US3975238A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for detecting molecules in solutions
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1975-06-26
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Granted: 1976-08-17
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Expires: 1995-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for optically detecting complexing of molecules in solution with surface-bound enzymes comprises slowly varying, in periodic fashion, the surface electrical potential so as to vary correspondingly the pH of the solution at the enzymatic sites through a range in which the Michaelis constant exhibits a relatively large change with pH variation. The potential is also oscillated over a smaller voltage range at a higher frequency. Phase sensitive detection of the output signal of an ellipsometer directed onto the surface provides a signal proportional to the concentration of complexing molecules.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles P. Bean
- 👤 Ivar Giaever
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/21; G01N21/211; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/808; Y10S435/817
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for detecting complexing of substrate molecules with surface-bound enzyme molecules in an enzymatic reaction, comprising: a bath of said substrate molecules in solution; a first electrode coated with a monomolecular layer of said enzyme molecules and situated within said bath; a second electrode situated in said bath apart from said first electrode; means coupled across said electrodes for supplying thereto a D.C. potential with a superimposed sinusoidal voltage; and an ellipsometer analyzing polarized light reflected from said first electrode and producing an output signal having parameters dependent upon the nature of molecules on said first electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for detecting complexing of substrate molecules with surface-bound enzyme molecules in an enzymatic reaction, comprising: a bath of said substrate molecules in solution; a first electrode coated with a monomolecular layer of said enzyme molecules and situated within said bath; a second electrode situated in said bath apart from said first electrode; means coupled across said electrodes for supplying thereto a D.C. potential with a superimposed sinusoidal voltage; and an ellipsometer analyzing polarized light reflected from said first electrode and producing an output signal having parameters dependent upon the nature of molecules on said first electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including phase sensitive detector means for producing a sensitive analysis of the output signal of said ellipsometer that is in phase with said sinusoidal voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means coupled across said electrodes for supplying thereto a D.C. potential comprises a slowly-varying D.C. voltage source and sine wave generating means connected in series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means coupled across said electrodes for supplying thereto a D.C. potential comprises a slowly-varying D.C. voltage source and sine wave voltage generating means connected in series, said apparatus further including means coupling the output of said sine wave voltage generating means to said phase sensitive detector means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of detecting complexing of substrate molecules with surface-bound enzyme molecules in an enzymatic reaction comprising: immersing a first electrode coated with a monomolecular layer of said enzyme molecules in a bath of said substrate molecules in solution; immersing a second electrode in said bath spaced apart from said first electrode; applying a sinusoidally-varying potential impressed on a D.C. potential across said first and second electrodes; and sensing changes in amount of polarized light reflected from said first electrode to provide an indication of said complexing.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of detecting complexing of substrate molecules with surface-bound enzyme molecules in an enzymatic reaction comprising: immersing a first electrode coated with a monomolecular layer of said enzyme molecules in a bath of said substrate molecules in solution; immersing a second electrode in said bath spaced apart from said first electrode; applying a sinusoidally-varying potential impressed on a D.C. potential across said first and second electrodes; and sensing changes in amount of polarized light reflected from said first electrode to provide an indication of said complexing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of sensing changes in amount of polarized light reflected from said first electrode comprises determining only a voltage bearing a fixed phase relation to said sinusoidally-varying potential.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 including the step of slowly varying pH of the solution in the vicinity of said first electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of slowly varying pH of the solution in the vicinity of said first electrode comprises slowly varying amplitude of said D.C. potential.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of sensing changes in amount of polarized light reflected from said first electrode comprises determining only a voltage bearing a fixed phase relation to said sinusoidally-varying potential.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of sensing changes in amount of polarized light reflected from said first electrode comprises determining only a voltage bearing a fixed phase relation to said sinusoidally-varying potential.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of maintaining amplitude of said D.C. potential in excess of the amplitude range of said sinusoidally-varying potential.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of sensing changes in amount of polarized light reflected from said first electrode comprises determining only a voltage bearing a fixed phase relation to said sinusoidally-varying potential.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus for determining concentration of biological particles of a first species, comprising: a bath of said particles in solution; a first electrode coated with a monomolecular layer of biological particles of a second species complementary to said particles of the first species; a second electrode situated in said bath apart from said first electrode; means coupled across said electrodes for supplying thereto a D.C. potential with a superimposed sinusoidal voltage; and an ellipsometer analyzing polarized light reflected from said first electrode and producing an output signal having parameters dependent upon the nature of molecules on said first electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus for determining concentration of biological particles of a first species, comprising: a bath of said particles in solution; a first electrode coated with a monomolecular layer of biological particles of a second species complementary to said particles of the first species; a second electrode situated in said bath apart from said first electrode; means coupled across said electrodes for supplying thereto a D.C. potential with a superimposed sinusoidal voltage; and an ellipsometer analyzing polarized light reflected from said first electrode and producing an output signal having parameters dependent upon the nature of molecules on said first electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said biological particles of a first species comprise antibodies and said biological particles of a second species comprise antigens complementary to said antibodies.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said biological particles of a first species comprise antigens and said biological particles of a second species comprise antibodies complementary to said antigens.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-17 | 1980-02-16 | 1980-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-17 | 1984-02-16 | 1984-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-17 | 1988-02-16 | 1988-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |