Thermoelectric sensor for analytes in a fluid and related method

• US 20080056946A1
• Filed: 01/20/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invoy Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Invoy Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Ahmad, Lubna
• Granted Patent: US 8,722,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0406 specially shaped apparatus housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0276 comprising a thermosensitive compound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/26 involving oxidoreductase
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/54 involving glucose or galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/06 by intermittent summation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/01 specially adapted for biological cells, e.g. blood cells investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions in blood G01N15/05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0205 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/06 Investigating concentration of particle suspensions by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0046 in gas, e.g. smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2033/4975 other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0332 with temperature control control of temperature G05D23/00; cryostats F17C3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/71 thermally excited
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/75 Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated systems in which material is burnt in a flame or plasma G01N21/72, G01N21/73
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/783 for analysing gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/00 Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means G01N3/00 - G01N23/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/20 : by investigating the development of heat, i.e. calorimetry, e.g. by measuring specific heat, by measuring thermal conductivity calorimeters per se G01K
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/4813 : concerning the measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/4873 : for a flowing, e.g. gas sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/26 : by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/042 : Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, e.g. diabetes, glucose metabolism
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/044 : Hyperlipemia or hypolipemia, e.g. dyslipidaemia, obesity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/347 : Renal failures; Glomerular diseases; Tubulointerstitial diseases, e.g. nephritic syndrome, glomerulonephritis; Renovascular diseases, e.g. renal artery occlusion, nephropathy
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/50 : Determining the risk of developing a disease
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 : using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/224 : for investigating presence of dangerous gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 : of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 : Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/50 : Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms, compositions or test papers therefor; processes for forming such compositions, condition responsive control in microbiological or enzymological processes C12Q
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/64 : involving ketones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6893 : related to diseases not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/98 : involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/172307 : Cyanide or isocyanide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/175383 : Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/196666 : Carbon containing compound [e.g., vinylchloride, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/200833 : Carbonyl, ether, aldehyde or ketone containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/202499 : Formaldehyde or acetone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/203332 : Hydroxyl containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/204165 : Ethanol
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/212 : Aromatic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/214 : Acyclic [e.g., methane, octane, isoparaffin, etc.]

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for sensing an analyte in a fluid. The apparatus includes a fluid collecting device configured to collect the fluid containing the analyte; a fluid input in fluid communication with the fluid collecting device configured to input the fluid containing the analyte into the fluid collecting device, an analyte interactant in fluid communication with the fluid collecting device, wherein the analyte interactant, when contacted by the analyte, reacts to cause a first change in thermal energy within the fluid collecting device; a modulator that causes a second change in thermal energy; a thermal sensing device comprising at least one pyroelectric device thermally coupled to the fluid collecting device to generate a first signal in response to at least one of the first change in thermal energy and the second change in thermal energy; a control device operatively coupled to the thermal sensing device and the modulator that generates a second signal, wherein the second signal comprises information useful in characterizing the analyte. A related method also is disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing an analyte in a fluid, the apparatus comprising:

a fluid collecting device configured to collect the fluid containing the analyte;

a fluid input in fluid communication with the fluid collecting device configured to input the fluid containing the analyte into the fluid collecting device,

an analyte interactant in fluid communication with the fluid collecting device, wherein the analyte interactant, when contacted by the analyte, reacts to cause a first change in thermal energy within the fluid collecting device;

a modulator that causes a second change in thermal energy;

a thermal sensing device comprising at least one pyroelectric device thermally coupled to the fluid collecting device to generate a first signal in response to at least one of the first change in thermal energy and the second change in thermal energy;

a control device operatively coupled to the thermal sensing device and the modulator that generates a second signal, wherein the second signal comprises information useful in characterizing the analyte.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a second analyte interactant that, when contacted by the analyte, undergoes a second reaction to cause a third change in thermal energy.

3. A method for sensing an analyte in a fluid, the method comprising:

a. providing a thermoelectric sensor comprising

i. a thermal sensor comprising a pyroelectric device for measuring temperature,

ii. a modulator that causes a change in thermal energy;

ii. an analyte interactant;

b. causing the fluid and the analyte within the fluid to contact the analyte interactant so that the analyte interactant reacts with the analyte to cause a change in the temperature; and

c. measuring the temperature change using the pyroelectric device and the modulator.