Liquid junction reference electrode and methods of use thereof
First Claim
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1. A reference electrode comprising:
- (a) a reference sensor;
(b) a bridge electrolyte channel in fluid communication with said reference sensor; and
(c) a connector channel connected to the bridge electrolyte channel, said connector channel comprising a sample inlet channel and a sample outflow channel through which a sample may flow, a bridge electrolyte well for retaining a volume of a bridge electrolyte solution, and a bridge electrolyte port which connects said bridge electrolyte well with said bridge electrolyte channel;
wherein said bridge electrolyte well is dimensioned to provide a liquid junction between the sample and the bridge electrolyte solution, and wherein said liquid junction has a width that exceeds the diameter of said bridge electrolyte port.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a durable and reliable miniature liquid junction reference electrode for use with at least one electrode (e.g., an electrochemical sensor cartridge) for measuring certain characteristics of a fluid sample such as blood or other body fluid.
153 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A reference electrode comprising:
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(a) a reference sensor;
(b) a bridge electrolyte channel in fluid communication with said reference sensor; and
(c) a connector channel connected to the bridge electrolyte channel, said connector channel comprising a sample inlet channel and a sample outflow channel through which a sample may flow, a bridge electrolyte well for retaining a volume of a bridge electrolyte solution, and a bridge electrolyte port which connects said bridge electrolyte well with said bridge electrolyte channel;
wherein said bridge electrolyte well is dimensioned to provide a liquid junction between the sample and the bridge electrolyte solution, and wherein said liquid junction has a width that exceeds the diameter of said bridge electrolyte port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for using a liquid junction reference electrode, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a reference electrode comprising a reference sensor;
a bridge electrolyte channel in fluid communication with said reference sensor; and
a connector channel connected to the bridge electrolyte channel, said connector channel comprising a sample inlet channel and a sample outflow channel through which a sample may flow, a bridge electrolyte well for retaining a volume of a bridge electrolyte solution, and a bridge electrolyte port which connects said bridge electrolyte well with said bridge electrolyte channel;
wherein said bridge electrolyte well is dimensioned to provide a liquid junction between the sample and the bridge electrolyte solution, and wherein said liquid junction has a width that exceeds the diameter of said bridge electrolyte port;
(b) providing a sample to said sample inlet channel;
(c) providing a bridge electrolyte solution to said bridge electrolyte channel;
(d) providing a force to said sample so that it flows toward said bridge electrolyte port;
(e) providing a force to said bridge electrolyte solution so that it flows toward said bridge electrolyte port;
(f) forming a liquid junction between said sample and said bridge electrolyte solution at said bridge electrolyte well with a surface area in the range of about 1 mm2 to about 10 mm2; and
(g) taking a measurement.
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22. A reference electrode comprising:
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(a) a reference sensor comprising;
(i) a support substrate;
(ii) a silver layer (Ag) deposited on said support substrate;
(iii) a silver chloride (AgCl) layer deposited on said Ag layer;
(iv) a glaze layer deposited on at least part of said AgCl layer; and
(v) a gasket disposed on said glaze layer;
(b) a bridge electrolyte channel in fluid communication with said reference sensor; and
(c) a connector channel connected to the bridge electrolyte channel via a bridge electrolyte port, said connector channel comprising a sample inlet channel and a sample outflow channel through which a sample may flow, and a bridge electrolyte well for retaining a volume of a bridge electrolyte solution;
wherein said bridge electrolyte well is dimensioned to provide a liquid junction between the sample and the bridge electrolyte solution. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification