Disposable sensor for metal analysis and method of using same

• US 5,830,344 A
• Filed: 07/10/1996
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Environmental Technologies Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Environmental Technologies Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Schmidt, John Calvin, Priddy, Richard Vernon, Studer, John Eugene Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUNG, TA HSUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/677,976
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 204/400, 204/409, 204/434, 205/775, 205/789.5
• US Class Current: 205/775
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1813 Specific cations in water, e.g. heavy metals

Abstract

A disposable sensor for metal analysis comprises a housing including a first section, a second section, and a flexible intermediate section therebetween. An ampoule containing a reagent is disposed in the intermediate section. A liquid seal is formed between the first and second sections. The intermediate section of the housing of the disposable sensor may be flexed to break the ampoule. When the seal is broken between the first and second sections, and the water (or any other liquid) sample mixes with the reagent, the mixture flows into the second section containing an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly may be disposed in engagement with the monitoring device to determine the concentration of the at least one metal in the water (or any other liquid) sample.

Claims

1. In combination with a monitoring device for determining the concentration of at least one metal in a liquid sample, a disposable sensor comprising a housing including a first section, a second section, and a flexible intermediate section therebetween, said housing capable of containing therein a liquid sample for testing along with an ampoule disposed in the intermediate section and containing a reagent for testing metal in a liquid sample, means for forming a liquid seal between the first and second sections, means for measuring the liquid sample in the first section, and at least one electrode assembly disposed in the second section, wherein the intermediate section of the housing of the disposable sensor may be flexed to break the ampoule, wherein the seal may be broken between the first and second sections, such that the liquid sample mixes with the reagent and flows into the second section containing the electrode assembly, and wherein said at least one electrode assembly may be disposed in engagement with the monitoring device to determine the concentration of said at least one metal in the liquid sample.

2. The disposable sensor of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the liquid sample in the first section of the housing further includes a top cap removably secured to the first section, and a top cavity containing the water sample of a predetermined volume.

3. The disposable sensor of claim 2, wherein funnel shape walls surround the top cavity, wherein an upper edge of the funnel shaped walls comprises at least one side opening, such that, once the liquid sample is poured into the top cavity, and the top cap is closed, any excess liquid runs out said at least one side opening.

4. The disposable sensor of claim 1, wherein the intermediate section of the housing further includes side walls having a series of annular ribs spaced apart longitudinally.

5. The disposable sensor of claim 4, wherein said annular ribs provide additional flexibility to the intermediate section of the housing to facilitate breaking of the ampoule while flexing the housing.

6. The disposable sensor of claim 1, wherein the housing is made of plastic.

7. The disposable sensor of claim 1, wherein the second section of the housing includes a lower chamber for disposing a mixture of the liquid sample and the reagent, wherein said as least one electrode assembly includes a first portion secured within said lower chamber, such that once the first portion of said at least one electrode assembly is immersed into the mixture of the liquid sample and the reagent, said at least one electrode assembly emits an electrical signal corresponding to the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample.

8. The disposable sensor of claim 7, wherein said at least one electrode assembly further includes a second portion protruded externally from a lower edge of the second section of the housing to engage the monitoring device, wherein a protective cap is removably secured to said lower edge of the second section of the housing, such that when the protective cap is removed and the second portion of said at least one electrode assembly engages the monitoring device, said monitoring device reads the emitted electrical signal corresponding to the concentration of said at least one metal in the liquid sample.

9. The disposable sensor of claim 8, wherein said at least one electrode assembly includes at least two electrodes, wherein the monitoring device applies a predetermined electrical potential, series of potentials, or potential ramp between said at least two electrodes, and wherein said at least one electrode assembly emits an electrical signal corresponding to the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample in response to the predetermined electrical potential, series of potentials, or potential ramp.

10. The disposable sensor of claim 9, wherein the electrical signal may be emitted while the electrical potential is applied.

11. The disposable sensor of claim 9, wherein the electrical signal may be emitted after the electrical potential was applied.

12. The disposable sensor of claim 9, wherein said at least two electrodes of said at least one electrode assembly are printed on a non-conductive substrate.

13. The disposable sensor of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device further includes a displaying means, and wherein the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample determined by the monitoring device is displayed by the displaying means.

14. The disposable sensor of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a molded plastic part extending within the housing substantially through the intermediate section and the second section of the housing, and leaving a narrow space between the molded plastic part and a side wall of the housing to secure the ampoule in proper orientation, and wherein a slot is formed in a lower end of the molded plastic part, the electrode assembly being secured within said slot.

15. The disposable sensor of claim 1, wherein the ampoule may include a thin bag which can be ruptured by flexing the disposable sensor.

16. The disposable sensor of claim 1, wherein the reagent is used for testing either a water sample, a blood sample, a juice sample, or a milk sample.

17. The disposable sensor of claim 16, wherein the said ampoule is a frangible ampoule.

18. The disposable sensor of claim 1, wherein the ampoule is made of a glass.

19. In combination with a monitoring device for determining the concentration of a metal in a liquid sample, a disposable sensor comprising:

a plastic housing including a first section, a second section, and an intermediate section therebetween;

an ampoule disposed in the intermediate section and containing a reagent, the ampoule being held within the intermediate section in a predetermined orientation;

means for forming a liquid seal between the first and second sections;

means for disposing the liquid sample in the first section; and

at least one electrode assembly disposed in the second section and comprising a non-conductive substrate and two electrodes printed thereon;

wherein the intermediate section of the housing of the disposable sensor may be flexed to break the ampoule and wherein the seal may be broken between the first and second sections, such that the liquid sample mixes with the reagent and flows into the second section containing said at least one electrode assembly;

wherein the first section of the housing includes a top cap removably secured to the first section, and having a top cavity for measuring the liquid sample, wherein the top cavity contains the liquid sample of a predetermined volume;

wherein the intermediate section of the housing includes side walls having series of annular ribs spaced apart longitudinally, the annular ribs providing additional flexibility to the intermediate section of the housing to facilitate breaking of the ampoule while bending the housing along its longitudinal axis;

wherein the second section of the housing includes a lower chamber for disposing a mixture of the liquid sample and the reagent;

said at least one electrode assembly including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being secured within said lower chamber, such that, once the first portion of said at least one electrode assembly is immersed into the mixture of the liquid sample and the reagent, said at least one electrode assembly emits an electrical signal corresponding to the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample, and

the second portion of said at least one electrode assembly extending externally from a lower edge of the second section of the housing to engage the monitoring device, wherein a protective cap is removably secured to said lower edge of the second section of the housing, such that when the protective cap is removed and the second portion of said at least one electrode assembly engages the monitoring device, said monitoring device reads the emitted electrical signal corresponding to the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample;

the monitoring device applying a predetermined electrical potential to the second portion of said at least one electrode assembly, between said two electrodes, such that said at least one electrode assembly emits the electrical signal corresponding to the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample in response to the predetermined electrical potential,

wherein said electrical potential may include a single electrical potential, a series of electrical potential, or a potential ramp; and

a displaying means, wherein the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample determined by the monitor device is displayed by the displaying means.

20. In combination with a monitoring device, a method for determining the concentration of a metal in a liquid sample, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a disposable sensor comprising a housing including a first section, a second section, and an intermediate section therebetween,

providing an ampoule disposed in the intermediate section of the housing and containing a reagent,

providing means for forming a liquid seal between the first and second sections,

disposing at least one electrode assembly in the second section of the housing, said at least one electrode assembly comprising a non-conductive substrate and at least two electrodes printed thereon,

disposing the liquid sample in the first section of the housing,

breaking the ampoule and the seal between the first and second sections of the housing, such that the liquid sample mixes with the reagent and flows into the second section of the housing containing said at least one electrode assembly,

providing an electrical connection between said at least one electrode assembly and the monitoring device,

applying a predetermined electrical potential to said at least one electrode assembly, between said at least two electrodes, to yield an electrical signal emitted by said at least one electrode assembly and corresponding to the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample in response to the predetermined electrical potential,

reading the emitted electrical signal by the monitoring device,

providing a displaying means, and

displaying the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample by said displaying means.

21. The method of claim 20, further including the steps of providing the first section of the housing with a top cap removably secured thereto and providing a top cavity for measuring the liquid sample, such that the top cavity contains the liquid sample of a predetermined volume.

22. The method of claim 21, further including the steps of providing the intermediate section of the housing with a series of annular ribs spaced apart longitudinally and providing additional flexibility to the intermediate section of the housing to facilitate breaking of the ampoule while bending the housing along its longitudinal axis.

23. The method of claim 20, further including the steps of providing the second section of the housing with a lower chamber for disposing the mixture of the liquid sample and the reagent, providing said at least one electrode assembly with a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being secured within said lower chamber, such that once the first portion of said at least one electrode assembly is immersed into the mixture of the liquid sample and the reagent, said at least one electrode assembly emits an electrical signal corresponding to the concentration of the metal in the liquid sample, and said second portion being protruded externally from a lower edge of the second section of the housing to engage the monitoring device.

24. In combination with a monitoring device for determining the concentration of at least one metal in a liquid sample, a disposable sensor comprising at least one electrode assembly having a pair of electrodes, a cylindrical housing secured to said at least one electrode assembly by a lower end, and a cap removably secured to a top end of the cylindrical housing, the top end of the cylindrical housing having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced metering holes, the cap having a cylindrical sleeve and a top surface, a plurality of holes being disposed across the top surface of the cap, an ampoule, containing a reagent for testing metal in a liquid sample, being disposed above the top surface of the cap and being secured to the cap by a flexible cover, means for measuring and disposing the liquid sample in the housing, wherein when the cap is secured to the housing, the cylindrical sleeve of the cap seals the metering holes in the housing, and wherein the flexible cover may be flexed to break the ampoule, such that the reagent, contained in the ampoule, is forced into the housing through said holes in the top surface of the cap, and such that the liquid sample mixes with the reagent in the housing, and wherein said at least one electrode assembly may be disposed in engagement with the monitoring device to determine the concentration of said at least one metal in the liquid sample.