Sensor assembly and porous membrane sensor element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12596116-B2
Application number	US-202017780599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2020
Priority date	Dec 19, 2019
Publication date	Apr 7, 2026
Grant date	Apr 7, 2026

Abstract

The present invention relates a porous membrane sensor element for the detection of an analyte in a complex fluid sample. The porous membrane sensor element comprises: a porous membrane sensor housing penetrated by a flow channel defining an axial direction, the flow channel comprising a sample space; a porous membrane with a front side defining a sensor surface for contacting the fluid sample, the sensor surface facing towards the sample space, the porous membrane comprising pores extending from respective openings at the sensor surface into the porous membrane, wherein the pores are configured with regard to the analyte for diffusive fluid communication with the sample space; and an optical subassembly comprising a light guide core, the light guide core comprising an input branch, an output branch, and a coupling interface arranged to contact a backside of the porous membrane opposite to the front side and facing away from the sample space; wherein the input and output branches are directed towards the coupling interface. The input branch and the output branch are arranged in a common light guide plane arranged perpendicular to the sensor surface. According to a further aspect, a sensor assembly comprises a porous membrane sensor element integrated within a sample chamber thereof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A porous membrane sensor element for a detection of an analyte in a complex fluid sample, the porous membrane sensor element comprising:
(a) a porous membrane sensor housing defining a flow channel defining an axial direction, the flow channel comprising a sample space; (b) a porous membrane with a front side defining a sensor surface for contacting the fluid sample, the sensor surface facing towards the sample space, the porous membrane comprising pores extending from respective openings at the sensor surface into the porous membrane, wherein the pores are configured to diffuse the analyte of the complex fluid sample from the sample space; and (c) an optical subassembly comprising a light guide, the light guide comprising:
(i) an input branch,
(ii) an output branch, and
(iii) a coupling interface;
wherein the light guide is arranged to contact a backside of the porous membrane opposite to the front side and facing away from the sample space;
wherein the input and output branches are directed towards the coupling interface;
wherein the input branch and the output branch are positioned closer to the backside than to the front side and are discrete from one another;
wherein the input branch and the output branch are arranged in a common light guide plane arranged perpendicular to the sensor surface.

2 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the input branch and the output branch enclose an acute angle, at least at the coupling interface.

3 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the input branch and the output branch are straight.

4 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the input and output branch are arranged in a backscatter configuration.

5 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor surface is arranged parallel to the axial direction.

6 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the common light guide plane is arranged perpendicular to the axial direction.

7 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the input branch, the output branch, and the coupling interface are integrally formed in a single piece.

8 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide further comprises an inspection port directed towards the coupling interface.

9 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 8 , wherein the inspection port is co-planar with the input and output branches.

10 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 8 , wherein the inspection port is arranged in a forward scattering configuration with respect to the input branch.

11 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 8 , wherein the inspection port is integrally formed with the input branch, the output branch, and the coupling interface in a single piece.

12 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 7 , wherein the single piece further comprises a mechanical bridge.

13 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the optical subassembly further comprises a light guide shell embracing the light guide.

14 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 13 , wherein the light guide shell further comprises engagement means configured to engage corresponding guide means on the porous membrane sensor housing, the engagement and cooperating guide means being adapted to fixing the light guide with respect to the porous membrane sensor housing.

15 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 9 , wherein the inspection port is arranged in a forward scattering configuration with respect to the input branch.

16 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 9 , wherein the inspection port is integrally formed with the input branch, the output branch, and the coupling interface in a single piece.

17 . The porous membrane sensor element according to claim 11 , wherein the single piece further comprises a mechanical bridge.

Assignees

• Radiometer Medical Aps

Inventors

• Kjaer Thomas
• Brejnholt Nicolai
• Andersen Willy Lindegaard
• Siiger Henrik

Classifications

• G01N33/4915

  using flow cells (flow cytometry G01N15/14) · CPC title

• G01N21/31

  Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry {(G01N21/72 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N2021/4742

  comprising optical fibres · CPC title

• G01N21/474

  Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres · CPC title

• G01N2021/4709

  Backscatter · CPC title