Ciba Corning Diagnostics Corp.

Chiron Diagnostics Corporation

Bayer Corporation

Ciba-geigy Ag

Joseph Berger

Joseph S. Foos

Peter G. Edelman

James E. Flaherty

Mark W. Boden

Joseph S Foos

James E Flaherty

Peter G Edelman

John S Benco

James E Rasmussen

Richard L Schulkind

Mark W Boden

John A Zalenski

Andy D C Chan

A reference electrode assembly having a constrained-diffusion liquid junction between a liquid junction solution and a sample solution having separate flow paths, said assembly comprising a flow cell having attached thereto a constraint comprising a region of porous material permeable to water and salts; a remote reservoir for holding said liquid junction solution; a means for moving said liquid junction solution from said reservoir to said constraint; and a reference contact region is provided. This unique configuration provides a reference electrode device of the constrained-diffusion liquid junction type useful in pH and/or ion-selective electrode (ISE) potentiometric sensors and is particularly suitable for use in a mini-integrated electrochemical analyzer.

Reference electrode assembly

An improved active electrode for use in planar sensors has been discovered, the electrode prepared by a process comprising combining a base component with a metal paste and heating the paste in the presence of air for a time sufficient to oxidize a portion of the electrode to produce the metal/metal oxide electrode. The electrodes may be incorporated into various planar sensor formats, particularly pH and CO.sub.2 sensors.

Electrochemical planar metal/metal oxide electrodes

Method of preparing an electrochemical planar metal/metal oxide electrode

A planar, solid-state electrochemical oxygen sensor having a substrate, conductive strips deposited on the substrate, and a dielectric layer insulating portions of the conductive strips except those portions which define a working electrode and at least one second electrode. The working electrode may be defined by an open printed region of the dielectric, or by a needle-punched or laser-burned hole or opening in the dielectric which exposes a small region of one of the conductive strips. A solid electrolyte contacting the electrodes is covered by a semipermeable membrane which may comprise an acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer or an acrylate-based copolymer. A sample chamber is defined by the membrane, a cover member, and a gasket therebetween, and has a volume of from about 1 to about 2 .mu.m. The gasket is formulated from the highly cross-linked polymerization product of epichlorohydrin. All sensor components are selected such that a sensor operable for at least 2 days under normal conditions is produced.

Extended use planar sensors

A planar bicarbonate sensor has been discovered that has a dried residue internal electrolyte layer comprising a bicarbonate source and a halide salt of potassium, lithium, or sodium. The flow-through sensor is capable of providing bicarbonate level of a liquid sample, and when coupled with a pH sensor, may be used to determine the partial carbon dioxide level in the sample. The sensor provides many commercially desirable characteristics including an adequate lifetime, good response time, and good stability upon first usage.

Planar bicarbonate sensor

A planar, solid-state electrochemical oxygen sensor having a substrate, conductive strips deposited on the substrate, and a dielectric layer insulating portions of the conductive strips except those portions which define a working electrode and at least one second electrode. The working electrode may be defined by an open printed region of the dielectric, or by a needle-punched or laser-burned hole or opening in the dielectric which exposes a small region of one of the conductive strips. A solid electrolyte contacting the electrodes is covered by a semipermeable membrane which may comprise an acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer or an acrylate-based copolymer. A sample chamber is defined by the membrane, a cover member, and a gasket therebetween, and has a volume of from about 1 to about 2 N.L. The gasket is formulated from the highly cross-linked polymerization product of epichlorohydrin. All sensor components are selected such that a sensor operable for at least 2 days under normal conditions is produced.

A planar, solid-state electrochemical oxygen sensor having a substrate, conductive strips deposited on the substrate, and a dielectric layer insulating portions of the conductive strips except those portions which define a working electrode and at least one second electrode. The working electrode may be defined by an open printed region of the dielectric, or by a needle-punched or laser-burned hole or opening in the dielectric which exposes a small region of one of the conductive strips. A solid electrolyte contacting the electrodes is covered by a semipermeable membrane which may comprise an acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer or an acrylate-based copolymer. A sample chamber is defined by the membrane, a cover member, and a gasket therebetween, and has a volume of from about 1 to about 2 .mu.l. The gasket is formulated from the highly cross-linked polymerization product of epichlorohydrin. All sensor components are selected such that a sensor operable for at least 2 days under normal conditions is produced.

An electrochemical sensor having a substrate, conductive strips deposited on the substrate, and a layer insulating portions of the conductive strips except those portions which define a working electrode and at least one second electrode. A solid electrolyte contacting the electrodes is covered by a semipermeable membrane which may comprise an acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer or an acrylate-based copolymer. A sample chamber is defined by the membrane, a cover member, and a gasket therebetween, and has a volume of from about 1 to about 2 .mu.L. The gasket is formulated from the highly cross-linked polymerization product of epichlorohydrin. All sensor components are selected such that a sensor operable for at least 2 days under normal conditions is produced.

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Needham, MA, United States of America

Joseph S Foos