Dissolved gas sensing system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12332169-B2
Application number	US-202218009294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2022
Priority date	Jan 15, 2021
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus and method of use are provided; the apparatus having at least a degasser, a hollow core fiber HCF, an optical mechanism, a detector, and circuitry. The degasser enables gasses to permeate out of a liquid into the degasser interior. The propagator establishes a low-pressure area that helps to pull the gas from the degasser interior into the HCF interior, where the optical mechanism delivers electromagnetic radiation EMR that interacts with the gas. The detector determines EMR absorption, producing output signals which are sent to the circuitry. Circuitry controls the optical mechanism and analyzes the output signals to quantify the concentration of gas in the HCF and in the liquid.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of detecting a gas dissolved in a liquid, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an apparatus comprising:
a degasser;
an optical-based solution for analyte analysis or a laser-based solution for analyte analysis configured to produce electromagnetic radiation;
a hollow core fiber HCF having a first end, a second end, and a hollow interior, gaseously connected to said degasser and configured to accept gas and electromagnetic radiation into said HCF's interior;
a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation in and/or exiting said HCF's interior;
a propagator configured to establish a low-pressure area in the proximity of said HCF's first end and a detection chamber connected to said propagator and said HCF;
an inlet, wherein the inlet connected to the degasser and the HCF;
a mirror, wherein the mirror is located within said inlet and configured to reflect said electromagnetic radiation; and wherein said detector is located within said detection chamber;
a prism within said detection chamber configured to direct electromagnetic radiation from said optical-based solution for analyte analysis or a laser-based solution for analyte analysis into said HCF's interior and direct electromagnetic radiation from said HCF's interior to said detector;
and circuitry connected to said optical-based solution for analyte analysis or a laser-based solution for analyte analysis and said detector;

(b) placing said degasser into or in fluid communication with a liquid comprising a dissolved gas;
(c) diffusing gas from said liquid into said HCF's interior;
(d) emitting electromagnetic radiation from said optical mechanism into said HCF's interior by said prism;
(e) detecting said electromagnetic radiation with said detector;
(f) establishing an area of low-pressure with said propagator;
(g) producing output signals corresponding to said electromagnetic radiation detection by the detector;
(h) sending said output signals to said circuitry; and
(i) reflecting said electromagnetic radiation exiting said HCF with said mirror back into said HCF.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of (i) controlling said optical-based solution for analyte analysis or a laser-based solution for analyte analysis with said circuitry.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said liquid is selected from a sample located within a sample container or a larger body of liquid.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of (k) inserting said degasser into a patient's body.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
(l) attaching a needle and introducer sheath to said degasser;
(m) inserting said needle into a patient's body; and
(n) moving said introducer sheath into said patient's body.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said steps (l) through (n) are performed before the step of (o) inserting said degasser into said patient's body.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:
(p) placing said apparatus into a submersible housing comprising an opening;
(q) placing said degasser through said opening, wherein said degasser, said opening, and said submersible housing form a liquid-tight seal; and
(r) placing said submersible housing into said liquid.

Assignees

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst

Inventors

• Kapit Jason
• Michel Anna

Classifications

• G01N2201/0826

  Fibre array at source, distributing · CPC title

• G01N2201/0636

  Reflectors · CPC title

• G01N2201/0634

  Diffuse illumination · CPC title

• G01N21/359

  using near infrared light · CPC title

• A61B2010/0083

  for taking gas samples · CPC title