US4592894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Field emission chemical sensor for receptor/binder, such as antigen/antibody
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1983-11-22
•
Granted: 1986-06-03
•
Expires: 2003-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A field emission chemical sensor for specific detection of a chemical entity in a sample includes a closed chamber enclosing two field emission electrode sets, each field emission electrode set comprising (a) an electron emitter electrode from which field emission electrons can be emitted when an effective voltage is connected to the electrode set; and (b) a collector electrode which will capture said electrons emitted from said emitter electrode. One of the electrode sets is passive to the chemical entity and the other is active thereto and has an active emitter electrode which will bind the chemical entity when contacted therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Panitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/543; G01N33/551; G01N33/553; G01N27/00; G01N27/002; H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/26; H01J37/285; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/805; Y10S436/806; Y10S436/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A field emission chemical sensor for specific detection in a liquid sample of molecular amounts of one component of a unique receptor/binder pair, wherein said receptor is a chemical binding partner only for said binder partner, said sensor comprising: an active field emission electrode set comprising: field-electron emission electrode means for field-emission of electrons; and collector electrode means for capturing electrons emitted from said emission electrode; a surface of said emission electrode means having bound thereto only one component of said receptor/binder pair; and sample holding means for holding said liquid sample in simultaneous contact with both electrode means; wherein the magnitude of the electrical current conducted in said sample is indicative of the presence of the other component of said receptor/binder pair contained in the liquid sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A field emission chemical sensor for specific detection in a liquid sample of molecular amounts of one component of a unique receptor/binder pair, wherein said receptor is a chemical binding partner only for said binder partner, said sensor comprising: an active field emission electrode set comprising: field-electron emission electrode means for field-emission of electrons; and collector electrode means for capturing electrons emitted from said emission electrode; a surface of said emission electrode means having bound thereto only one component of said receptor/binder pair; and sample holding means for holding said liquid sample in simultaneous contact with both electrode means; wherein the magnitude of the electrical current conducted in said sample is indicative of the presence of the other component of said receptor/binder pair contained in the liquid sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 1 further comprising: a control field-emission electrode set comprising: second field-electron emission electrode means for field-emission of electrons; and collector electrode means for capturing electrons emitted from said emission electrode; a surface of said second emission electrode means being blocked from said one component by having bound thereto the other component of said receptor/binder pair; said sample holding means also holding said liquid sample in simultaneous contact with both said second electrodes; and means for detecting the difference between the current between said active electrode set and said control electrode set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 2 wherein the emitter electrode is in the shape of a wire rod having a pointed tip which is the active surface and the collector is planar with respect to said tip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 2 wherein, in each electrode set, the emitter electrode is wire-shaped and said collector electrode is cylindrical and surrounds the emitter electrode, the wire-shaped emitter being located on the longitudinal axis of the cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 2 further comprising: field means for providing a bias field at said active electrode sufficient to enhance migration of antibody or antigen toward said active electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 2 further comprising: means for irradiating said electrode sets with electromagnetic radiation effective to enhance field emission.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 2 wherein said collector electrode of said control electrode set is distinct from said collector electrode of said active electrode set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 2 wherein said collector electrode of said control electrode set is also said collector electrode of said active electrode set.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 2 wherein said receptor/binder pair is an antibody/antigen pair.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 9 wherein said receptor/binder pair is an antibody/hapten pair and the device is adapted for detection of the hapten, the active emitter electrode surface having bound thereto antibody to the hapten.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 2 wherein said sample holding means comprises a chamber enclosing both electrode sets, and all surfaces inside said chamber, except for the active surface of the active emitter electrode, are passivated by saturation coverage (a) with said binder when the binder component of the receptor/binder pair is to be detected, or (b) with said receptor when the receptor component is to be detected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The field emission chemical sensor of claim 11 wherein the interior volume of said chamber is filled with a liquid which is compatible with the passage of field emission electrons from said emitter to said collector and is compatible with the binding of the antibody with the antigen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A field emission chemical sensor for specific detection of a chemical entity in a sample, comprising: a closed chamber; within the chamber, (a) an electron emitter electrode from which field emission electrons can be emitted when said electrode is connected to an effective voltage; and (b) a collector electrode which will capture electrons emitted from said emitter electrode; sample inlet means for admitting said sample into said chamber; the surface area of said emitter electrode from which electrons are emitted being active to said chemical entity by binding with it when contacted therewith; and all other surfaces inside said chamber to which said sample has access being passive to said chemical entity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
112 words
A field emission chemical sensor for specific detection of a chemical entity in a sample, comprising: a closed chamber; within the chamber, (a) an electron emitter electrode from which field emission electrons can be emitted when said electrode is connected to an effective voltage; and (b) a collector electrode which will capture electrons emitted from said emitter electrode; sample inlet means for admitting said sample into said chamber; the surface area of said emitter electrode from which electrons are emitted being active to said chemical entity by binding with it when contacted therewith; and all other surfaces inside said chamber to which said sample has access being passive to said chemical entity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3403081A
Cited
US3853467A
Cited
US3868507A
Cited
US3966580A
Cited
US4072576A
Cited
US4151049A
Cited
US4238757A
Cited
US4273636A
Cited
US4278652A
Cited
EP0027517A1
Cited
US4508832A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-02 | 1989-12-02 | 1990-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-02 | 1993-12-02 | 1994-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-02 | 1997-12-02 | 1998-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |