System and method for detecting biological and chemical material

• US 20040121354A1
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Usami, Mitsuo, Takei, Ken, Kamahori, Masao, Yazawa, Yoshiaki, Kambara, Hideki
• Granted Patent: US 7,157,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4145 specially adapted for biomolecules, e.g. gate electrode with immobilised receptors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 Analytical elements

Abstract

A system and method are provided for detecting biological and chemical material. To measure biological materials such as genes easily at low costs, the device for implementing a small-sized, high sensitive, economical measurement apparatus is provided. Probes appropriate for target biological materials are fixed on a chip, on which a sensor, identification number, and radio communication function are implemented, the captured targets are detected by the sensors, and the result of sensing are transferred to an external control unit by the radio communication function. The small-sized, high sensitivity measurement apparatus for detecting biological and chemical materials such as genes and measuring physical and chemical amounts such as temperature, pressure, pH, and the like can be implemented.

Claims

1. A measurement kit comprising:

a chip;

a sensor mounted on the chip;

a receiving mechanism mounted on the chip, wherein the receive mechanism is configured to receive information supplied externally;

a sending mechanism mounted on the chip, wherein the sending mechanism is configured to send information detected by the sensor; and

an information storage device mounted on the chip configured to store information containing carrier recognition information, wherein the chip is surface-modified to fix one kind of probe.

2. The measurement kit of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional chips, each of the one or more additional chips including:

another one kind of probe fixed thereon; and

another carrier recognition information stored in another information storage device.

3. The measurement kit of claim 1, wherein probes are any of antigens, antibodies, nucleic acids, proteins, and peptides.

4. A measurement system having a reaction cell, the reaction cell comprising:

an external control unit; and

a chip including,

a probe that is of a particular kind,

a sensor connected to the probe,

an information communication device, and

an information storage device configured to store carrier-recognition information, wherein the external control unit is configured to perform information communication by one of sending an electrical signal to or receiving an electrical signal from the information communication device, and wherein the information communication is wireless.

5. The measurement system defined in claim 4, wherein the measurement system further comprises one or more additional chips, wherein the chip and the one or more additional chips are configured to be contained in the reaction cell, wherein the chip and the one or more additional chips include:

various probes amongst different chips, and

various carrier-recognition information amongst different chips.

6. The measurement system of claim 4, wherein the sensor is configured to detect specific coupling via electricity when a sample containing a specific material coupled to the probe is supplied, and when the information communication device mounted on the chip sends detection information to the external control unit as the electrical signal.

7. The measurement system of claim 6, wherein the sensor has a field effect transistor, wherein the probe is fixed on the surface of the transistor to detect the specific coupling via electricity based on any change in conductivity of the transistor.

8. The measurement system of claim 6, wherein the sensor has an electrodes, wherein the probe fixed on a surface of the electrodes, wherein the electrodes are configured to detect the specific coupling via electricity based on any change in impedance between the electrodes.

9. The measurement system of claim 6, wherein the sensor has electrode, wherein the probe is fixed on a surface of the electrode, wherein the electrode is configured to detect the specific coupling via electricity based on any change in current on the electrode caused by an electrochemical reaction in a vicinity of the electrode.

10. The measurement system of claim 6, wherein the sensor has a photodiode, wherein the probe is fixed on a surface of the photodiode, wherein the photodiode is configured to detect the specific coupling via electricity by capturing light emitted from a illuminant reaction caused in a vicinity of the photodiode.

11. A measurement system having a reaction cell, the reaction cell comprising:

an external control unit; and

a chip including,

a probe of a particular kind,

a sensor,

an information communication device, and

an information storage device for storing carrier-recognition information, wherein the information communication device is configured to cause the carrier-recognition information to be identified by the external control unit, and wherein the information communication device is further configured to send information on detection of specific coupling at the probe by the sensor to the external control unit as an electrical signal.

12. The measurement system of claim 11, wherein the measurement system further comprises one or more additional chips, wherein the chip and the one or more additional chips are configured to be contained in the reaction cell, wherein the chip and the one or more additional chips include:

various probes amongst different chips, and

various carrier-recognition information amongst different chips.