Dialysis Electrode With Conductive Inner Sheath
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of dialysis fluid conductivity electrodes is cost-intensive due to the use of solid graphite, and attaching electrical contacts to these electrodes is difficult, leading to complex and costly manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
An electrode design featuring a conductive inner jacket surrounded by an insulating material block, with an electrical contact on the outer circumference, simplifying manufacturing and assembly by using less expensive materials like plastic and reducing the number of individual parts, and employing a flat or plug-in contact for easier electrical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the electrode main body is made from solid graphite, then the electrical conductivity and measurement precision are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode combines a conductive inner shell (graphite or metal) with an insulating outer shell (plastic or ceramic) to create a composite structure. This allows the use of cheaper insulating materials while maintaining the necessary electrical conductivity through the inner shell, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while preserving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode is divided into separate functional components: a conductive inner shell for electrical conduction and an insulating outer shell for structural support and isolation. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using optimized processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost.
2Reliability
If the electrode main body is made from solid graphite, then the electrical conductivity is improved, but the difficulty of attaching electrical contacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating outer shell acts as an intermediary that facilitates the attachment of electrical contacts. Contact holes are provided through the insulating shell, allowing electrical contacts to be easily attached to the conductive inner shell without direct attachment to the graphite, thereby simplifying assembly while maintaining electrical conductivity.
3Ease of manufacture
If a conductive inner shell is used instead of solid graphite, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating outer shell serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, electrical isolation, mechanical protection, and facilitates contact attachment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite the multi-layer structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies the production and assembly of dialysis fluid conductivity electrodes, and enhances the reliability of electrical connections, while maintaining effective conductivity measurements.
Implementation Method 1
An electrically conductive inner shell is arranged in the through-hole, through which a dialysis fluid to be measured or its components can flow
Implementation Method 2
surrounded by a block of a preferably electrically non-conductive second material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~8
AI summary
Disclosed is an electrode (16) with a main body (22) having a through-hole (18) connecting two parallel end faces (30) of the main body (22). The through-hole (18) has an electrically conductive inner sheath (20) through which a dialysis fluid to be measured or its components can flow. The electrode (16) further has an electrical contact (2) arranged on the outer circumference of the main body (22). The inner sheath (20) and the electrical contact (2) are jointly formed from a first electrically conductive material, and the main body (22) is a support component made of a second, preferably non-conductive, material, separate from the inner sheath (20) and the electrical contact (2).