Solid-State Ion Selective Electrode With Threaded Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ion selective electrodes are complex, costly, prone to contamination, have slow response times, and suffer from carryover issues due to adhesive use, requiring large sample sizes for accurate results.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a solid-state ion selective electrode assembly with a membrane cast directly onto a conductive graphite body, sealed by a threaded mechanism without adhesives, allowing for precise sample fluid contact and reduced maintenance, enabling faster response times and smaller sample volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional ion selective electrodes use adhesives to seal the conductive core and ion selective membrane, then assembly is simplified, but contamination occurs and carryover issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes adhesives entirely from the sealing process. Instead, it uses a threaded socket mechanism with a sealing surface that mechanically secures the ion selective membrane and conductive core without any adhesive materials, thereby eliminating contamination and carryover issues associated with adhesive degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesives) with a mechanical sealing system consisting of a threaded socket, sealing surface, and compression mechanism. This mechanical approach provides reliable sealing without the harmful effects of adhesives
2Reliability
If conventional ion selective electrodes are designed with complex sealing mechanisms, then sealing reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and mechanical retention function into a single integrated threaded socket structure. The socket simultaneously provides mechanical support, electrical connection, and fluid-tight sealing through its design, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and reducing overall assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded socket structure serves multiple functions: it mechanically secures the membrane and conductive core, provides electrical connection through the conductive path, creates fluid-tight sealing, and enables easy assembly and disassembly. This multi-functional design achieves reliable sealing without increasing complexity
3Measurement precision
If conventional ion selective electrodes require large sample sizes for accurate results, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but sample consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a compact sensing chamber that accurately replicates the necessary measurement conditions in a reduced volume. The threaded socket design concentrates the sample fluid directly against the ion selective membrane surface, ensuring accurate measurements are achieved with minimal sample quantities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sensing chamber, specifically reducing the volume and optimizing the surface area to volume ratio. This allows the electrode to achieve accurate ion concentration measurements with smaller sample volumes by concentrating the analytical interaction at the membrane surface
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional ion selective electrodes use adhesives for assembly, then manufacturing is easier, but adhesive degradation causes carryover and reduces shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable or replaceable sensor assembly design where the membrane and conductive core are easily removable through the threaded socket mechanism. This allows the entire sensing element to be replaced if degradation occurs, ensuring consistent performance without being limited by long-term adhesive degradation
Solution Approach 2:
By completely removing adhesives from the design, the patent eliminates the degradation pathway that limits shelf life. The mechanical sealing system remains stable over time without chemical degradation, significantly extending the usable shelf life of the electrode assembly
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 configuration enhances accuracy, reduces maintenance needs, minimizes contamination risks, and extends shelf life by eliminating adhesive degradation, while providing rapid and reliable ion concentration measurements with smaller sample quantities.
Implementation Method 1
The sensing element interacts with the fluid sample and generate an electrical voltage which can be measured to determine the concentration of a particular substance in the sample fluid
Implementation Method 2
The electrode assembly includes a threaded mechanism configured to seal the conductive core and the ion selective membrane to one another
Data Source
AI summary
An ion selective electrode (“ISE”) assembly may be installed within a sample path of a biological testing system to measure ion concentration within sample fluid flowing through the sample path. A transducer membrane is placed within a housing and positioned to contact the sample path. A threaded portion is advanced into a socket of the housing and forces the membrane against a sealing portion of the sample path to prevent retention of sample fluid within the housing after testing. Sealing may be accomplished without adhesives or sealants and instead relies upon mechanical pressure of the threaded portion.