Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A device for diagnostics comprising: a sensor having a surface to which a biochemical ligand is attached covalently, in a manner effective to cause a physical characteristic of the sensor to vary according to whether a binding partner becomes bound to the ligand, wherein the biochemical ligand is attached covalently to the surface of the sensor in selected areas only thereof and through a photoactivated covalent linkage.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A device for diagnostics comprising: a sensor having a surface to which a biochemical ligand is attached covalently, in a manner effective to cause a physical characteristic of the sensor to vary according to whether a binding partner becomes bound to the ligand, wherein the biochemical ligand is attached covalently to the surface of the sensor in selected areas only thereof and through a photoactivated covalent linkage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the biochemical ligand is an antigen or hapten and a physical characteristic of the sensor varies according to whether or not an antibody becomes bound to the antigen or hapten.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the biochemical ligand is an antibody and a physical characteristic of the sensor varies according to whether or not an antigen or hapten becomes bound to the antibody.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the biochemical ligand is an enzyme and a physical characteristic of the sensor varies according to whether or not a substrate becomes bound to the enzyme.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the biochemical ligand is a co-enzyme, steroid, sugar, electron mediator or other low molecular weight biochemical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the sensor is of an inorganic oxide, oxynitride or nitride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein the surface is of silica or silicon nitride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein the surface is of iron (III) oxide and the sensor measures magnetic field strength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein the surface is of silica or silicon nitride and the sensor is a field effect transistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the photoactivated covalent linkage is provided by the photolysis of an aryl azide group.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the surface is of silica and the biochemical ligand is attached to the surface through a group of formula: ##STR7## the left bond is attached to a silicon atom of the surface and the right bond is attached to the biochemical ligand, and n is an integer from 3 to 12.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a field effect transistor, the surface is of silicon nitride and the photoactivated covalent linkage is an aryl azide group.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process of preparing the device claimed in claim 1, which process comprises modifying the surface of the sensor by attaching to it by covalent bonding a group containing a photoactivatable function, exposing the thus modified surface to photoactivating radiation in selected areas only of the surface to activate the photoactivatable function and reacting the photoactivatable function thus activated to bond covalently the biochemical ligand.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 13, wherein the modified surface is exposed to the photoactivating radiation through a mask.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 13, wherein different biochemical ligands are attached to different areas of the same surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is a field effect transistor, the surface is of silicon nitride and the photoactivatable function is an aryl azide group.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A kit for diagnostics comprising the device claimed in claim 1 and at least one binding partner for the biochemical ligand for testing or standardisation of the device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said physical characteristic is an electrical, magnetic, optical or thermal characteristic.