Sensor and device for a sensor comprising gel electrolyte

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12566150-B2
Application number	US-202318376997-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2023
Priority date	Oct 6, 2022
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

A sensor for measuring a species in a process medium includes a reinforced membrane, a sensor shaft, and an electrolyte provided between the reinforced membrane and the sensor shaft. The sensor shaft includes electrodes. A device for such a sensor also includes a pre-disposed gel electrolyte. Systems and methods related to the same are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device for measuring a species in a process medium, said device comprising:
a sensor: a reinforced membrane; a sensor shaft comprising electrodes; a gel electrolyte; and a support cap with an opening configured to permit insertion of the sensor shaft in preparation for use and which carries the reinforced membrane to form a barrier between the process medium and the sensor shaft, wherein the reinforced membrane is passable by the species during the use of the sensor, wherein the gel electrolyte is pre-disposed in the support cap on a side of the reinforced membrane which faces the opening, and wherein the support cap is:
a membrane body attachable to the sensor shaft; of
a single-use sensor adapter configured to be mounted to a single-use bag and which is attachable to the sensor shaft.

2 . The device of claim 1 wherein:
the gel electrolyte is a non-fluid colloidal or polymer network which is expanded throughout its whole volume by a fluid with desired electrolytic properties; and
the gel electrolyte exhibits shear thinning and/or thixotropic behaviour.

3 . The device of claim 1 wherein:
said gel electrolyte comprises a gelling agent that is stable against sterilization procedures comprising steam sterilization, autoclavation, gamma, x-ray or electron beam sterilization;
the device is stable against said sterilization procedures; and
the gel electrolyte is formed using:
a polysaccharide as a gelling agent; or
an adsorption based or a polymer-based gelling agent.

4 . The device of claim 1 wherein:
the gel electrolyte comprises a buffer for the species to be measured.

5 . The device of claim 1 wherein:
the reinforced membrane is in contact with the gel electrolyte on a first side of the reinforced membrane and coated with a soluble coating on a second side of the reinforced membrane;
said coating is configured to dissolve when in contact with a fluid.

6 . The device of claim 1 wherein:
the device is a cartridge, said cartridge comprises a cylindrical support which is at least partially filled with the gel electrolyte; and
at least part of the sensor shaft fits through the device and an inner circumference of the cylindrical support completely along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical support.

7 . The device of claim 6 wherein:
a shape and a wall thickness of the cylindrical support corresponds to a step formed on an inside of the support cap such that an outside of the cylindrical support corresponds to an inside wall of the support cap above the step.

8 . A single-use bag comprising the device of claim 1 , wherein the support cap is the single-use sensor adapter.

9 . The single-use bag of claim 8 wherein:
the single-use bag is sterilized.

10 . A set for measuring a species in a process medium, said set comprising:
the device of claim 1 , wherein the reinforced membrane is
part of the support cap, which is part of the set.

11 . The set of claim 10 wherein:
the device is a cartridge, said cartridge comprises a cylindrical support which is at least partially filled with the gel electrolyte;
at least part of the sensor shaft fits through the device and an inner circumference of the cylindrical support completely along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical support, wherein a shape and a wall thickness of the cylindrical support corresponds to a step formed on an inside of the support cap such that an outside of the cylindrical support corresponds to an inside wall of the support cap above the step; and
the outside of the cylindrical support of the cartridge corresponds to the inside wall of the support cap above the step.

12 . The set of claim 11 further comprising:
a single-use bag to which the support cap in the form of an empty single-use sensor adapter is mounted.

13 . The set of claim 10 wherein:
at least some of the electrodes of the sensor shaft are configured to determine a pH-value of a medium surrounding the sensor shaft; and
the pre-disposed gel electrolyte of the device comprises a buffer for the species to be measured.

14 . A method for producing the device of claim 1 , said method comprising the steps:
of preparing the electrolyte with a gelling agent; and dispensing:
said electrolyte into the support cap to jellify in-situ; or
a liquid electrolyte into said support cap followed by the addition of a gelling agent to jellify the electrolyte in-situ.

15 . A set for a sensor for measuring a species in a process medium, said set comprising:
a sensor shaft comprising electrodes; and a device for a sensor configured to measure a species in a process medium, said device comprising:
a reinforced membrane;
a sensor shaft comprising electrodes; and
a gel electrolyte pre-disposed at the device;
wherein the reinforced membrane is:
part of the device; or
part of an empty support cap, which is part of the set;
wherein at least some of the electrodes of the sensor shaft are configured to determine a pH-value of a medium surrounding the sensor shaft; and wherein the pre-disposed gel electrolyte of the device comprises a buffer for the species to be measured.

16 . A cartridge device for a sensor configured to measure a species in a process medium, said cartridge device comprising:
a reinforced membrane; a sensor shaft comprising electrodes; a gel electrolyte; and a cylindrical support which is at least partially filled with the gel electrolyte and thereby the gel electrolyte is pre-disposed at the device; wherein at least part of the sensor shaft fits through the device and an inner circumference of the cylindrical support completely along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical support.

Assignees

• Mettler Toledo Gmbh

Inventors

• Schmidt Sebastian
• Aratori Davide

Classifications

• G01N27/404 Primary

  Cells with anode, cathode and cell electrolyte on the same side of a permeable membrane which separates them from the sample fluid {, e.g. Clark-type oxygen sensors} · CPC title

• G01N27/40

  Semi-permeable membranes or partitions · CPC title

• G01N27/302

  pH sensitive, e.g. quinhydron, antimony or hydrogen electrodes (ion selective electrodes G01N27/333, glass electrodes G01N27/36) · CPC title

• G01N27/283

  Means for supporting or introducing electrochemical probes · CPC title

• G01N27/4073 Primary

  Composition or fabrication of the solid electrolyte · CPC title