Conductivity meter

• US 5,441,049 A
• Filed: 12/28/1992
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Automata Medical Instrumentation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Automata Medical Instrumentation Incorporated
• Inventors: Masano, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US07/997,334
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 128/632, 128/633, 128/635, 128/637, 128/734, 128/736, 128/763, 128/765, 128/770, 128/771, 604/38, 604/51, 604/52, 604/404, 204/409, 204/411, 324/439, 324/441, 324/444, 324/446, 324/449, 324/450
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/07 Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor

Abstract

A conductivity meter includes a cell having a passageway through which dialysate flows during measurement. A constriction in the passageway meters the flow and partially defines the cell constant. To measure conductivity, an alternating current is applied to the dialysate through cylindrical electrodes in the passageway on each side of the constriction. A thermistor adjacent one of the electrodes is used to measure the temperature of the dialysate. A housing for the cell includes an elongated handle and an enlarged portion, containing the cell, extending to one side of the handle. The handle contains a printed circuit board having circuitry for making the measurement and the enlarged portion includes a window for display of the measurement.

Claims

1. A meter for measuring

conductivity of a liquid, said meter comprising:

a conductivity cell including a cylindrical member having a passageway through which said liquid can flow, said passageway extending longitudinally through said member and having a constriction of predetermined diameter;

a first electrode in said passageway on one side of said constriction;

a second electrode in said passageway, wherein said constriction is between said first electrode and said second electrode along said passageway;

a pair of holes through said member, said holes being skew to said passageway and adjacent respective ones of said first and second electrodes;

a thermistor in said passageway adjacent one of said electrodes; and

circuit means connected to said first electrode, said second electrode, and to said thermistor for measuring the temperature and the conductivity of said liquid.

2. The meter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes a printed circuit board having a pair of terminal corresponding to said holes.

3. The meter as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising screws through respective ones of said holes and said terminals mechanically and electrically connecting said cell to said printed circuit board.

4. The meter as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising pins through respective ones of said holes and said terminals mechanically and electrically connecting said cell to said printed circuit board.

5. The meter as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means attached to one end of said passageway for drawing said liquid through said passageway.

6. The meter as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for drawing said liquid through said passageway comprises a syringe.

7. The meter as set forth in claim 6 wherein said syringe is attached to the end of said passageway nearer said thermistor.

8. A method for measuring conductivity of a liquid, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a conductivity cell through which said liquid can flow;

drawing said liquid through said cell;

monitoring the temperature of said liquid while it is drawn through said cell;

measuring the conductivity of said liquid when the temperature of said liquid stabilizes while continuing to draw said liquid through said cell; and

correcting the measured conductivity to a reference temperature.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said measuring step comprises measuring the conductivity of said liquid when consecutive temperature measurements indicate the same temperature while continuing to draw said liquid through said cell.

10. A meter for measuring the properties of a liquid, said meter comprising:

a housing having an elongated handle and an enlarged portion extending to one side of said handle, said enlarged portion terminating at a first end of said housing;

a flow through measuring cell in said enlarged portion, said cell having a longitudinal axis parallel to and displaced from said handle;

a first connector attached to said first end and to said cell;

a second connector attached to said enlarged portion and to said cell;

said connectors providing access to said flow through measuring cell through said housing; and

circuit means within said handle and connected to said cell for measuring a property of said liquid.

11. The meter as set forth in claim 10 and further comprising:

a syringe, attached to said second connector, for drawing liquid through said cell; and

at least one bracket on said handle, said bracket locating said syringe adjacent said handle.