Organic Membrane Patents (Class 204/418)
  • Patent number: 7670470
    Abstract: Novel membranes comprising various polymers containing heterocyclic nitrogen groups are described. These membranes are usefully employed in electrochemical sensors, such as amperometric biosensors. More particularly, these membranes effectively regulate a flux of analyte to a measurement electrode in an electrochemical sensor, thereby improving the functioning of the electrochemical sensor over a significant range of analyte concentrations. Electrochemical sensors equipped wish such membranes are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Mao, Hyun Cho
  • Publication number: 20100012493
    Abstract: A polymeric membrane for ion sensitive measurement comprising a polymer, a lipophilic salt and at least two ionophores selective for different chemical species. The membrane may be used in a pseudo reference for measurement of a plurality of ions. A polymeric membrane for ion sensitive measurement comprising a polymer, a lipophilic salt and at least two ionophores selective for different chemical species. The membrane may be used in a pseudo reference for measurement of a plurality of ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: LINDY MURPHY, Jonathan M. Slater
  • Patent number: 7628901
    Abstract: The present claimed invention is to provide a reference electrode wherein variations of a potential difference at a liquid junction can be removed almost completely, contamination of a sample solution can be minimized, a frequency to supply and replace an internal solution is lessened, the liquid junction is prevented from being clogged, high durability for a long term can be maintained and a measurement with high accuracy can be conducted, and comprises an internal electrode 21, an internal solution 22 that makes a contact with the internal electrode 21 and a liquid junction 23 that continues into the internal solution 22, wherein the liquid junction 23 is made by the use of a gelled hydrophobic ionic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignees: Horiba, Ltd., Kyoto University
    Inventors: Takashi Kakiuchi, Manabu Shibata, Satoshi Nomura, Yasukazu Iwamoto, Mikito Yamanuki
  • Publication number: 20090277805
    Abstract: A sensor, includes a working electrode including a first layer formed of a polymeric material. The first layer includes a first surface across which an analyte in a sample can be transported and a second surface generally opposite of the first surface. The first layer satisfies the formula l?(?DmRT/|zi|FV)1/2, where l is effective thickness of the first layer, Dm is a diffusion coefficient of an analyte in the membrane phase, R is molar gas constant, T is temperature, zi is a charge of an analyte or ion-analyte complex, F is faraday constant, v is a rate of a potential sweep during a stripping process and ? is no greater than 10. The working electrode also includes a second layer in contact with the second surface of first layer. The second layer is adapted to undergo at least one of a reduction reaction or an oxidization reaction. The working electrode further includes a support including a solid electrically conductive material in electrical connection with the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: SHIGERU AMEMIYA, YUSHIN KIM
  • Patent number: 7608177
    Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor with a stacked arrangement of electrodes and nonwoven layers arranged in parallel, comprising at least one measuring electrode (3) and at least one counterelectrode (5). A porous membrane (8) that is permeable to air is in contact with the stacked arrangement of electrodes and nonwoven layers arranged in parallel at least on one side, at least one layer of a hydrophilic nonwoven (7) is located between the electrodes. The porous membrane (8) that is permeable to air and the hydrophilic nonwoven (7) extend into a separate equalization volume (9), which is filled with electrolyte at least partially and is located at least partially in one plane with the electrodes. The separate equalization volume (9) surrounds the electrode arrangement at least partially in this plane, and the porous membrane (8) that is permeable to air is exposed to ambient pressure at least in partial areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Andreas Nauber, Dieter Krüger, Michael Sick, Christoph Bernstein, Michael Dietrich, Hans-Jürgen Busack, Rigobert Chrzan, Kathrin Hermann
  • Patent number: 7553403
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a reversible electrochemical sensor for polyions. The sensor uses active extraction and ion stripping, which are controlled electrochemically. Spontaneous polyion extraction is suppressed by using membranes containing highly lipophilic electrolytes that possess no ion-exchange properties. Reversible extraction of polyions is induced by constant current pulse of fixed duration applied across the membrane. Subsequently, polyions are removed by applying a constant stripping potential. The sensors provide excellent stability and reversibility and allow for measurements of heparin concentration in whole blood samples via protamine titration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Eric Bakker, Alexey Shvarev
  • Publication number: 20090071826
    Abstract: The present invention aims to simplify the structure and a fabrication method of an ion-selective electrode in an ion concentration measuring device that measures an anion, particularly a chloride ion, in a biological component. To this end, in a potential difference measuring unit, a quaternary ammonium salt derivative serving as a ligand for an anion is immobilized to the surface of a gold electrode by using as a linker an insulative molecule forming a self-assembled monolayer. The potential difference measuring unit measures an electromotive force generated with anion binding, as an interface potential change on the surface of the gold electrode. In order to reduce the influence of adsorption of impurities on the electrode surface, a high-molecular weight polymer is physically adsorbed on the gold electrode and thus used when a biological component is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Masao Kamahori, Yu Ishige, Kotaro Yamashita, Yasuhisa Shibata, Masafumi Miyake, Kuniaki Nagamine
  • Publication number: 20080264790
    Abstract: A crown ether derivative that acts as cation capturing ligand and alkanethiol having a longer carbon chain than a linker are immobilized, coexisting together, on the surface of a gold electrode, by using as the linker an insulating molecule (e.g., alkanethiol) that forms self-assembled monolayers. Electromotive force produced in association with cation coordination is measured by a potentiometer through a change in interfacial potential on the surface of the gold electrode. Further, an insulated gate field effect transistor formed on the same substrate as the gold electrode is used as the potentiometer. Furthermore, a straight-chain polymer physically adsorbed on the gold electrode is used in order to reduce the influence of the adsorption of impurities on the surface of the electrode during biological sample measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Masao Kamahori, Yu Ishige, Kotaro Yamashita, Yasuhisa Shibata, Masafumi Miyake
  • Publication number: 20080185288
    Abstract: A detection element includes a detector by which a salt or an ion in an analyte is detectable. The detector includes a base and a reaction layer disposed on the base. The reaction layer has a polymer that has a main chain with an end thereof linked to the base, and a side chain branched from the main chain. The side chain contains an ion-trapping part in which an ion constituting the salt or the ion is trappable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinobu Yokokawa
  • Patent number: 7393448
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of non-covalently binding a compound to a sensor surface. The method comprises adsorbing a hydrophobin-like substance to at least a part of the sensor surface, such as an electrode. The invention further provides a sensor having a surface, at least a part of which is provided with a coating of a hydrophobin-like substance that comprises a non-covalently bonded compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Applied NanoSystems B.V.
    Inventors: Ewa Maria Rogalska, Renata Bilewicz, Denis Etienne Marie André Tagu, Alain Georges Ghislain Walcarius, Johannes Wemer, Karin Scholtmeijer, Rick Rink, Harm Jan Hektor
  • Publication number: 20080149501
    Abstract: A set (1) comprising at least two ion-selective solid-contact electrodes comprises at least two ion-selective measuring points (6). Each measuring point (6) comprises a metal conductor (3) and/or an inner layer (7) of a conductive polymer and an outer, ion-selective membrane (8). At least two measuring points (6) are selective in each case with respect to a different ion of an analysis solution. One of the solid-contact electrodes can be used as a reference electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: METROGLAS AG
    Inventors: Martin Heule, Erno Pretsch, Tamas Vigassy
  • Patent number: 7384523
    Abstract: A chloride selective electrode membrane comprises a polymeric matrix wherein the matrix comprises an epoxy resin, and an amine agent selected from the group consisting of polyamides, amidoamines and mixtures thereof. The amine agent is present in stoichiometric excess and functions as both curing agent and chloride selective agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Radiometer Medical ApS
    Inventor: Jennifer Samproni
  • Publication number: 20080053826
    Abstract: An ion solution concentration-detecting device includes a working electrode, a reference electrode and a replaceable link element. The reference electrode includes a polymeric membrane with ion material covering silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrode to provide a fixed and stable electrical potential. The working electrode usually is a contact-detecting electrode having a sensing membrane. The sensing membrane may be a metal oxide or a polymer with ion material for measuring different ion solution effectively. For the better sensitivity to the different ion solution, the working electrode bond with the replaceable link element is replaceable. The working electrode being a contact-detecting electrode can be replaced by another contact-detecting electrode with different sensing membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Shen-Kan Hsiung, Jung-Chuan Chou, Tai-Ping Sun, Chung-We Pan, Chin-Shuen Hung
  • Patent number: 7276145
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress an electric potential drift as described above and improve pH measurement precision in order to obtain practical measurement precision in the dry-type multilayered film-type pH electrode. The present invention provides a complex pH electrode which has at least two ion-selective electrodes comprising a non-conductive support, a pair of electrode layers, an electrolytic layer and an ion-selective membrane where at least one of the ion-selective electrode is a hydrogen ion-selective electrode, wherein the hydrogen ion-selective membrane is saturated with carbon dioxide gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Terashima, Osamu Seshimoto
  • Patent number: 7226563
    Abstract: Plasticizer-free ion-detecting sensors for detecting a target ion in a sample are provided. The sensor comprises a plasticizer-free copolymer comprised of polymerized units of methacrylate monomers and a polymerizable ion exchanger, wherein the methacrylated monomers have pendent alkyl groups of different length and wherein the functionalized ion-exchanger is grafted into the copolymer through covalent linkages. The ion exchanger comprises a C-derivative of a halogenated closo-dodecacarborane anion having a polymerizable moiety. Sensors of this invention include carrier-based ion-selective electrodes or optodes such as thin film ion-specific optodes, particle-based optodes, or bulk optodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Eric Bakker, Yu Qin
  • Patent number: 7223327
    Abstract: A releaseable membrane structure for producing a free membrane containing a substrate, a release stratum on the substrate and a membrane stratum on the release stratum. The release stratum and the membrane stratum contain oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes that are associated. The oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes of the release stratum are selected to dissociate upon application of stimulus whereas those of the membrane stratum are selected to remain associated upon application of the stimulus. Thus, when the stimulus is applied the polyelectrolytes in release stratum dissociate and the membrane stratum is released from the substrate and is a free membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph B. Schlenoff, Stephen T. Dubas
  • Patent number: 7208121
    Abstract: A plasticizer-free ion detective sensor for detecting a target ion in a sample is provided. The sensor comprises a copolymer of methacrylate monomers with pendant alkyl groups of different length, and an ionophore for detecting the target ion. The copolymer matrix of the present invention may be in a form of membrane or particles. The sensors of the present invention may be Carrier-based ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) or optodes such as thin film ion-specific optodes or particle-based optodes. The ionophore may be a target ionophore selective for a target ion H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, or Mg2+. The ion detective sensor of the present invention may further include an ion exchanger such as halogenated carboranes. Also provided is an ion detective sensor comprising halogenated carboranes as ion exchangers. Particularly, trimethylammonium-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 undecabromocarborane (TMAUBC) is used as ion exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Shane Peper, Yu Qin, Eric Bakker
  • Patent number: 7201876
    Abstract: Ion-detecting sensors for detecting a target ion in a sample are provided. The sensor comprises a plasticizer-free copolymer comprised of polymerized units of methacrylate monomers having pendent alkyl groups of different length and a functionalized ionophore of said ion, wherein at least a portion of the functionalized ionophore is grafted into the copolymer through covalent linkages. Sensors may comprise ionophores such as hydrophilic crown ethers or functionalized derivative of 3-oxapentandiaminde-type ionophores. This invention further provides sensors for detecting target ions in a sample, comprising plasticizer-free molecularly imprinted polymers, wherein the polymers comprise polymerized units of methacrylate monomers having pendent alkyl groups of different length and a functionalized ionophore of said ion. In particular, a magnesium ion sensor comprising a functionalized derivative of a 3-oxapentandiaminde-type calcium ion-selective ionophore is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Shane Peper, Yu Qin, Eric Bakker
  • Patent number: 7189315
    Abstract: An ion sensor has a flow path through which a sample flows. An ion-exchange membrane is in contact with the sample in the sample flow path. An internal solution is provided on one side of the ion-exchange membrane. An internal electrode is provided so as to come in contact with the internal solution. The surface of the ion-exchange membrane that does not come in contact with the sample is coated with a two-liquid-mixed epoxy resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Yamashita, Koichi Tayama, Noriko Yoshioka, Yasuhisa Shibata
  • Patent number: 7179354
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical sensor comprising a work electrode and a reference electrode, said sensor adapted to measure the characteristics of a liquid under test, based on the relative electric potential difference and electric current between the work electrode and the reference electrode both immersed in the liquid under test, said work electrode comprising a substrate that reacts to the liquid under test for generating an electric potential according to the concentration of the liquid under test, and said reference electrode comprising a substrate that reacts to the liquid under test for generating a fixed electric potential. According to the present invention, at least one of the work electrode and the reference electrode comprises said substrate coated with a function film for serving to generate the electric potential through the intervention of the film between said substrate and the liquid under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Tanita Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Yajima, Shunichi Uchiyama, Shinichi Harima
  • Patent number: 7144486
    Abstract: Microcavities and micropores that are microscopic (<1 mm) in width and depth and contain any number of individually-addressable electrodes, separated by insulators, along the walls of each cavity. The conducting materials, and the insulator materials can be deposited alternately onto a starting substrate, which is typically an oxidized silicon wafer or polyimide film, but may be any substrate that shows good adhesion to the materials layered on it. The cavities are etched through these layers, perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, exposing the layers at their edges. Pores may be carved entirely through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventors: Ingrid Fritsch, Charles Sherman Henry, Benjamin P. Bowen, Walter R. Vandaveer, Nicole Bratcher
  • Patent number: 7115195
    Abstract: An ion selective monoelectrode complex which is favorably employable to manufacture an ion activity measuring apparatus, has on a common non-electroconductive support sheet, plural ion selective monoelectrodes each of which is composed of an electrode composite consisting of, in order, a silver metal layer, a silver halide layer, an electrolytic material layer, and an ion selective membrane, and an electroconductive terminal which is electrically connected to the silver metal layer and which has an exposed surface, under the condition that the ion selective monoelectrodes are aligned, without electric contact with each other, along an imaginary line bridging the electrode composite and the electroconductive terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Terashima, Osamu Seshimoto
  • Patent number: 7083709
    Abstract: The invention relates to a potentiometric, ion-selective electrode for the measurement of cation concentration in a sample, which electrode is made of electrically conductive electrode material applied on an electrically insulating substrate using a thick-film technique and covered in the measurement area by an ion-sensitive membrane, preferably a liquid polymeric membrane. At least one water-soluble alkaline-earth metal salt is homogeneously dispersed in the electrode material. The water solubility of the alkaline-earth metal salt is preferably greater than 1×10?2 ?/l, and lies preferably between 1×10?2 and 1×10?1 g/l.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Ritter, Christian Neuhold, Ursula Spichiger
  • Patent number: 7063781
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for measuring chloride ion concentration in a medium. The techniques allow measurements to be made in dry or alkaline media, or both. For alkaline conditions, a sensor includes a pair of electrodes and a polymer film imprinted for uptake of chloride ions under alkaline conditions. The film is deposited to be in contact with at least one electrode and the medium. For dry conditions, a sensor includes a pair of electrodes and a conductive polymer film imprinted for uptake of chloride ions. The film is in contact with the pair of electrodes, and is positioned for contact with the medium. An electrical conductivity of the film depends on an amount of chloride ions taken up by the film. Some techniques allow chloride ion measurements over years at sensors embedded in concrete. Such measurements allow the determination of the progress of rebar corrosion in concrete infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: George M. Murray, Russell P. Cain, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Francis Weiskopf
  • Patent number: 7018523
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel methods and compositions for the detection of analytes using the nuclear reorganization energy, ?, of an electron transfer process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Clinical Micro Sensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Meade
  • Patent number: 6908542
    Abstract: A rotating electrode configuration lowers the detection limits of polyion-sensitive membrane electrodes. Planar potentiometric polycation and polyanion-sensitive membrane electrodes were prepared by incorporating tridodecylmethylammonium chloride and calcium dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate, respectively, into plasticized PVC or polyurethane membranes, and mounting discs of such films on an electrode body housed in a rotating disk electrode apparatus of the type used in voltammetry. Due to the unique non-equilibrium response mechanism of such sensors, rotation of the polyion-sensitive membrane electrodes at 5000 rpm resulted in an enhancement in the detection limits toward heparin (polyanion) and protamine (polycation) of at least 1 order of magnitude (to 0.01 U/ml for heparin; 0.02 ?g/ml for protamine) over that observed when the EMF responses of the same electrodes were assessed using a stir-bar to achieve convective mass transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Mark E. Meyerhoff, Qingshan Ye
  • Patent number: 6890715
    Abstract: The present invention provides a class of sensors prepared from at least a first material having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance and a second non-conductive or insulating material compositionally different than the first material that show an increase sensitivity detection limit for polar and non-polar analytes. The sensors have applications in the detection of analytes in the environment, associated with diseases and microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: The California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Robert H. Grubbs, Gregory Sotzing
  • Patent number: 6884331
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for depositing an adhesive PVC copolymer layer on a substrate, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: formation of a mixture of copolymer precursors in an organic solvent, whereby said mixture comprises PVC and 0.1-2 wt. % organotrialkoxysilane of formula H(HN—R1)x—R2—Si—(OR3)3, wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl groups or intermediate aromatic groups, R3 is an aryl group, the three substituents R3 cannot be the same and x is 0-2; a layer of said mixture is deposited on the substrate; the mixture is dried in order to evaporate the solvent; the aggregate thus obtained is heated to a temperature of 70-170° C. for a duration that respectively ranges from 3 hours and 5 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Universite de Neuchatel
    Inventor: Peter Douwe Van Der Wal
  • Patent number: 6878251
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of heating the sample and measuring the concentration of the analyte or the concentration of a species representative thereof in the sample at a predetermined point on a reaction profile by means that are substantially independent of temperature. Also provided is an electrochemical cell comprising a spacer pierced by an aperture which defines a cell wall, a first metal electrode on one side of the spacer extending over one side of the aperture, a second metal electrode on the other side of the spacer extending over the side of the aperture opposite the first electrode, means for admitting a sample to the cell volume defined between the electrodes and the cell wall, and means for heating a sample contained within the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: LifeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Alastair Hodges, Thomas W. Beck
  • Patent number: 6869512
    Abstract: A device for measuring ionic activity is composed of: a block of insulating material having a hollow space therein, a solution-receiving surface area in which a pair of openings for receiving a sample solution and a reference solution separately are provided, a plurality of solution-supplying surface areas in each of which a pair of openings for supplying outside the sample solution and the reference solution separately are provided; a bridge member fixed on the solution-receiving surface area; a guide member placed in the hollow space which assists to transmit separately the sample solution and the reference member in the hollow space; and two or more ion selective electrodes each of which is placed on each solution-supplying surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Terashima, Osamu Seshimoto
  • Patent number: 6855747
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of easily producing a long-lived ion sensitive film having excellent durability and used in an ion sensor. The method starts with preparing a monomer mixture consisting chiefly of monomer units including a functional group and a second group of bonded atoms. The functional group has a function of identifying a certain chemical substance. The second group can become an active species that induces a polymerization or bridging reaction by being irradiated with an electron beam or radiation. Then, the monomer mixture is irradiated with the electron beam or radiation in a low energy range. Thus, the monomer mixture is polymerized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignees: JEOL Ltd., JEOL Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kawai, Hirohisa Yoshida, Tokuo Mizuno, Atsuro Tonomura, Naoki Aota
  • Patent number: 6798184
    Abstract: An integrated sensor device having a structure suited for mass production despite of a short lifetime and automatically replaceable, and a measuring system realizing a continuous monitoring at a low cost by using the integrated sensor device are disclosed. The integrated sensor device is constructed into a signal integrated circuit device comprising a sensor unit (6) for measuring a change in the quantity or concentration of a substance; a control unit (7) for processing a signal representing the measurement result; and an antenna unit (10) for transmitting the processed signal to the outside and for receiving an energy necessary for the transmission and the operations of the sensor unit (6) and the control unit (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuaki Honda
  • Patent number: 6793789
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric reference electrode membrane comprising (a) one selected from a porous polymer or a hydrophilic plasticizer; (b) a lipophilic polymer; and optionally an adhesion-enhancing material. A reference electrode equipped with the polymeric reference electrode membrane can be shortened the preconditioning time, and extended lifetime for storage and use owing to excellent adhesion, and showed reproducibility and good yield. So, a miniaturized multi-potentiometric sensor can be fabricated comprising a solid-state reference electrode of the present invention and a set of ion-selective electrodes, thus being useful in the potentiometric fields, including clinical, environmental, food and industrial analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Geun Sig Cha
    Inventors: Yong Suk Choi, Sung Dong Lee, Seong Hee Oh, Hyo Lin Lee, Jae Ho Shin, Jeonghan Ha, Hakhyun Nam, Geun Sig Cha
  • Patent number: 6780307
    Abstract: A hand-held portable drug monitoring system to detect and quantitate cocaine and other organic drugs in saliva, sweat, and surface wipes by using an ion selective electrode or an array of ion selective electrodes. The ion selective electrode has a cast membrane reference electrode and a sensing electrode with a hydrophobic polymer, a plasticizer, and an ionophore selective for the organic drug to be tested. The ion selective electrode can be connected to a converter that coverts a voltage reading from the ion selective electrode to a quantitative drug concentration level. Also disclosed is the related method of using an ion selective electrode to detect an organic drug in saliva, sweat, and surface wipes, the method of testing electrical contact in an ion selective electrode, and the method of making a cast membrane reference electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: David A. Kidwell
  • Patent number: 6767450
    Abstract: A composite ion selective electrode comprising a calcium ion selective electrode member and a hydrogen ion selective electrode member which is characterized in that a calcium ion selective membrane of the calcium ion selective electrode member has a thickness of 5 to 30 &mgr;m, and the hydrogen ion selective membrane of the hydrogen ion selective electrode member contains tri-n-dodecyl-amine and trisethylhexyl trimellitate. Each of the calcium ion selective electrode member and the hydrogen ion selective electrode member can be employed singly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Terashima, Osamu Seshimoto, Yoshikazu Amano
  • Patent number: 6767747
    Abstract: The measuring probe (1) for detecting agents in a gaseous or liquid medium and/or measuring their concentrations includes a sensor-active solid layer (4) that reacts to adsorption of an agent from a gas or liquid by changing its electrical properties; a liquid covering film (7) formed from the gas or liquid, such as a water film, which covers the sensor-active solid layer (4), and a plurality of electrodes (2) arranged in electrical contact with the sensor-active solid layer (4) for electrical measurement of conductivity changes due to presence of the agents in the gas or liquid. According to the measurement procedure of the invention, the measuring probe surface is doped reversibly by adsorption with the agents to form an active surface that influences the measured electrical conductance and the electrical conductance is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventors: Gerlinde Bischoff, Robert Bischoff
  • Publication number: 20040118682
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for measuring chloride ion concentration in a medium. The techniques allow measurements to be made in dry or alkaline media, or both. For alkaline conditions, a sensor includes a pair of electrodes and a polymer film imprinted for uptake of chloride ions under alkaline conditions. The film is deposited to be in contact with at least one electrode and the medium. For dry conditions, a sensor includes a pair of electrodes and a conductive polymer film imprinted for uptake of chloride ions. The film is in contact with the pair of electrodes, and is positioned for contact with the medium. An electrical conductivity of the film depends on an amount of chloride ions taken up by the film. Some techniques allow chloride ion measurements over years at sensors embedded in concrete. Such measurements allow the determination of the progress of rebar corrosion in concrete infrastructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: George M. Murray, Russell P. Cain, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Francis Weiskopf
  • Patent number: 6752964
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel class of vapor sensors with tunable properties. More particularly, this invention relates to vapor sensors modified by the addition of a compatible small molecule of low volatility, i.e., a plasticizer. In certain aspects, the invention relates to a sensor for detecting an analyte in a fluid comprising: an organic polymer; a plasticizer combined with the organic polymer; and detector operatively associated with the organic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Robert H. Grubbs, Nathan S. Lewis, Adam J. Matzger
  • Patent number: 6746595
    Abstract: An ammonium selective ionophore for use in ion selective electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignees: Bayer Corporation, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: John S. Benco, W. Grant McGimpsey
  • Patent number: 6740216
    Abstract: A potentiometric sensor for wellbore applications having a permanent aqueous contact between measuring and reference electrode, whereby contact is ensured by discharging the internal solution from the reference electrode directly onto a measuring (ion-sensitive) membrane and protecting the reference junction of the reference electrode with water wet porous material, such as sintered glass. It is advantageously applied to oil-water mixtures under high pressure and/or temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Igorevitch Diakonov, Alexander Vladimirovitch Zotov, Igor Nikolaevitch Solodov, Evgenii Grigorevitch Osadchii, Alexander D. Khoteev
  • Patent number: 6730201
    Abstract: An ion selective electrode (ISE) array is described, as well as methods for producing the same. The array can contain multiple ISE which are individually electronically addressed. The addressing allows simplified preparation of the array. The array can be used for water quality monitoring, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kimberly Kuhlman, Martin G. Buehler
  • Patent number: 6719887
    Abstract: A biosensor includes: an insulating base plate; an electrode system which is provided on the base plate and has a measurement electrode and a counter electrode; a reaction layer including at least oxidoreductase and an electron mediator; a sample solution supply pathway which includes the electrode system and the reaction layer and has an air aperture on the termination side thereof; a sample supply portion; and a filter which is disposed between the sample solution supply pathway and the sample supply portion and filters hemocytes, where plasma with the hemocytes therein filtered with the filter is sucked into the sample solution supply pathway due to capillarity, the central part of a secondary side portion of the filter is protruded into the sample solution supply pathway more than both the right and left ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Miwa Hasegawa, Motokazu Watanabe, Tomohiro Yamamoto, Shin Ikeda, Shiro Nankai
  • Patent number: 6663756
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microchip-based differential-type potentiometric oxygen gas sensor, which comprises a working electrode and a reference electrode. The working electrode is composed of a cobalt-plated electrode, a buffered hydrogel, and an ion sensitive gas permeable membrane while the reference electrode is composed of an oxygen non-sensitive silver chloride electrode and the same ion-selective gas-permeable membrane of working electrode. By taking advantage of the corrosion potential, the microchip-based oxygen gas sensor can accurately and quickly detect the content of dissolved oxygen in a sample solution. With this structure, the oxygen gas sensor is applied to a microchip-based all potentiometric multi-sensor capable of detecting two or more ions and gas species on a single chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: i-Sens Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Kwon Lee, Tae Young Kang, Sung Hyuk Choi, Jae Seon Lee, Hakhyun Nam, Geun Sig Cha
  • Publication number: 20030217920
    Abstract: A plasticizer-free ion detective sensor for detecting a target ion in a sample is provided. The sensor comprises a copolymer of methacrylate monomers with pendant alkyl groups of different length, and an ionophore for detecting the target ion. The copolymer matrix of the present invention may be in a form of membrane or particles. The sensors of the present invention may be Carrier-based ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) or optodes such as thin film ion-specific optodes or particle-based optodes. The ionophore may be a target ionophore selective for a target ion H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, or Mg2+. The ion detective sensor of the present invention may further include an ion exchanger such as halogenated carboranes. Also provided is an ion detective sensor comprising halogenated carboranes as ion exchangers. Particularly, trimethylammonium-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 undecabromocarborane (TMAUBC) is used as ion exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: Auburn University
    Inventors: Shane Peper, Yu Qin, Eric Bakker
  • Publication number: 20030213691
    Abstract: Ion-detecting sensors for detecting a target ion in a sample are provided. The sensor comprises a plasticizer-free copolymer comprised of polymerized units of methacrylate monomers having pendent alkyl groups of different length and a functionalized ionophore of said ion, wherein at least a portion of the functionalized ionophore is grafted into the copolymer through covalent linkages. Sensors may comprise ionophores such as hydrophilic crown ethers or functionalized derivative of 3-oxapentandiaminde-type ionophores. This invention further provides sensors for detecting target ions in a sample, comprising plasticizer-free molecularly imprinted polymers, wherein the polymers comprise polymerized units of methacrylate monomers having pendent alkyl groups of different length and a functionalized ionophore of said ion. In particular, a magnesium ion sensor comprising a functionalized derivative of a 3-oxapentandiaminde-type calcium ion-selective ionophore is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Auburn University
    Inventors: Shane Peper, Yu Qin, Eric Bakker
  • Patent number: 6638408
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel solution isoelectric focusing device and method that can reproducibly fractionate charged molecules into well-defined pools. This approach can be applied to mixtures of charged molecules, such as eukaryotic proteome samples where reproducible resolution and quantitation of greater than 10,000 protein components is feasible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Wistar Institute
    Inventors: David W. Speicher, Xun Zuo
  • Patent number: 6638404
    Abstract: In the manufacture of an ion selective electrode composed of a non-electroconductive support, a pair of electrodes each of which has a silver metal layer and a silver halide layer, an electrolytic material layer, an ion selective membrane, and a non-electroconductive sheet having a pair of openings for receiving a sample solution and a reference solution, respectively, and having thereon a bridge member for electrically connecting the sample solution received in one opening and the reference solution received in another opening, the ion selective membrane is advantageously divided into two separate portions, one of which is placed in a position above one electrode and another of which is placed in a position above another electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Terashima, Osamu Seshimoto
  • Patent number: 6613379
    Abstract: An insertable analyte needle sensor, comprising a set of fine wires positioned together and a dielectric material covering a substantial portion of the fine wires but defining an opening filled with at least one partially permeable membrane. The wires may be treated with a gas plasma to facilitate membrane adherence. One membrane layer may comprise sulphonated polyethersulphone coated with silane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: iSense Corp.
    Inventors: W. Kenneth Ward, Lawrence B. Jansen, Ellen M. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20030159948
    Abstract: An ammonium selective ionophore for use in ion selective electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: John S. Benco, W. Grant McGimpsey
  • Publication number: 20030116434
    Abstract: The package of a multilayer film electrode web for an electrolyte slide of the invention comprises a packaging film web and the multilayer film electrode web superposed to each other, wherein the multilayer film electrode web is provided with an ion-selective membrane at central portion of the web, wherein the packaging film web is provided with raised portions on both side ends having a height higher than the thickness of the ion-selective membrane, wherein the ion-selective membrane is arranged to exist between the raised portions on both side ends, which protects the ion-selective membrane from being damaged by a foreign body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Masaaki Terashima, Takeshi Igarashi, Osamu Seshimoto, Sadao Yamada