Mounting device for an electrochemical sensor unit

• US 20070238943A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiometer Medical ApS (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Radiometer Medical ApS (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Olsson, Henrik, Poulsen, Ebbe
• Granted Patent: US 10,117,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

A device for mounting an electrochemical sensor unit to a skin surface of a human being comprises a mounting member having a circumferential wall, an adhesive tape at a lower end of the circumferential wall for adhering the mounting member to the skin surface, and a sealing member. The sealing member provides a liquid tight seal between a lumen or measuring chamber defined between the skin surface, the mounting device and the sensor unit, the measuring chamber being normally filled with a contact liquid. Alternatively, the sealing member is provided on the sensor unit. The provision of the sealing member renders the system less vulnerable to force impacts and reduces the risk of flawed measurements due to atmospheric air in the measuring chamber. The electrochemical sensor unit may e.g. be suitable for transcutaneous measurement of partial carbon dioxide pressure (pCO₂) or partial oxygen pressure (pO₂).

Claims

1. A device for mounting an electrochemical sensor unit to a skin surface of a human being, comprising:

a mounting member comprising a circumferential wall;

an adhesive tape at a lower end of the circumferential wall for adhering a lower end of the mounting member to the skin surface; and

at least one sealing member extending along the circumferential wall.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing member is provided at an upper end of the mounting member.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein an inner portion of the circumferential wall comprises structure for securing the sensor unit to the mounting member.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said structure comprises a threaded portion.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein an inner portion of the circumferential wall comprises structure for securing the sensor unit to the mounting member.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential wall defines an inner surface facing an interior lumen of the mounting member and an outer surface facing exterior environment, and wherein the sealing member is provided at the outer surface.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is provided in a portion of reduced wall thickness of the circumferential wall.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is provided in a groove or indentation of the circumferential wall.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the sealing member is aligned with and extends in continuation of an outer surface of the circumferential wall.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member forms an upper extremity of the mounting member.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein an upper surface of the sealing member defines a plane, which is upwardly offset from an upper surface of the circumferential wall.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting member, the sealing member, and the adhesive tape are formed as three separate elements.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the mounting member is formed from a material that is less flexible than the material of the sealing member.

14. A combination comprising:

an electrochemical sensor unit;

a device for mounting of the sensor unit to a skin surface of a human being, said device including;

a mounting member comprising a circumferential wall, whereby the circumferential wall defines an inner surface facing an interior lumen of the mounting member and an outer surface facing exterior environment;

an adhesive tape for adhering a lower end of the mounting member to the skin surface; and

at least one sealing member for providing a liquid tight seal between a surface of the sensor unit and the circumferential wall.

15. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the sealing member forms part of the device for mounting of the sensor unit.

16. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the sealing member forms part of the sensor unit.

17. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the electrochemical sensor unit comprises a central sensor portion projecting downwardly from an enlarged diameter portion of the sensor unit, and wherein the circumferential wall is shaped to receive the central sensor portion in said interior lumen, and wherein the enlarged diameter portion defines a lower surface, which abuts an upper surface of the circumferential wall when the sensor unit is mounted in the mounting member.

18. A combination according to claim 17, wherein the sealing member is provided at the abutment between the upper surface of the circumferential wall and the lower surface of the enlarged diameter portion of the sensor unit.

19. A combination according to claim 17, wherein an outer circumferential portion of the downwardly projecting central portion of the sensor unit defines outer threads for mating with inner threads formed on an inner surface portion of said circumferential wall.

20. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the mounting member, the sealing member, and the adhesive tape are formed as three separate elements.

21. A combination according to claim 20, wherein the mounting member is made from a material that is less flexible than the material of the sealing member.

22. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the sensor unit is for transcutaneous measurement of at least one of:

partial carbon dioxide pressure (pCO₂) and partial oxygen pressure (pO₂).