Measurement device with sensor array

• US 9,791,398 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phase2 Microtechnologies, LLC, University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: PHase2 Micro Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Clark, William, Cho, Sung Kwon, Zhao, Yuejun, Syciarz, Timothy J., Flaherty, R. Maxwell, Flaherty, J. Christopher, Wagner, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, J. Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/343,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20160003761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/28 Electrolytic cell components
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/302 pH sensitive, e.g. quinhydron, antimony or hydrogen electrodes ion selective electrodes G01N27/333, glass electrodes G01N27/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/307 Disposable laminated or multilayered electrodes G01N27/3272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4035 Combination of a single ion-sensing electrode and a single reference electrode G01N27/406 and G01N27/413 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4836 using multielectrode arrays

Abstract

A system for obtaining a pH measurement includes a disposable probe and a reader. The disposable probe comprises multiple indicating electrodes and at least one reference electrode. The reader is configured to operably engage with the disposable probe and provide pH information of a sample.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining a pH measurement of a sample comprising:

a disposable probe comprising;

a first chamber storing a reference solution;

a second chamber housing a reference electrode;

a third chamber surrounding an indicating electrode configured to be exposed to the sample, wherein the third chamber comprises a first orifice configured to be opened so as to expose the indicating electrode to the sample; and

a second orifice positioned between the first and second chambers, the second orifice configured to be opened so as to expose the reference solution to the reference electrode.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electronics module constructed and arranged to activate at least one orifice.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the electronics module comprises a lookup table that comprises orifice activation information.

4. The system of claim 2 comprising multiple electrodes configured to be exposed to the sample, and wherein the electronics module is constructed and arranged to allow an operator to individually activate each electrode in the multiple electrodes.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one orifice comprises a membrane.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the membrane comprises a multi-layer membrane.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the membrane comprises a heating element constructed and arranged to create an opening in the membrane.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of the heating element is positioned in contact with the membrane.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode comprises an iridium oxide electrode.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode is manufactured using a MEMS process.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a liquid junction.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a substrate, and wherein the at least one electrode is positioned on and/or proximate to the substrate.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a reader constructed and arranged to operably engage with the disposable probe and provide pH information of the sample.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the second and third chamber comprises a vacuum chamber constructed and arranged to draw a solution into the chamber.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the first chamber is a fluidic closed loop channel.

16. A disposable probe comprising:

a first chamber storing a reference solution;

a second chamber housing a reference electrode;

a third chamber surrounding an indicating electrode configured to be exposed to a sample, wherein the third chamber comprises a first orifice configured to be opened so as to expose the indicating electrode to the sample; and

a second orifice positioned between the first and second chambers, the second assembly configured to be opened so as to expose the reference solution to the reference electrode.

17. The disposable probe of claim 16 wherein each of the first and second assembly comprises a membrane.