Membrane retainer assembly for physiological sensing units

US4784145A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Hellige GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Walter Ahsbahs · Freiburg im Breisgau, DE
• Karl-Heinz Pomorin · Stegen, DE
• Helmut Leist · Freiburg im Breisgau, DE
• Georg J. Ullrich · Freiburg im Breisgau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 16, 1987
• Grant date: Nov 15, 1988
• Expiry date: Mar 16, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N27/283
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a retainer assembly for applying a membrane to a physiological sensing unit for the transcutaneous determination of the magnitude of physiological quantities, particularly for measuring the partial pressure of gases in blood or the like. The assembly constitutes a preassembly of a membrane, with a clamping ring accommodating the membrane and having an annular recess receiving the rim of the membrane. The clamping ring has a lip in the form of an inwardly protruding annular edge for removably securing the clamping ring together with the membrane to the sensing unit by virtue of the lip resiliently snapping into a peripheral groove of the sensing unit, the lip defining the periphery of the annular recess. A retainer element is provided for temporarily and removably assembling the membrane with the clamping ring prior to assembly with the sensing unit. The retainer element includes a retaining ring fitted loosely into the annular recess of the clamping ring, to maintain the outer rim of the membrane within the annular recess. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the retaining ring is provided with at least one radially inwardly extending tong…