US 12,030,045 B1
Devices, methods, and systems for deriving ammonia gas from whole blood
Marylaura L. Thomas, Scottsdale, AZ (US); Leslie F. Thomas, Scottsdale, AZ (US); Erica S. Forzani, Phoenix, AZ (US); and Phuoc H. H. Duong, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to Sequitur Health Corp., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed by Sequitur Health Corp., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed on Jan. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/093,466.
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 1/34 (2006.01); G01N 21/31 (2006.01); G01N 33/497 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/5023 (2013.01) [G01N 1/34 (2013.01); G01N 21/31 (2013.01); G01N 33/497 (2013.01); B01L 2200/04 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0654 (2013.01); B01L 2300/069 (2013.01); G01N 33/4975 (2024.05); G01N 2201/062 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensing cartridge comprising:
a first member comprising an asymmetric membrane having a first average pore diameter size at a first surface and a second average pore diameter size at a second surface, wherein the first average pore diameter size is greater than the second average pore diameter size, the first member thus configured to:
receive on the first surface, a feed solution of whole blood comprising plasma, cellular components in the plasma, and solutes in the plasma, the solutes comprising ammonium (NH4+) and at least one other solute, and
present at the second surface, the plasma with the ammonium (NH4+) while retaining the cellular components and the at least one other solute;
a second member comprising:
a surface in interfacial contact with the second surface of the first member, wherein the second member comprises a porous material having an average pore diameter size greater than the second average pore diameter size at the second surface of the first member, and
at least one of a process material, an additive, and a catalyst to act on the ammonium (NH4+) in the plasma to shift a phase equilibrium of the ammonium to ammonia (NH3) gas;
a third member; and
a fourth member,
wherein the third member is between the second member and the fourth member and comprises a hollow ring spacer that separates the second member from the fourth member and allows the ammonia gas expelled by the second member to pass through the hollow ring spacer to the fourth member and the fourth member is configured to act on the ammonia gas.