System and probe for monitoring pH levels of a sample medium
First Claim
1. A probe for determining a pH level of a sample medium, the probe comprising:
- a flexible outer tube having a flexible inner tube concentrically arranged therein, wherein a lumen of the inner tube comprises a pH-sensitive electrode having a conducting portion and a sensing portion, which protrudes from a first end of the inner tube for detecting a signal used to determine the pH level of the sample medium, wherein;
the conducting portion comprises one or more antimony rods; and
the sensing portion comprises a smooth hemispherical tip formed by dipping one end of the antimony rods into liquefied antimony and allowing the sensing portion to harden while pointing in a downward direction;
wherein a space between the inner tube and the outer tube comprises;
a reference electrode configured to fill at least a portion of the space;
a temperature electrode arranged along one side of the space; and
wherein a sidewall of the outer tube comprises one or more diffusion windows located proximate to a first end of the outer tube to provide electrical coupling between the reference electrode and the sample medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring a pH level of a sample medium is disclosed herein as including a pH probe having a pH-sensitive electrode, a reference electrode and a temperature electrode arranged within a housing of the pH probe. The probe housing generally includes a flexible inner tube and a flexible outer tube, the inner tube being concentrically arranged within the outer tube. Preferably, a size of the probe housing minimizes the amount of trauma introduced by insertion of the pH probe into physiological tissues, muscles or fluids. The system also includes a processing means, which is coupled to the pH probe for determining the pH of the sample medium. A method of forming a pH-sensitive electrode, a method of manufacturing a pH probe, and a method for using a pH probe are also disclosed herein.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A probe for determining a pH level of a sample medium, the probe comprising:
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a flexible outer tube having a flexible inner tube concentrically arranged therein, wherein a lumen of the inner tube comprises a pH-sensitive electrode having a conducting portion and a sensing portion, which protrudes from a first end of the inner tube for detecting a signal used to determine the pH level of the sample medium, wherein; the conducting portion comprises one or more antimony rods; and the sensing portion comprises a smooth hemispherical tip formed by dipping one end of the antimony rods into liquefied antimony and allowing the sensing portion to harden while pointing in a downward direction; wherein a space between the inner tube and the outer tube comprises; a reference electrode configured to fill at least a portion of the space; a temperature electrode arranged along one side of the space; and wherein a sidewall of the outer tube comprises one or more diffusion windows located proximate to a first end of the outer tube to provide electrical coupling between the reference electrode and the sample medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for monitoring a pH level of a sample medium, the system comprising:
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a pH probe comprising; a flexible probe housing comprising an inner tube concentrically arranged within an outer tube, which has one or more diffusion windows formed therein; a pH-sensitive electrode arranged within the inner tube and partially protruding from a first end of the inner tube, wherein the pH-sensitive electrode comprises an antimony rod having a smooth hemispherical tip, which is configured to detect a voltage associated with the pH level of the sample medium; a reference electrode arranged within a space between the inner tube and the outer tube, wherein the reference electrode is configured to detect a base voltage of the sample medium; a temperature electrode arranged along one side of the space, wherein the temperature electrode is configured to detect a temperature value of the sample medium; and a processing means coupled to the pH probe and configured to determine the pH level of the sample medium using the voltage, the base voltage, and the temperature value. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification