provide a signal which varies as the concentration of the ionic component in the medium varies, and a second layer which includes a second matrix material which is solid, is permeable to the ionic component, and is compatible with said first matrix material and an opaque agent in an amount sufficient to render said second layer effectively opaque, said first and second layers being partially intermingled to form an intermingled zone; wherein said second layer and said intermingled zone are formed by solubilizing said second matrix material in a liquid medium, contacting said first layer with said liquid medium such that a portion of said first matrix material in said first layer is also solubilized in said liquid medium, and solidifying the solubilized first matrix material and the solubilized second matrix material such that said solidified first matrix material and a portion of said solidified second matrix material form said intermingled zone and the remainder of said solidified second matrix material forms said second layer; and signal means capable of transmitting said signal from said sensing component. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for sensing the concentration of an ionic component in a medium comprising:
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contacting said medium with a composition comprising a first layer including a first matrix material which is solid and is permeable to the ionic component and a sensing component in an amount effective to provide a signal which varies as the concentration of said ionic component in said medium varies, and a second layer which includes a second matrix material which is solid, is permeable to the ionic component, and is compatible with said first matrix material and an opaque agent in an amount sufficient to render said second layer effectively opaque, said first layer and said second layer being partially intermingled to form an intermingled zone; wherein said second layer and said intermingled zone are formed by solubilizing said second matrix material in a liquid medium contacting said first layer with said liquid medium such that a portion of said first matrix material in said first layer is also solubilized in said liquid medium, and solidifying the solubilized first matrix material and the solubilized second matrix material such that said solidified first matrix material and a portion of said solidified second matrix material form said intermingled zone and the remainder of said solidified second matrix material forms said second layer; causing said sensing component to emit a signal which varies as the concentration of said ionic component in said medium varies; and analyzing said signal to determine the concentration of said ionic component in said medium. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for making a sensor useful in sensing the concentration of an ionic component in a medium comprising:
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applying to a surface of a first layer of liquid composition, said first layer comprising a first matrix material which is solid prior to said applying and a sensing component in an amount effective to provide a signal which varies as the concentration of the ionic component in the medium varies, said liquid composition comprising a liquid medium, an opaque agent, and a second matrix material which is compatible with said first matrix material and which is solubilized in said liquid medium, a portion of said first matrix material from said first layer becoming solubilized in said liquid medium upon said applying; and solidifying the solubilized second matrix material and the solubilized first matrix material such that said solidified first matrix material and a portion of said solidified second matrix material form an intermingled zone and the remainder of said solidified second matrix material forms a second layer. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of making a sensor useful in sensing the concentration of an ionic component in a medium comprising:
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applying to a surface of a first composition a second composition, said first composition comprising a sensing component in an amount effective to provide a signal which varies as the concentration of the ionic component in the medium varies and a first matrix material which is solid prior to said applying, said second composition comprising a liquid medium, an opaque agent, and a second matrix material which is compatible with said first matrix material and is solubilized in said liquid medium, a portion of said first matrix material from said first composition becoming solubilized in said liquid medium upon said applying, both said first matrix material and said second matrix material being cellulose, said liquid medium including a basic component selected from the group consisting of metal hydroxides, organic amines, and mixtures thereof; and solidifying the solubilized second matrix material and the solubilized first matrix material.
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40. A composition of matter useful in sensing the concentration of an ionic component in a medium comprising:
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a first layer including a first matrix material which is solid and is permeable to the ionic component, and a sensing component in an amount effective to provide a signal which varies as the concentration of the ionic component in the medium varies; and a second layer which includes a second matrix material which is solid, is permeable to the ionic component, and is compatible with said first matrix material, and an opaque agent in an amount sufficient to render said second layer effectively opaque, said first layer and said second layer being partially intermingled to form an intermingled zone; wherein the ratio of the thickness of the first layer to the thickness of the intermingled zone is within the range of from about 1;
0.005 to about 1;
0.25. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification