US5194133A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sensor devices
Assignee: The General Electric Company PLC
•
Filing: 1991-05-03
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Granted: 1993-03-16
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Expires: 2011-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A sensor device for the analysis of a sample fluid comprises a substrate in a surface of which an elongate channel is micromachined. The channel contains a material, such as a starch, agarose, alginate, carrageenin or polyacrylic polymer gel, with a biological material for causing separation of the sample fluid as the fluid passes along the channel. The biological material may comprise, for example, a binding protein, an antibody, a lectin, an enzyme, a sequence of enzymes or a lipid. Pairs of sensing electrodes are spaced apart along the walls of the channel. The device may be used, for example, for testing blood samples.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael G. Clark
- 👤 Rosemary A. Lee
- 👤 Christopher R. Lowe
- 👤 Philip Maynard
- 👤 Rajinder S. Sethi
- 👤 Donald J. Weir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/62; G01N30/78; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/27; G01N30/64; G01N2030/645; G01N30/26; G01N30/38; G01N30/46; G01N30/466; G01N30/60; G01N30/6095; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A sensor device for analysis of a sample fluid, the device comprising: a substrate having a surface; at least one elongate channel micromachined in the surface of the substrate for carrying said sample fluid, the channel having a length and opposed side walls; separation means, including a material in the channel, for causing separation of said sample fluid carried by the channel; a plurality of sensing electrode pairs spaced apart along the length of the channel, the electrodes of each pair being located opposite each other across the channel, and each electrode having a portion within the channel at one of said side walls; and means coupled to the electrodes for processing signals dependent upon conditions existing between the electrodes of each pair.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A sensor device for analysis of a sample fluid, the device comprising: a substrate having a surface; at least one elongate channel micromachined in the surface of the substrate for carrying said sample fluid, the channel having a length and opposed side walls; separation means, including a material in the channel, for causing separation of said sample fluid carried by the channel; a plurality of sensing electrode pairs spaced apart along the length of the channel, the electrodes of each pair being located opposite each other across the channel, and each electrode having a portion within the channel at one of said side walls; and means coupled to the electrodes for processing signals dependent upon conditions existing between the electrodes of each pair.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel is packed with a gel; and wherein the material comprises a biological substance which is attached to the gel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the biological substance comprises a substance which interacts selectively and reversibly with the sample fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the biological substance is selected from the group consisting of a binding protein, an antibody, a lectin, an enzyme, a sequence of enzymes, and a lipid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gel is selected from the group consisting of starch, agarose, alginate, carrageenin, a polyacrylic polymer and an inorganic gel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the walls of the channel are coated with a biological substance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel contains a body of a biological substance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel communicates with a well formed in the substrate and containing a biological substance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material comprises a liquid crystal material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the liquid crystal material comprises a mesomorphic polysiloxane polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material comprises polystyrene-divinylbenzene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material comprises a silica-based ion exchange phase.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the silica-based ion exchange phase is provided by depositing a layer of the co-polymer polybutadiene-malic acid on the walls of the channel and cross-linking said layer by a peroxide-initiated radical chain reaction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material comprises a silica-bonded macrocycle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the macrocycle comprises a crown ether.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material comprises a carboxylic polyether antibiotic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of ionomycin, lasalocid, monensin, nigericin and salinomycin, covalently bonded to silica.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material comprises an electrosynthesized chromatographic stationary phase.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel is formed by one of a chemical and physical etching process.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resolution of components of the sample fluid is effected by one of capillary chromatography, electrophoresis, and iso-electric focussing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed from one of silicon, glass and ceramic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein contact pins are connected to respective ones of the electrodes, the contact pins being configured for insertion into a dual-in-line integrated circuit holder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
114 words
A sensor device for analysis of a sample fluid, the device comprising: a substrate having a surface; at least one elongate channel micromachined in the surface of the substrate for carrying said sample fluid, the channel having a length and opposed side walls; separation means, including a material in the channel, for causing separation of said sample fluid carried by the channel; a plurality of sensing electrode pairs equally spaced apart along the length of the channel, the electrodes of each pair being located opposite each other on the opposed side walls of the channel; and means coupled to the electrodes for processing signals dependent upon conditions existing between the electrodes of each pair.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
114 words
A sensor device for analysis of a sample fluid, the device comprising: a substrate having a surface; at least one elongate channel micromachined in the surface of the substrate for carrying said sample fluid, the channel having a length and opposed side walls; separation means, including a material in the channel, for causing separation of said sample fluid carried by the channel; a plurality of sensing electrode pairs equally spaced apart along the length of the channel, the electrodes of each pair being located opposite each other on the opposed side walls of the channel; and means coupled to the electrodes for processing signals dependent upon conditions existing between the electrodes of each pair.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
136 words
A sensor device for analysis of a sample fluid, the device comprising: a substrate having a surface; at least one elongate channel micromachined in the surface of the substrate for carrying said sample fluid the channel having a length, opposite ends and opposed side walls; separation means, including a material in the channel, for causing separation of said sample fluid carried by the channel; a plurality of sensing electrode pairs spaced apart along the length of the channel, the electrodes of each pair being located opposite each other on the opposed side walls of the channel, the spacing between adjacent electrode pairs increasing from one of said ends of the channel to the other of said ends; and means coupled to the electrodes for processing signals dependent upon conditions existing between the electrodes of each pair.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
136 words
A sensor device for analysis of a sample fluid, the device comprising: a substrate having a surface; at least one elongate channel micromachined in the surface of the substrate for carrying said sample fluid the channel having a length, opposite ends and opposed side walls; separation means, including a material in the channel, for causing separation of said sample fluid carried by the channel; a plurality of sensing electrode pairs spaced apart along the length of the channel, the electrodes of each pair being located opposite each other on the opposed side walls of the channel, the spacing between adjacent electrode pairs increasing from one of said ends of the channel to the other of said ends; and means coupled to the electrodes for processing signals dependent upon conditions existing between the electrodes of each pair.
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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) | 1996-03-15 | 1996-09-14 | 1997-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-15 | 2000-09-14 | 2001-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-15 | 2004-09-14 | 2005-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |