Pencillin biosensor
First Claim
1. A biosensor for measuring the concentration of penicillin molecules, the biosensor comprising:
- a polymeric hydrogel that changes its osmotic pressure in proportion to the concentration of a penicillic acid;
an penicillinase enzyme immobilized in the hydrogel, the penicillinase enzyme catalyzing a chemical reaction consuming the penicilin molecules and producing the penicllic acid, thereby causing the hydrogel to change its osmotic pressure;
a means for measuring the osmotic pressure of the hydrogel; and
a means for reporting the concentration of the penicillin molecule based on the measured osmotic pressure of the hydrogel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The penicillin biosensor (10) has a pH-sensitive polymeric hydrogel (30) in a rigid enclosure (20). The hydrogel includes an immobilized enzyme such as penicillinase. The enzyme catalyzes a chemical reaction consuming penicillin and producing penicillic acid. The hydrogel changes its osmotic pressure in proportion to the concentration of the penicillic acid. By measuring the change in osmotic pressure with a pressure transducer (40), the biosensor (10) is able to accurately measure the concentration of penicillin. A battery (64) powered monitoring device, connected to the biosensor (10) through electrical wires, is operably programmed to display the penicillin concentration in a computer (62) as well as to activate LED or buzzer as an alert in case that the measured concentration of penicillin is over the threshold concentration.
9 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A biosensor for measuring the concentration of penicillin molecules, the biosensor comprising:
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a polymeric hydrogel that changes its osmotic pressure in proportion to the concentration of a penicillic acid;
an penicillinase enzyme immobilized in the hydrogel, the penicillinase enzyme catalyzing a chemical reaction consuming the penicilin molecules and producing the penicllic acid, thereby causing the hydrogel to change its osmotic pressure;
a means for measuring the osmotic pressure of the hydrogel; and
a means for reporting the concentration of the penicillin molecule based on the measured osmotic pressure of the hydrogel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A biosensor for measuring the concentration of penicillin in a fluid, the biosensor comprising:
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a rigid, biocompatible enclosure having an open end and a closed end, the open end being covered by a semipermeable membrane;
a flexible diaphragm being positioned between the semipermeable membrane and the closed end; and
a polymeric hydrogel enclosed between the semipermeable membrane and the diaphragm, the hydrogel including moieties that cause the hydrogel to change its osmotic pressure in proportion to the pH of the hydrogel;
an amount of the enzyme immobilized in the hydrogel;
a pressure transducers selected from the group consisting of capacitance transducers, piezoelectric transducers, and piezoresistive transducers, operatively engaged to the diaphragm.
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22. A method for using a biosensor to measure the concentration of penicillin in a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a biosensor comprising;
a rigid enclosure having an open end and a closed end, the open end being covered by a semipermeable membrane;
a flexible diaphragm being positioned between the semipermeable membrane and the closed end; and
a polymeric hydrogel enclosed between the semipermeable membrane and the diaphragm, the hydrogel including moieties that cause the hydrogel to change its osmotic pressure in proportion to the pH of the hydrogel;
an penicillinase enzyme immobilized in the hydrogel a means for measuring the osmotic pressure of the hydrogel, the means for measuring being associated with the diaphragm; and
a means for reporting the concentration of the penicillin based on the measured osmotic pressure of the hydrogel;
b) providing a fluid, the fluid containing an amount of the penicillin;
c) inserting the biosensor into the fluid;
d) allowing penicillin to diffuse into the polymeric hydrogel;
e) allowing the penicillinase enzyme to catalyze a chemical reaction consuming the penicillin and producing penicillic acid;
f) measuring the osmotic pressure of the hydrogel with the means for measuring;
g) sending data regarding the osmotic pressure of the hydrogel from the means for measuring to the means for reporting; and
h) reporting the concentration of the penicillin based upon the osmotic pressure of the hydrogel measured by the means for measuring. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification