Medical apparatus incorporating pressurized supply of storage liquid
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Medical apparatus adapted to be stored for an extended time period, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining a liquid-filled chamber, wherein the housing is configured such that liquid located within the chamber can escape therefrom over time;
a sensor carried within the housing, in operative relationship to the chamber, for measuring the concentration of a predetermined parameter of any liquid within the chamber;
a liquid reservoir communicating with the housing chamber and carrying a storage liquid; and
a spring-bias device for pressurizing the liquid reservoir, to pressurize the chamber with the storage liquid, such that additional storage liquid is supplied to the chamber as liquid escapes therefrom over time.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved apparatus is disclosed for maintaining a medical assembly, e.g., a blood chemistry electrode assembly, filled with a bubble-free storage liquid for an extended storage time period. The apparatus achieves this result by connecting to the assembly a pressurized reservoir that supplies additional storage liquid, to replenish any storage liquid lost due to diffusion from the medical assembly.
176 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. Medical apparatus adapted to be stored for an extended time period, the apparatus comprising:
-
a housing defining a liquid-filled chamber, wherein the housing is configured such that liquid located within the chamber can escape therefrom over time; a sensor carried within the housing, in operative relationship to the chamber, for measuring the concentration of a predetermined parameter of any liquid within the chamber; a liquid reservoir communicating with the housing chamber and carrying a storage liquid; and a spring-bias device for pressurizing the liquid reservoir, to pressurize the chamber with the storage liquid, such that additional storage liquid is supplied to the chamber as liquid escapes therefrom over time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. Sensor apparatus for sensing the concentration of a predetermined parameter in a liquid, comprising:
-
a housing defining a test chamber; a sensor carried within the housing, in operative relationship to the test chamber, for measuring the concentration of a predetermined parameter of any liquid located within the test chamber; wherein the apparatus is configured such that liquid located within the test chamber can escape therefrom over time; a flexible reservoir communicating with the test chamber and carrying a storage liquid; and a spring-bias device for compressing the flexible reservoir, to pressurize the test chamber with the storage liquid, such that additional storage liquid is supplied to the test chamber as liquid escapes therefrom over time. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A blood chemistry sensor assembly comprising:
-
a housing defining a test chamber; a plurality of sensors carried within the housing, in operative relationship to the test chamber, for measuring the concentration of predetermined parameters of blood introduced into the test chamber; wherein the sensor assembly is stored with a storage liquid in its test chamber; and wherein components of the sensor assembly are sufficiently permeable to allow limited escape of the storage liquid from the test chamber over time and to allow air to be introduced into the test chamber over time; a flexible bag that carries a supply of storage liquid, in liquid communication with the test chamber; and a spring-bias device for pressurizing the flexible bag, such that additional storage liquid is supplied to the test chamber as liquid escapes therefrom over time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
Specification