CA2770434A1 - A process analyzer - Google Patents

A process analyzer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2770434A1
CA2770434A1 CA2770434A CA2770434A CA2770434A1 CA 2770434 A1 CA2770434 A1 CA 2770434A1 CA 2770434 A CA2770434 A CA 2770434A CA 2770434 A CA2770434 A CA 2770434A CA 2770434 A1 CA2770434 A1 CA 2770434A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
degassing
sample
process analyzer
pump
membrane
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA2770434A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Aria Farjam
Rolf Uthemann
Kai Berggold
Ulrich Lundgreen
Bas De Heij
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hach Lange GmbH
Original Assignee
Hach Lange GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hach Lange GmbH filed Critical Hach Lange GmbH
Publication of CA2770434A1 publication Critical patent/CA2770434A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/85—Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
    • G01N21/8507—Probe photometers, i.e. with optical measuring part dipped into fluid sample
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
    • B01L3/502715—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
    • B01L3/50273—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F04B43/08—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having tubular flexible members
    • F04B43/082—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having tubular flexible members the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F04B43/12—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having peristaltic action
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
    • G01N21/11—Filling or emptying of cuvettes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/10—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
    • G01N35/1095—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/10—Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/06—Auxiliary integrated devices, integrated components
    • B01L2300/0627—Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
    • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
    • B01L2400/0475—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
    • B01L2400/0481—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure squeezing of channels or chambers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
    • G01N1/40—Concentrating samples
    • G01N1/4005—Concentrating samples by transferring a selected component through a membrane
    • G01N2001/4016—Concentrating samples by transferring a selected component through a membrane being a selective membrane, e.g. dialysis or osmosis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
    • G01N21/03—Cuvette constructions
    • G01N2021/0321—One time use cells, e.g. integrally moulded
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
    • G01N21/03—Cuvette constructions
    • G01N2021/0325—Cells for testing reactions, e.g. containing reagents
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
    • G01N21/03—Cuvette constructions
    • G01N2021/0346—Capillary cells; Microcells
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
    • G01N21/03—Cuvette constructions
    • G01N21/05—Flow-through cuvettes
    • G01N2021/054—Bubble trap; Debubbling
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N2021/8411—Application to online plant, process monitoring
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
    • G01N21/03—Cuvette constructions
    • G01N21/05—Flow-through cuvettes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
    • G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
    • G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
    • G01N21/645—Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/75—Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated
    • G01N21/77—Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
    • G01N21/78—Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated by observing the effect on a chemical indicator producing a change of colour
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2201/00—Features of devices classified in G01N21/00
    • G01N2201/02—Mechanical
    • G01N2201/021—Special mounting in general
    • G01N2201/0218—Submersible, submarine
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2201/00—Features of devices classified in G01N21/00
    • G01N2201/02—Mechanical
    • G01N2201/024—Modular construction
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/18—Water

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
  • Investigating, Analyzing Materials By Fluorescence Or Luminescence (AREA)
  • External Artificial Organs (AREA)
  • Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Optical Measuring Cells (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a process analyzer (10) for detecting an analyte in a liquid to be analyzed (11). The analyzer (10) consists of a base module (12) and a replaceable cartridge module (14). Said cartridge module (14) comprises a sample taking device (16) having a membrane, for taking a dialyzate (20) from the liquid to be analyzed (11), a first pump mechanism (28) for pumping a carrier liquid (24) from a carrier liquid storage tank (26) to the dialysis device (16), a second pump mechanism (28) for introducing a reagent (30) into the sample (20), a measuring section (32) for the quantitative detection of the analyte in the sample (20), and a degassing device (40) for degassing the sample (20), the degassing device (40) being arranged downstream of the two pump mechanisms (22, 28).

Description

DESCRIPTION
A process analyzer The invention refers to a process analyzer for determining an analyte in a liquid under analysis and is used, for example, in the form of an immersion probe, a swimming probe, a tube probe or a laboratory analyzer.

Process analyzers quasi-continuously perform analyses for a quantitative determination of an analyte in a liquid under analysis, such as in water, and find application in waste water treatment or drinking water control for ex-ample.

Since a process analyzer is generally not used in laboratories, and mainte-nance, repair, and refilling carrier liquid and reagents are considerable ef-forts, modular process analyzers are meanwhile available wherein low-maintenance or maintenance-free components are arranged in a base mod-ule and components that are delicate, exposed to wear, or sore reagents are arranged in an exchangeable cartridge module. It is also possible to provide a plurality of different exchangeable cartridge modules, for instance comprising reservoir tanks and fluidic systems.

Such a modular structure of a process analyzer is known, for example, from EP 0 706 659 131. Here, a part of the fluidic system and a dialysis mem-brane are arranged in a cartridge module, whereas the pumps and the res-ervoir tanks for the carrier liquid and the reagent are provided in the base module.

It is desirable in principle to arrange the used material, i.e. the carrier liquid and the reagent, in the cartridge module as well. However, this requires that only rather small volumes of carrier liquid and reagent are used. This, in turn, can be achieved by designing the fluidic system as a so-called mi-crofluidic system, i.e. by designing the liquid conduits with small sectional areas, for example sectional areas of less than a few square millimeters.
However, microfluidic systems are inherently more trouble-prone than flu-idic systems with larger sections.

It is an object of the invention to provide a process analyzer comprising a base module and an exchangeable cartridge module, which analyzer is reli-able and in which the reagent is stored in the cartridge module.

The object is achieved, according to the invention, with the process analyzer having the features of claim 1.

The process analyzer of the present invention is formed by a base module which is basically not exchangeable and an exchangeable cartridge module that can be exchanged with little effort at regular intervals, for example when the carrier liquid supply or the reagent supply is depleted or a compo-nent is defect. The cartridge module includes the entire fluidic system which preferably is of a microfluidic design, i.e. all liquid carrying elements have very small volumes or very small sectional areas of a few square millimeters at most, for example a maximum of 10 square millimeters, preferably of less than five square millimeters.

The cartridge module comprises a sample taking device, preferably a dialy-sis device, with a membrane, preferably a dialysis membrane, for obtaining a sample, preferably a dialysate, from the liquid under analysis. In case of a dialysis, the sample is a dialysate formed by a carrier liquid and the analyte from the liquid under analysis, with the analyte migrating through the membrane into the carrier liquid. A first pump mechanism is provided for the purpose of pumping the carrier liquid from a carrier liquid reservoir tank which preferably is arranged in the cartridge module, to the sample taking device. A pump mechanism is to be understood as a mechanical system that pumps a liquid. The pump mechanism is preferably designed as a dis-placement pump. The pump mechanism is driven by an actuator system that preferably is arranged in the base module, separately from the pump mechanism. Thus, the cartridge module preferably includes no actuator sys-tem. If the sample taking device is a filter for filtering a sample, no carrier liquid reservoir tank is provided.

The cartridge module comprises a second pump mechanism for introducing a reagent from a reagent reservoir tank into the sample. It also applies to the second pump mechanism that the associated actuator system is pref-erably arranged in the base module. Further, the cartridge module com-prises a measuring section for the quantitative determination of the analyte in the sample or in the dialysate. Preferably, the measuring section is an optical measuring section for the photometric quantitative determination of an analyte.

The cartridge module further comprises a degassing device for degassing the sample or the dialysate in the course of the liquid conduit that leads from the sample taking device to beyond the measuring section, the de-gassing device being arranged behind the two pump mechanisms. Thus, seen in the flow direction, the degassing device is arranged behind the sample taking device and behind the two pump mechanisms. By arranging the degassing device behind the pump mechanisms it is guaranteed that gas bubbles are removed from the sample before the same flows into the measuring section. This is so important because gas bubbles can lead to substantial errors during measurement, in particular in an optical measuring section in which the analyte is quantitatively determined by photometry.
Gas bubbles may be formed in a sample when the sample in the cartridge module becomes warmer, for example due to a warm liquid under analysis that is present at the dialysis membrane. Further, an acid reagent in the sample can expel carbon dioxide gas. By arranging the degassing device behind the point where the reagent is introduced into the sample, it is guar-anteed that the expelled carbon dioxide gas is removed from the sample as well before the sample flows into the measuring section. Thus, the reliabil-ity, the measuring certainty and the measuring accuracy are improved.
Preferably, both pump mechanisms are driven pneumatically by a pneu-matic pump on the base module side. The pressure side of the pneumatic pump maybe connected to an overpressure accumulator and the suction side may be connected to a vacuum accumulator. The overpressure accu-mulator and the vacuum accumulator are arranged in the base module.

The degassing device comprises a gas-permeable degassing membrane which is connected to the pneumatic pump of the base module to generate a vacuum on the gas side of the degassing membrane. The pump mecha-nisms may, for example, be designed as pneumatically driven peristaltic pumps, each having two or three pump chambers. Thus, a single pneumatic pump can form both the actuator system of the two pump mechanisms and generate the vacuum on the gas side of the degassing membrane. For this purpose it is merely necessary to provide corresponding valves to control the pump mechanisms or the peristaltic pumps, respectively. The reduction to a single pneumatic pump for driving the pump mechanisms and for the degassing device results in a substantial reduction in design effort and manufacturing effort. Further, less energy is required for the operation of the analyzer which is of great importance in particular with battery-powered analyzers.

Preferably, the degassing device is formed by a groove-shaped degassing channel covered by a gas-permeable degassing membrane. For example, the degassing channel may be formed as a groove in an injection molded base plate on which the degassing membrane is fastened in the region of the degassing device, e.g. by gluing or welding. It is particularly preferred for the degassing channel to extend in a meandering manner. This allows realizing the degassing device and the degassing membrane with rather small areas. It is particularly preferred to configure the degassing mem-brane as a hydrophobic membrane, for example, a Teflon membrane.

Preferably, the volume of the degassing channel is at least as large as the volume of the measuring section. Thereby, it is made sure that the entire measuring section can be filled with a degassed sample volume and that there is no part of the sample in the measuring section that is not de-gassed.

In a preferred embodiment the volume of the degassing channel is at least as large as the sum of the volumes of the space proximal of the membrane of the sample taking device and the reagent introduced. In this manner, all of the sample volume of a measuring cycle, mixed with the reagent, can be degassed in the degassing device. Irrespective of which part of this sample volume eventually fills the measuring section, it is thus guaranteed that the sample volume that has reached the measuring section has been degassed.
In a preferred embodiment the degassing channel is a reaction space in which the mixture of sample and reagent dwells for at least 10 seconds be-fore it is pumped to the measuring section. A separate reaction chamber, used to wait for the reaction of the reagent with the analyte in the sample, is not needed. If the reagent is acidic and expels carbon dioxide gas from the sample, it is thus guaranteed that the carbon dioxide gas is withdrawn from the sample at the very site at which it is formed. Thus, a change in the volume of the sample during the reaction with the reagent is avoided. The sample/reagent mixture dwells in the reaction space until the reaction of the reagent and the analyte is substantially finished. Thereby, it is made sure that no further carbon dioxide gas is expelled from the sample after it has lest the degassing device, which gas could impair or corrupt the subse-quent measurement in the measuring section.

In a preferred embodiment the cartridge module comprises a carrier liquid reservoir tank and a reagent reservoir tank. The entire fluidic system is thus arranged in the cartridge module. The volumes of the two reservoir tanks are designed such that the reservoir will last for the duration of the normal mechanical functionality of the cartridge module. In this respect it is feasi-ble to dimension the entire fluidic system as a microfluidic system. The res-ervoir tanks may be provided on the cartridge module such that they are exchangeable.

In a preferred embodiment, the base module comprises a photometric ana-lyte sensor that is functionally associated to the measuring section on the cartridge module side. Thus, the base module comprises a photometer, wherein the measuring section of the photometer is formed by the measur-ing section in the cartridge module when the cartridge module is placed in the base module.

In a preferred embodiment the degassing device is arranged between the two pump mechanisms on the one hand and the measuring section on the other hand. Thereby, it is made sure that the dialysate is completely de-gassed before entering the measuring section. It is particularly preferred to arrange the degassing device or the degassing channel, respectively, imme-diately upstream of the measuring section. As an alternative or in addition, the degassing device may also be arranged along the measuring section itself. In this manner, the dialysate can also be degassed during the meas-urement in the measuring section. This is particularly feasible for a photo-metric measuring section, since gas bubbles may corrupt photometric mea-surement results, especially if the measuring section is a microfluidic meas-uring section.

The following is a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing.

In the Figures:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a process analyzer formed by a base module and an exchangeable cartridge module, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of an analyzer, Figure 3 is a top plan view on the cartridge module of the analyzer in Figure 2, and Figure 4 a further embodiment of a degassing device of an analyzer car-tridge module.

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a process analyzer 10 for a continuous or quasi-continuous quantitative photometric determination of an analyte, for example phosphate, ammonium or nitrate, in water. The analyzer 10 is a stationary analyzer 10 and is mounted immersed in an aqueous liquid 11 under analysis, i.e. it is designed as a so-called immersion probe. The ana-lyzer 10 comprises a base module 12 rigidly suspended from a tubing 13 and hanging in or just above the liquid 11 under analysis, and an ex-changeable cartridge module 14 removably fastened to the base module 12 and immersed into the liquid 11 under analysis.

The entire fluidic system of the analyzer 10 is provided in the cartridge module 14. The cartridge module 14 comprises a carrier liquid reservoir tank 26 with a carrier liquid 24 connected to a sample taking device 16 via a conduit, which device is a dialysis device 16 in the present case. As its membrane 18, the dialysis device 16 has a dialysis membrane 18 that sepa-rates the dialysis chamber 52, in which the carrier liquid dwells during the dialysis, from the liquid 11 under analysis. The dialysis chamber 52 may, for example, be formed by a meandering groove whose grove opening is closed by the dialysis membrane 18. A first pump mechanism 22 is provided be-hind the dialysis device 16, the pump mechanism pumping the sample 20 or the dialysate from the dialysis device 16 to a degassing device 40.

The cartridge module 14 comprises a reagent reservoir tank 34 containing a liquid reagent 40 pumped to the degassing device 40 by a second pump mechanism 28. Further, a standard solution reservoir tank 56 containing a standard solution 58 is provided in the cartridge module 14, wherein a third pump mechanism 54 is provided downstream of the standard solution res-ervoir tank 56, seen in the flow direction, which pump mechanism pumps the standard solution to the degassing device 40, if needed The three pump mechanisms 22, 28, 54 converge in a star-shaped manner just before the degassing device 40, as is particularly well visible in Figure 3. The degassing device 40 is formed by a groove-shaped degassing chan-nel 48 covered by a gas-permeable and liquid-tight degassing membrane 44 which is a hydrophobic Teflon membrane. The degassing channel extends in a meandering manner so that a relatively long degassing channel 48 is real-ized in a small area. On the side of the degassing membrane 44 opposite the degassing channel 48, the gas side 46 of the degassing device is ar-ranged whose evacuation is controlled through a degassing valve 70 on the base module side.

The sample flows from the degassing device 40 to a photometer measuring section 32 and from there into a waste liquid tank 60 in which the waste liquid 62 is collected. The photometer measuring section 32 is functionally associated to a photometer 50 on the base module side which has a light source 64 and a receiver 66 between which a section of the dialysate con-duit is arranged in the longitudinal direction, which section forms the pho-tometer measuring section. In the present case, the analyte sensor 50 is designed as a transmission photometer. Alternatively, the photometer may, however, also be designed as a reflection photometer 50', as illustrated in the embodiment in Fig. 2.

The pressure sources for driving the three pump mechanisms 22, 54, 28 are an overpressure accumulator 72 and a vacuum accumulator 76 in the base module 12. The three pump mechanisms 22, 54, 28 are designed as pneu-matic peristaltic pumps. A respective pump actuator system 78 is associ-ated to each pump mechanism 22, 54, 28, each actuator system being formed by three change-over valves 86. Each pump mechanism 21, 54, 28 respectively comprises three pump chambers 80 with e respective elastic pump membrane 82 made of rubber or an elastic plastic material.

The rear side of each pump membrane 82 is connected to a change-over vale 86 via a pneumatic control conduit 84 on the cartridge module side, a control conduit coupling 87 and a pneumatic control conduit 85 on the base module side, the change-over valve selectively connecting the pump mem-brane 82 with the overpressure accumulator 72 or the vacuum accumulator 76. In this manner, either an overpressure or a vacuum is applied to the rear side of the pump membrane 82 so that the pump chambers 80 are filled or emptied. By successively filling and emptying the three pump chambers 22, 54, 28, a peristaltic pumping movement is caused.

For the purpose of generating a vacuum in the vacuum accumulator 76 and an overpressure in the overpressure accumulator 72, a pneumatic pump 42 is provided in the base module 12, whose pump inlet is connected to the vacuum accumulator 76 and whose pump outlet is connected with the over-pressure accumulator 72. The pneumatic pump 42 is driven continuously by an electric pneumatic pump motor 43. The vacuum in the vacuum accumu-lator 76 and the overpressure in the overpressure accumulator 72 are lim-ited, respectively, by a corresponding vacuum valve 80 or an overpressure valve 74, each connected to atmospheric air pressure. As an alternative, the pressure sensors may be provided in the accumulators, by means of which the pneumatic pump is activated or deactivated when pressure falls below a limit pressure or exceeds the same.

The degassing valve 70 controlling the vacuum in the degassing device 40 is connected to the vacuum accumulator 76.

All valves 86, 70 and the photometer 50 are controlled by a central control 68. All electric components are arranged in the base module 12.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a second embodiment of an analyzer or a car-tridge module 14, respectively. A difference from the embodiment illus-trated merely schematically in Figure 1 is the concrete design of the three pump mechanisms 22', whose respective last pump chamber 80' is formed by a single common pump chamber 80'. Another difference in Figure 2 is the design of the analyte sensor 50' as a reflection photometer.

As is clearly visible in Figures 2 and 3, the cartridge module 14 is substan-tially formed by a plate-shaped plastic part comprising the fluidic system conduits, the pump chambers 80, 80', the dialysis module 16, the degassing device 40 as well as the measuring section 32', and by the tanks 26, 34, 56, 62 set on the plate-shaped plastic part.

In Figure 4 an alternative embodiment of a degassing device 40' is illus-trated, wherein a part of the degassing channel 48 at the same time forms the photometer measuring section 32.

It applies to all embodiments of the degassing device 40, 40' that the vol-ume of the entire degassing channel 48 is at least as large as the sum of the volumes of the dialysis chamber 52 proximally of the dialysis membrane 18 and the introduced reagent 30.

Claims (13)

1. A process analyzer (10) for detection of an analyte in a liquid under analysis (11), said analyzer (10) consisting of a base module (12) and an exchangeable cartridge module (14), said cartridge module (14) comprising:

a sample taking device (16) comprising a membrane (18) for ob-taining a sample (20) from the liquid under analysis (11), a first pump mechanism (22) for pumping the sample (24) away from the sample taking device (16), a second pump mechanism (28) for introducing a reagent (30) into the sample (20), a measuring section (32) for quantitative detection of the analyte in the sample (20), a degassing device (40) for degassing the sample (20), the degas-sing device (40) being arranged downstream of the two pump mechanics (22,28).
2. The process analyzer (10) according to claim 1, wherein the two pump mechanisms (22,28) are pneumatically driven by a base-module-side pneumatic pump (42) and the degassing device (40) comprises a gas-permeable degassing membrane (44) connected to the pneumatic pump (42) for generating an underpressure on the gas side (46) of the degassing membrane (44).
3. The process analyzer (10 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the degassing device (40) is formed by a groove-shaped degassing channel (48) covered by a gas-permeable degassing membrane (50).
4. The process analyzer (10) according to claim 3, wherein the degassing channel (48) takes a meandering course.
5. The process analyzer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the degassing device (40) comprises a degassing membrane (50) which is a hydrophobic membrane.
6. The process analyzer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the volume of the degassing channel (48) is at least as large as the volume of the measuring section (32).
7. The process analyzer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the volume of the degassing channel (48) is at least as large as the sum of the volumes of the dialysis chamber (52) proximally to the dialysis membrane (18) and the introduced reagent (30).
8. The process analyzer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the degassing channel (48) is a reaction chamber in which the mixture of sample and reagent dwells at least 10 seconds before being pumped to the measuring section (32).
9. The process analyzer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cartridge module (14) comprises a carrier liquid supply tank (26) and a reagent supply tank (34).
10. The process analyzer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base module (12) comprises a photometric analyte sensor (50) functionally assigned to the measuring section (32) of the cartridge module.
11. The process analyzer (10 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the degassing device (40) is arranged between the two pump mechanics (22,28) on the one hand and the measuring section (32) on the other hand.
12. The process analyzer (10 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the degassing device (40) is operative to degas the measuring section (32).
13. A cartridge module (14) for a base module (12) according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 10, wherein the cartridge module (14) comprises the features of any one of claims 1 to 9, 11 or 12.
CA2770434A 2009-08-25 2010-04-01 A process analyzer Abandoned CA2770434A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09168536.2 2009-08-25
EP09168536.2A EP2290354B1 (en) 2009-08-25 2009-08-25 Process analyser
PCT/EP2010/054402 WO2011023421A1 (en) 2009-08-25 2010-04-01 Process analyzer

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2770434A1 true CA2770434A1 (en) 2011-03-03

Family

ID=41130364

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2770238A Abandoned CA2770238A1 (en) 2009-08-25 2010-03-31 A water analysis device
CA2770434A Abandoned CA2770434A1 (en) 2009-08-25 2010-04-01 A process analyzer
CA2771923A Abandoned CA2771923A1 (en) 2009-08-25 2010-07-28 Process analysis unit

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2770238A Abandoned CA2770238A1 (en) 2009-08-25 2010-03-31 A water analysis device

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2771923A Abandoned CA2771923A1 (en) 2009-08-25 2010-07-28 Process analysis unit

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (3) US20120167673A1 (en)
EP (5) EP2290354B1 (en)
CN (3) CN102597748B (en)
BR (2) BR112012004162A2 (en)
CA (3) CA2770238A1 (en)
WO (3) WO2011023420A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (30)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2495935A (en) 2011-10-25 2013-05-01 Watson Marlow Ltd Peristaltic pump with tube end fitting
GB2495936B (en) * 2011-10-25 2018-05-23 Watson Marlow Ltd Peristaltic pump and pumphead therefor
GB2495937A (en) 2011-10-25 2013-05-01 Watson Marlow Ltd Peristaltic pump head with auxiliary leakage chamber
DE102012102256A1 (en) * 2012-03-16 2013-09-19 Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft für Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG Analyzer with base module and exchangeable cassette
DE102013013414B3 (en) * 2013-08-09 2015-01-29 Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland Gmbh cassette module
DE102013013415A1 (en) 2013-08-09 2015-02-12 Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland Gmbh cassette module
DE102014104693A1 (en) * 2014-04-02 2015-10-08 Atlas Elektronik Gmbh Sensor head and its use as well as underwater vehicle
US10391425B2 (en) * 2014-06-16 2019-08-27 Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. Fluidic device and degassing method
GB2528930A (en) * 2014-08-05 2016-02-10 Palintest Ltd Water sample analysis kit
AT516421B1 (en) * 2014-10-31 2016-07-15 Anton Paar Gmbh Method and meter for density measurement of fluid media
EP3075451B1 (en) * 2015-03-31 2020-05-13 Coris Bioconcept SPRL Disposable flow chip device
AU366042S (en) 2015-07-09 2015-12-18 Palintest Ltd Pooltest instrument
AU366043S (en) 2015-07-09 2015-12-18 Palintest Ltd Flowcard
DE102015120215A1 (en) * 2015-11-23 2017-05-24 B. Braun Avitum Ag Sensor device and a sensor device-containing system
US9902251B2 (en) * 2016-01-26 2018-02-27 Deere & Company Recess-mounted hydraulic pump cartridge and work vehicle drivetrain therewith
WO2018001520A1 (en) * 2016-07-01 2018-01-04 Hach Lange Gmbh A microfluidic process water analyzer
US10928411B2 (en) 2017-04-21 2021-02-23 2Pi-Sigma Corporation Automated medical sample collection and testing
US11103163B2 (en) * 2017-04-21 2021-08-31 2Pi-Sigma Corporation Test cartridge and lancet for automated medical sample collection and testing
EP3655160A4 (en) 2017-07-19 2021-04-07 Evanostics, LLC Cartridges for oral fluid analysis and methods of use
CA3086538A1 (en) 2017-12-15 2019-06-20 Evanostics Llc Optical reader for analyte testing
PL234118B1 (en) * 2018-01-29 2020-01-31 Politechnika Warszawska Micro-batcher cartridge for testing efficiency of a therapy in the flow-through conditions
CN112955655A (en) * 2019-05-17 2021-06-11 伊鲁米纳公司 Linear peristaltic pump for use with a fluid cartridge
CN110161257A (en) * 2019-06-18 2019-08-23 广东优尼德生物科技有限公司 A kind of glycolated hemoglobin analysis
CN110554184A (en) * 2019-09-12 2019-12-10 深圳市科瑞达生物技术有限公司 Chemiluminescent microfluidic chip
CN110639075B (en) * 2019-09-20 2022-06-10 浙江师范大学 Piezoelectric peristaltic pump for blood conveying
CN111426663A (en) * 2020-04-14 2020-07-17 浙江大学 Active oxygen content automatic detection system suitable for cell microenvironment
CN111530515A (en) * 2020-05-08 2020-08-14 北京森美希克玛生物科技有限公司 Micro-fluidic chip
US20220137021A1 (en) * 2020-10-30 2022-05-05 Brian Zima System and Method for Automatically Monitoring and Tracking the Chemistry of a Managed Body of Water
DE102022113632A1 (en) 2022-05-31 2023-11-30 Robert Bosch Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Pressure reservoir, pneumatic system and especially microfluidic analysis system
DE102022121644A1 (en) 2022-08-26 2024-02-29 Kowalytics UG (haftungsbeschränkt) Measuring device, additional module, measuring system and method for water analysis

Family Cites Families (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2639992A1 (en) * 1976-09-04 1978-03-09 Sigdell Jan Erik Dr Infusion pump and flow meter - has single diaphragm for pump and inlet and outlet valves
US4583920A (en) * 1983-12-28 1986-04-22 M&T Chemicals Inc. Positive displacement diaphragm pumps employing displacer valves
PL311273A1 (en) * 1993-04-29 1996-02-05 Danfoss As Fluid analyser
US5411889A (en) * 1994-02-14 1995-05-02 Nalco Chemical Company Regulating water treatment agent dosage based on operational system stresses
AU2272895A (en) * 1994-03-22 1995-10-09 Intelligent Monitoring Systems Detecting and classifying contaminants in water
DE4411266C2 (en) * 1994-03-31 2001-05-17 Danfoss As Analysis method and device
US5593290A (en) * 1994-12-22 1997-01-14 Eastman Kodak Company Micro dispensing positive displacement pump
DE59905743D1 (en) * 1998-03-11 2003-07-03 Steag Microparts Gmbh SAMPLE CARRIER
EP1046032A4 (en) * 1998-05-18 2002-05-29 Univ Washington Liquid analysis cartridge
GB0013125D0 (en) * 2000-05-31 2000-07-19 Powell Stevens Peter In car memo/security aid
DE10113646A1 (en) * 2001-03-20 2002-09-26 Abb Research Ltd Remote use fluid testing device has sensors linked to palm computer via modular interface and power supply
US20040013536A1 (en) * 2001-08-31 2004-01-22 Hower Robert W Micro-fluidic pump
DE10214781B4 (en) * 2002-04-03 2006-11-16 Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main FT-IR measuring device, in particular for the spectrometry of aqueous systems
DE10216146A1 (en) * 2002-04-12 2003-10-30 Bayer Ag diaphragm pump
DE10227032A1 (en) * 2002-05-08 2003-11-20 Conducta Endress & Hauser Integrated automatic analytical package for process monitoring e.g. effluent treatment plants, comprises exchangeable modules and is able to provide both data and control output
CA2571498A1 (en) * 2004-07-02 2006-01-12 U.S. Filter Wastewater Group, Inc. Gas transfer membrane
BRPI0614083A2 (en) * 2005-08-05 2011-03-09 Nat Quality Care Inc dual channel pulsating pump and fully portable artificial kidney device (rap)
JP2009510428A (en) * 2005-10-03 2009-03-12 コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ Biosensor with improved sensitivity
US7485153B2 (en) * 2005-12-27 2009-02-03 Honeywell International Inc. Fluid free interface for a fluidic analyzer
EP1870027A1 (en) * 2006-06-21 2007-12-26 Trace Analytics GmbH Devices and method for detecting an analyte
US20080026373A1 (en) * 2006-07-26 2008-01-31 Rodionova Natalia A Assays Based On Light Emission From Analyte Complexes Within A Cassette
US20080092638A1 (en) * 2006-10-19 2008-04-24 Bayer Healthcare Llc Wireless analyte monitoring system
US7802467B2 (en) * 2006-12-22 2010-09-28 Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. Analyte sensors and methods of use
US7817276B2 (en) * 2007-02-05 2010-10-19 Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated Distinguishing objects
EP2163892B1 (en) * 2008-09-11 2014-07-16 Hach Lange GmbH Wastewater process analyser
DE102008050092A1 (en) * 2008-10-06 2010-04-08 Hach Lange Gmbh Mobile water analysis arrangement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR112012003972A2 (en) 2019-09-24
CN102549408B (en) 2015-03-18
CA2771923A1 (en) 2011-03-31
EP2470888B1 (en) 2018-10-10
WO2011023421A1 (en) 2011-03-03
EP2470883A1 (en) 2012-07-04
EP2470889A1 (en) 2012-07-04
EP3572801A1 (en) 2019-11-27
US8881580B2 (en) 2014-11-11
CN102597748B (en) 2016-01-13
WO2011035959A1 (en) 2011-03-31
CA2770238A1 (en) 2011-03-03
EP2470883B1 (en) 2019-01-02
US20120198921A1 (en) 2012-08-09
CN102597748A (en) 2012-07-18
CN102597749A (en) 2012-07-18
US20120195799A1 (en) 2012-08-02
CN102549408A (en) 2012-07-04
EP2290354B1 (en) 2019-07-24
US20120167673A1 (en) 2012-07-05
EP2470888A1 (en) 2012-07-04
WO2011023420A1 (en) 2011-03-03
EP2290354A1 (en) 2011-03-02
BR112012004162A2 (en) 2016-03-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2770434A1 (en) A process analyzer
JP4593451B2 (en) Microreactor system and liquid feeding method
US8968660B2 (en) Chemical analyzer
CN102239404B (en) Mobile water analysis arrangement and method for determining an analyte in a water sample
US9421542B2 (en) System for treating liquids
JP4622575B2 (en) Bubble removal device
CN108761055B (en) Microfluidic chip and analytical instrument with same
ES2769896T3 (en) Photometric measurement cell
RU2010104250A (en) DEVICE FOR BATTERY WATER CONTROL
US9623165B2 (en) Cassette for pumping a treatment solution through a dialyzer
JP2008203009A (en) Autoanalyzer
JP6223041B2 (en) Liquid metering device and water quality analyzer
WO2015127034A1 (en) Colorimetric analyzer with de-bubbling
CN105319206B (en) Water quality purification detection device and water quality purification detection method
CN109374913B (en) Liquid path system device and control method
CN217652869U (en) Quantitative assembly, sample processing device and reagent preparation device
CN218872255U (en) Whole blood filtering container, whole blood filtering mechanism and blood detection equipment
CN219392074U (en) Full-automatic glycosylated hemoglobin analyzer
US20150086386A1 (en) Multi-chamber pump apparatus, systems, and methods
CN117440843A (en) Dialysis system with dialysate mass sensor
SU1108869A1 (en) Device for gas sampling from gas duct
JP2009115729A (en) Microchip inspection device
RU2015153513A (en) DEVICE FOR DETERMINING DIALYSIS PROPERTIES OF HEMOCOMPATIBLE MEMBRANES
CN116893213A (en) Method for calibrating a sensor
JPWO2009060695A1 (en) Microchip inspection device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued

Effective date: 20140402