US 12,411,104 B2
Membrane-type sensor and analyzing apparatus including the same
Hisanori Kuramoto, Kyoto (JP); and Kumi Naito, Kyoto (JP)
Assigned to HORIBA ADVANCED TECHNO, CO., LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Filed by HORIBA Advanced Techno, Co., Ltd., Kyoto (JP)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/533,422.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-199341 (JP), filed on Dec. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0170881 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 27/404 (2006.01); G01N 27/40 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 27/404 (2013.01) [G01N 27/40 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A membrane-type sensor of an internal solution replenishment type that is configured to allow an internal solution to be supplied from an outside, the membrane-type sensor comprising:
an electrode structure having a columnar shape, and the electrode structure including a working electrode and a counter electrode;
a membrane configured to allow a specific substance in a sample solution to permeate through the membrane such that the specific substance that has permeated through the membrane is detected based on a current flowing between the working electrode and the counter electrode that are immersed in the internal solution;
a housing having a housing unit that contains both the internal solution and the electrode structure, which has a tip end surface on which the working electrode is exposed, wherein
the housing includes an internal solution storage space that stores the internal solution, the internal solution storage space being formed between an outer circumferential surface of the electrode structure and an inner surface of the housing unit; and
a lid member attached to a tip end portion of the housing unit, the lid member fixing the membrane by sandwiching the membrane between the lid member and the housing unit such that the membrane opposes the tip end surface of the electrode structure,
wherein the lid member has an opposing surface that opposes the tip end surface of the electrode structure,
the membrane is sandwiched between the tip end surface of the electrode structure and the opposing surface of the lid member through a seal member positioned between the opposing surface of the lid member and the membrane, is pressed against the tip end surface of the electrode structure by the seal member so as to make physical contact with the tip end surface of the electrode structure, and is fixed in a liquid-tight manner,
a plurality of grooves, through which the internal solution flows, is formed in the tip end surface of the electrode structure, and
with respect to a plan view of the tip end surface of the electrode structure, each of the plurality of grooves cross a path of the seal member so as to extend from an area inside of the seal member at which the working electrode is located to an area outside of the seal member.