Patent · US Expired

Composite membrane

US5326449A · kind A · utility

393Cited by
20References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 19, 1993
Grant dateJul 5, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S435/817
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A sensor device for measuring the concentration of an analyte in solution is described. The device includes a composite membrane which incorporates a porous membrane containing an immobilized biologically-active protein and at least one other membrane. The other membrane may optionally be a blocking membrane, partly embedded in the porous membrane, which is adapted to exclude low molecular weight interfering species such as ascorbic acid. The other membrane may optionally be a protecting membrane which is useful for preventing high molecular species from fouling the porous membrane. Both a blocking membrane and a protecting membrane may be included in the composite membrane, simultaneously. The composite membrane is attached and reliably sealed to a housing by means of ultrasonic welding. These features operate synergistically so that the device exhibits relatively fast response and recovery times, is reliably leak-proof, and may be constructed in relatively small sizes. A method of manufacturing the composite membrane is also provided.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.