US6093308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sensors for detecting analytes in fluids
Assignee: California Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 1999-02-26
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Granted: 2000-07-25
•
Expires: 2019-02-26
Abstract
Abstract Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g., electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance. Variability in chemical sensitivity from sensor to sensor is provided by qualitatively or quantitatively varying the composition of the conductive and/or nonconductive regions. An electronic nose for detecting an analyte in a fluid may be constructed by using such arrays in conjunction with an electrical measuring device electrically connected to the conductive elements of each sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathan S. Lewis
- 👤 Erik Severin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:36
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
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for detecting an analyte in a fluid, said method comprising: contacting a sensor array with a fluid comprising said analyte, said sensor array comprising a first and a second sensor electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein said first sensor comprises a region of nonconducting organic material and a region of conducting material compositionally different than said nonconducting organic material; and an electrical path through said regions of nonconducting organic material and said conducting material, thereby detecting said analyte in said fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for detecting an analyte in a fluid, said method comprising: contacting a sensor array with a fluid comprising said analyte, said sensor array comprising a first and a second sensor electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein said first sensor comprises a region of nonconducting organic material and a region of conducting material compositionally different than said nonconducting organic material; and an electrical path through said regions of nonconducting organic material and said conducting material, thereby detecting said analyte in said fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said conductive material is an inorganic conductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said inorganic conductor is a member selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt and AuCu.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said inorganic conductor is Au.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor comprises a chemically sensitive resistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said conductive material is an organic conductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said organic conductor is a polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said organic conductor is carbon black.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
An array of sensors for detecting an analyte in a fluid, said sensor array comprising a first and a second sensor electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein said first sensor comprises a region of nonconducting organic material and a region of conducting material compositionally different than said nonconducting organic material; and an electrical path through said regions of nonconducting organic material and said conducting material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
An array of sensors for detecting an analyte in a fluid, said sensor array comprising a first and a second sensor electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein said first sensor comprises a region of nonconducting organic material and a region of conducting material compositionally different than said nonconducting organic material; and an electrical path through said regions of nonconducting organic material and said conducting material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The array of sensors according to claim 9, wherein said conductive material is an inorganic conductor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The array of sensors according to claim 10, wherein said inorganic conductor is a member selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt and AuCu.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The array of sensors according to claim 11, wherein said inorganic conductor is Au.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The array of sensors according to claim 9, wherein said first sensor comprises a chemically sensitive resistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The array of sensors according to claim 9, wherein said conductive material is an organic conductor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The array of sensors according to claim 14, wherein said organic conductor is a polymer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The array of sensors according to claim 14, wherein said organic conductor is carbon black.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
The array of sensors according to claim 9, further comprising a temperature control apparatus in thermal communication with said electrical measuring apparatus, wherein said first sensor provides an electrical resistance R m at temperature T m when contacted with a fluid comprising said analyte, wherein m is an integer greater than 1; and R m in at least one resistor is different from R m in at least one other resistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The array of sensors according to claim 9, wherein said first sensor provides an electrical resistance and an electrical impedance Z m at frequency ω m when contacted with a fluid comprising said analyte, wherein m is an integer greater than 1 and ω m does not equal 0.
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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) | 2003-07-25 | 2004-01-24 | 2004-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-25 | 2008-01-24 | 2008-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-25 | 2012-01-24 | 2012-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |