Reaction conditions sensor
First Claim
1. A microelectrochemical reaction chamber comprising an inlet for allowing passage of electrochemical reaction constituents into the reaction chamber, and at least two electrodes, the electrodes arranged to have, in use, electrical contact with the reaction fluid, the electrodes being connectable to a detection circuit arranged to detect a current flow between the electrodes, and arranged to generate a signal if the current falls outside a predetermined range, thereby indicating adverse reaction conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting adverse conditions during the analysis of chemical and biological processes are disclosed. In one embodiment, the reaction conditions in a microelectrochemical reaction chamber are monitored. The reaction chamber comprises electrodes arranged to pass an electric current through reaction mixture located within the reaction chamber, thereby inducing an electrochemical reaction. A detection circuit is provided to detect and measure the electric current flowing between the electrodes. The detection circuit is arranged to generate a signal indicating whether the measured current lies inside or outside a predetermined range of values. If the measured current lies outside the expected range of values, then the reaction conditions are adverse. A single pair of electrodes may perform a dual function of both inducing the electrochemical reaction and allowing the current flowing through the mixture to be measured. In another embodiment, electrodes are used to monitor the conditions in a chamber for detecting the presence of analytes using the combined techniques of surface enhanced Raman scattering and surface plasmon resonance.
8 Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A microelectrochemical reaction chamber comprising an inlet for allowing passage of electrochemical reaction constituents into the reaction chamber, and at least two electrodes, the electrodes arranged to have, in use, electrical contact with the reaction fluid, the electrodes being connectable to a detection circuit arranged to detect a current flow between the electrodes, and arranged to generate a signal if the current falls outside a predetermined range, thereby indicating adverse reaction conditions.
- 7. A method of determining whether the reactions conditions in a microelectrochemical reaction chamber are correct comprising feeding reaction fluids in turn into a reaction chamber, monitoring the current flow between electrodes in the reaction chamber, determining whether the current flow lies outside a first defined range, and, if the current lies outside the first defined range, determining that the reaction conditions in the chamber are adverse.
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16. Apparatus for determining that the reaction conditions for a microelectrochemical reaction are adverse comprising a microelectrochemical reaction chamber and a detection circuit, wherein the microelectrochemical reaction chamber comprises:
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an inlet for allowing passage of electrochemical reaction constituents into the reaction chamber; and
at least two electrodes, the electrodes arranged to have, in use, electrical contact with the reaction fluid, the electrodes being connected to the detection circuit;
and wherein the detection circuit comprises;
a current detector arranged to detect and measure a current flow between the electrodes of the reaction chamber;
a comparator for comparing the current to a predetermined range, and arranged to generate a signal for indicating whether the current lies outside the predetermined range, thereby indicating adverse reaction conditions.
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- 17. A chamber for detecting the presence of molecules in an analyte comprising at least two electrodes, the electrodes being arranged to apply, in use, a voltage across at least a part of an analysis region, the electrodes being connectable to a detection circuit arranged to detect a current flow between the electrodes, and arranged to generate a signal if the current falls outside a predetermined range, thereby indicating adverse conditions in the analysis region.
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27. A method of detecting the presence of a molecule in an analyte in a chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing the analyte on an analysis region of a conducting surface;
luminating the analysis region with first laser radiation to cause Raman scattering;
detecting radiation scattered from the analysis region by Raman scattering to detect the presence of the molecule;
simultaneously illuminating the conducting surface with second laser radiation at an angle to the conducting surface to generate a field in the analysis region, wherein the field generated in the analysis region enhances the Raman scattering effect;
monitoring the current flow between electrodes in the chamber;
determining whether the current flow lies outside a predetermined range; and
if the current lies outside the predetermined range, determining that the conditions in the chamber are adverse. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification