Dielectric electrolyte measurement device
Inventors
Izadian, Afshin • Bacallao, Robert L.
Assignees
Indiana University Research and Technology Corp • US Department of Veterans Affairs
Publication Number
US-10724986-B2
Publication Date
2020-07-28
Expiration Date
2033-11-27
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Abstract
A system, device and apparatus for measuring electrolytes, where an electrical charge is applied to a measurement portion to draw ions from a liquid to a gel-solution via at least one electric field. The gel-solution containing the extracted ions is excited with light of a predetermined wavelength from an emitter. A receiver detects the illumination of the ions as a result of the excited gel-solution, and a processor converts the detected intensities of the illumination to a biologically useful value representing ionic concentration.
Core Innovation
The invention is a system, device, and apparatus for measuring electrolytes by applying an electrical charge to a measurement portion to draw ions from a liquid sample into a gel-solution via at least one electric field. The gel-solution containing the extracted ions is then excited with light of a predetermined wavelength from an emitter. A receiver detects the illumination resulting from the excited gel-solution, and a processor converts the detected light intensities into biologically useful values that represent ionic concentration.
The invention addresses the problem that traditional potentiometric electrolyte measurement methods have limitations, especially in their ability to adequately separate electrolytes in certain cases. Electrolytes in aqueous solutions, such as blood, may experience dissociation issues because water molecules, acting as dipoles, orient themselves to solvate ions, impeding accurate measurement. Furthermore, current devices lack effective separation of interfering substances like bilirubin, which absorb light and affect fluorescence-based detection. There is a need for improved electrolyte measurement techniques that better separate ions and expand applicability to portable, handheld devices, dialysis, and water filtration.
The device includes a measurement portion with a top electrode, conductive layer made of transparent conductive oxide (such as indium tin oxide), and a dielectric material positioned to provide dielectric polarization. Application of a DC electric field between the electrode and conductive layer acts to separate positive ions from the sample into the gel-solution, while leaving behind non-polar substances like bilirubin. The gel-solution, preferably containing fluorescing agents such as agarose, is then illuminated with light of a specific wavelength to cause fluorescence correlating to ion concentration. This fluorescence is measured optically and converted by a processor to quantitative electrolyte values.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains two independent claims that define the main inventive features of the system and method for electrolyte measurement.
System comprising electric field-based ion separation and optical detection
A system including: a gel-solution; a circuit applying an electric field to separate ions from a liquid into the gel-solution; a light emitter exciting the gel-solution with light of predetermined wavelength; a receiver optically detecting illumination from the ions; a processor converting detected illumination intensities to ion concentration values; a dialysis membrane allowing ionic penetration; and a glass membrane on a conductive layer opposite a dielectric material, where the circuit includes an electrode, the conductive layer, and the dielectric material providing conductive separation.
Method of operating the system to monitor electrolytes
A method comprising steps of applying an electric field to separate ions into the gel-solution; exciting the gel-solution containing ions with predetermined wavelength light; optically detecting illumination resulting from excitation; and converting detected illumination intensities into ion concentration values, wherein a transparent second dielectric material is separated from the first dielectric by the conductive layer.
The inventive features center on a system and method that use electric fields to separate ions from a liquid into a gel-solution, followed by fluorescence excitation and optical detection to determine electrolyte concentration, with specific structural components such as dielectric layers, a dialysis membrane, transparent conductive layers, and precise wavelength light excitation.
Stated Advantages
Provides improved separation of electrolytes from interfering substances, enhancing measurement accuracy.
Enables measurement of electrolytes such as potassium with reduced interference from non-polar molecules like bilirubin.
Allows for portable and handheld device configurations suitable for rapid electrolyte monitoring.
Utilizes light fluorescence correlated to ion concentration permitting sensitive optical detection.
Documented Applications
Portable electrolyte measurement devices.
Hand-held dialysis devices.
Forced accelerated dialysis.
Water filtration.
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