US6010616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sensor arrays for detecting analytes in fluids
Assignee: California Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 1997-12-08
•
Granted: 2000-01-04
•
Expires: 2017-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein each of the chemically sensitive resistors comprises a mixture of nonconductive material and a conductive material. Each resistor provides an electrical path through the mixture of nonconductive material and the conductive material. The resistors also provide a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising an analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with an analyte at a second different concentration. A broad range of analytes can be detected using the sensors of the present invention. Examples of such analytes include, but are not limited to, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, dienes, alicyclic hydrocarbons, arenes, alcohols, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carbonyls, carbanions, polynuclear aromatics, organic derivatives, biomolecules, sugars, isoprenes, isoprenoids and fatty acids. Moreover, applications for the sensors of the present invention include, but are not limited to, environmental toxicology, remediation, biomedicine, material quality control, food monitoring and agricultural monitoring.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathan S. Lewis
- 👤 Michael S. Freund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/12; G01N27/125; G01N27/126; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0031; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/497; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/817
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, each of said chemically sensitive resistors comprising: a mixture of nonconductive material and a conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive material, wherein each resistor provides an electrical path through said mixture of nonconductive material and said conductive material, a first electrical resistance when contacted with a first fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, and a second electrical resistance when contacted with a second fluid comprising said chemical analyte at a second different concentration, wherein the difference between the first electrical resistance and the second electrical resistance of said first chemically sensitive resistor being different from the difference between the first electrical resistance and the second electrical resistance of said second chemically sensitive resistor under the same conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, each of said chemically sensitive resistors comprising: a mixture of nonconductive material and a conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive material, wherein each resistor provides an electrical path through said mixture of nonconductive material and said conductive material, a first electrical resistance when contacted with a first fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, and a second electrical resistance when contacted with a second fluid comprising said chemical analyte at a second different concentration, wherein the difference between the first electrical resistance and the second electrical resistance of said first chemically sensitive resistor being different from the difference between the first electrical resistance and the second electrical resistance of said second chemically sensitive resistor under the same conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sensor array according to claim 1, wherein said conductive material is a member selected from the group consisting of an organic conductor, an inorganic conductor or a mixed inorganic-organic conductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sensor array according to claim 2, wherein said conductive material is a member selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, an organic complex, a semiconductor, a superconductor and a mixed inorganic-organic complex.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sensor array according to claim 3, wherein said conductive material is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, AuCu and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sensor array according to claim 3, wherein said conductive material is a particle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sensor array according to claim 1, wherein said nonconductive material of said first chemically sensitive resistor is different from said second nonconductive material of said second chemically sensitive resistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor array according to claim 1, wherein said nonconductive material is an organic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor array according to claim 7, wherein said nonconductive material is an organic polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sensor array according to claim 1, wherein said mixture of nonconductive material and conductive material is fabricated from a member selected from the group consisting of a colloid, a suspension or a dispersion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sensor array according to claim 9, wherein said mixture of nonconductive material and conductive material is fabricated from a colloid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor array according to claim 10, wherein said conductive material is an inorganic conductor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sensor array according to claim 11, wherein said inorganic conductor is a particle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sensor array according to claim 10, wherein said inorganic conductor is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, AuCu and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A sensor array according to claim 13, wherein said metal is Au.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
191 words
A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid, said system comprising: a sensor array comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors, each chemically sensitive resistor comprising a mixture of nonconductive material and a conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive material, each resistor providing an electrical path through said mixture of nonconducting material and said conductive material, a first electrical resistance when contacted with a first fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration and a second different electrical resistance when contacted with a second fluid comprising said chemical analyte at a second different concentration, wherein the difference between said first electrical resistance and said second electrical resistance of said first chemically sensitive resistor being different from the difference between said first electrical resistance and said second electrical resistance of said second chemically sensitive resistor under the same conditions; an electrical measuring device electrically connected to said sensor array; and a computer comprising a resident algorithm; said electrical measuring device detecting said first and said second electrical resistances in each of said chemically sensitive resistors and said computer assembling said resistances into a sensor array response profile.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
191 words
A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid, said system comprising: a sensor array comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors, each chemically sensitive resistor comprising a mixture of nonconductive material and a conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive material, each resistor providing an electrical path through said mixture of nonconducting material and said conductive material, a first electrical resistance when contacted with a first fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration and a second different electrical resistance when contacted with a second fluid comprising said chemical analyte at a second different concentration, wherein the difference between said first electrical resistance and said second electrical resistance of said first chemically sensitive resistor being different from the difference between said first electrical resistance and said second electrical resistance of said second chemically sensitive resistor under the same conditions; an electrical measuring device electrically connected to said sensor array; and a computer comprising a resident algorithm; said electrical measuring device detecting said first and said second electrical resistances in each of said chemically sensitive resistors and said computer assembling said resistances into a sensor array response profile.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid according to claim 15, wherein said conductive material is a member selected from the group consisting of an organic conductor, an inorganic conductor or a mixed inorganic-organic conductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid according to claim 16, wherein said conductive material is a member selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, an organic complex, a semiconductor, a superconductor and a mixed inorganic-organic complex.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid according to claim 17, wherein said conductive material is a metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid according to claim 17, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, AuCu and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid according to claim 19, wherein said metal is Au.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid according to claim 15, wherein said nonconductive material is an organic material.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid, said method comprising: resistively sensing the presence of an analyte in a fluid with a sensor comprising array comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors each comprising a mixture nonconductive material and a conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive material, each resistor providing an electrical path through said mixture of nonconducting material and said conductive material, a first electrical resistance when contacted with a first fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration and a second different electrical resistance when contacted with a second fluid comprising said chemical analyte at a second different concentration.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid, said method comprising: resistively sensing the presence of an analyte in a fluid with a sensor comprising array comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors each comprising a mixture nonconductive material and a conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive material, each resistor providing an electrical path through said mixture of nonconducting material and said conductive material, a first electrical resistance when contacted with a first fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration and a second different electrical resistance when contacted with a second fluid comprising said chemical analyte at a second different concentration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid according to claim 22, wherein said conductive material is a member selected from the group consisting of an organic conductor, an inorganic conductor or a mixed inorganic-organic conductor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid according to claim 23, wherein said conductive material is a member selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, an organic complex, a semiconductor, a superconductor and a mixed inorganic-organic complex.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid according to claim 24, wherein said conductive material is a particle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid according to claim 24, wherein said conductive material is a metal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid according to claim 26, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, AuCu and mixtures thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid according to claim 27, wherein said metal is Au.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid according to claim 22, wherein said nonconductive material is an organic material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
66 words
A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, each of said chemically sensitive resistors comprising: a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions and conductive regions compositionally different than said nonconductive regions, wherein each resistor provides a transverse electrical path through said plurality of nonconductive regions and said conductive regions.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
66 words
A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, each of said chemically sensitive resistors comprising: a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions and conductive regions compositionally different than said nonconductive regions, wherein each resistor provides a transverse electrical path through said plurality of nonconductive regions and said conductive regions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sensor array according to claim 30, wherein said conductive regions comprise a particle.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sensor array according to claim 31, wherein said particle is a member selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, an organic complex, a semiconductor, a superconductor and a mixed inorganic-organic complex.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sensor array according to claim 32, wherein said conductive material is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, AuCu and mixtures thereof.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor array according to claim 30, wherein said nonconductive region is an organic material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
114 words
A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, each of said chemically sensitive resistors comprising: a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions comprising a nonconductive organic material and conductive regions comprising a conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive organic material, wherein each resistor provides an electrical path through said plurality of alternating nonconductive regions and said conductive regions, a first electrical resistance when contacted with a first fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, and a second electrical resistance when contacted with a second fluid comprising said chemical analyte at a second different concentration.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
114 words
A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, each of said chemically sensitive resistors comprising: a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions comprising a nonconductive organic material and conductive regions comprising a conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive organic material, wherein each resistor provides an electrical path through said plurality of alternating nonconductive regions and said conductive regions, a first electrical resistance when contacted with a first fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, and a second electrical resistance when contacted with a second fluid comprising said chemical analyte at a second different concentration.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sensor array according to claim 35, wherein said conductive material is a member selected from the group consisting of an organic conductor, an inorganic conductor or a mixed inorganic-organic conductor.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sensor array according to claim 35, wherein said conductive material is a member selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, an organic complex, a semiconductor, a superconductor and a mixed inorganic-organic complex.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-03 | 2003-07-05 | 2004-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-03 | 2007-07-05 | 2008-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-03 | 2011-07-05 | 2012-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |