MULTIPLEXED SENSOR ARRAY

• US 20080121045A1
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Inventors: Cole, Matthew C., Kenis, Paul J.A.
• Application Number:
  US11/564,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20080121045A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861.08
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/12 of a solid body in dependence upon absorption of a fluid; of a solid body in dependence upon reaction with a fluid , for detecting components in the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/22 by investigating capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/226 Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor

Abstract

A sensor array includes a plurality of q sensors, a common output lead electrically connected to each sensor, a plurality of m primary input leads each primary input lead electrically connected to n of the plurality of sensors, and a plurality of n secondary input leads each secondary input lead electrically connected to m of the plurality of sensors. The number of sensors q=m·n, m is at least 2, n is at least 2, and each sensor is electrically connected to one of the plurality of primary input leads and one of the plurality of secondary input leads.

Claims

1. A sensor array, comprising:

a plurality of q sensors,

a common output lead, electrically connected to each sensor,

a plurality of m primary input leads, each primary input lead electrically connected to n of the plurality of sensors, and

a plurality of n secondary input leads, each secondary input lead electrically connected to m of the plurality of sensors,

wherein q=m·

n, m is at least 2, n is at least 2, and

each sensor is electrically connected to one of the plurality of primary input leads and one of the plurality of secondary input leads.

2. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein m is at least 4, and n is at least 4.

3. The sensor array of claim 2, wherein m is 5-100.

4. The sensor array of claim 2, wherein n is 5-100.

5. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein m is 4-100, and n is 4-100.

6. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of resistive sensors, capacitive sensors and conductive sensors.

7. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of resistive sensors and capacitive sensors.

8. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the sensors are resistive sensors, and each resistive sensor comprises a single heater element.

9. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the sensors are capacitive sensors, and each sensor comprises:

a first input electrode,

a second input electrode, and

a common output electrode, between the first and second input electrodes.

10. The sensor array of claim 9, wherein the first input electrode is connected to the primary input lead, the second input electrode is connected to the secondary input lead, and the common output electrode is connected to the common output lead.

21. A method of making a microfluidic device, comprising:

forming a substrate comprising a sensor array of claim 1, and

forming a microfluidic device comprising the substrate,

wherein the sensors are in channels of the microfluidic device.

11. A microfluidic device, comprising:

channels, and

a sensor array,

wherein the sensor array comprises;

a plurality of q sensors,

a common output lead, electrically connected to each sensor,

a plurality of m primary input leads, each primary input lead electrically connected to n of the plurality of sensors, and

a plurality of n secondary input leads, each secondary input lead electrically connected to m of the plurality of sensors,

q=m·

n, m is at least 2, n is at least 2,

each sensor is electrically connected to one of the plurality of primary input leads and one of the plurality of secondary input leads, and

the sensors are in the channels.

12. The microfluidic device of claim 11, wherein m is at least 4, and n is at least 4.

13. The microfluidic device of claim 12, wherein m is 5-100.

14. The microfluidic device of claim 12, wherein n is 5-100.

15. The microfluidic device of claim 11, wherein m is 4-100, and n is 4-100.

16. The microfluidic device of claim 11, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of resistive sensors, capacitive sensors and conductive sensors.

17. The microfluidic device of claim 11, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of resistive sensors and capacitive sensors.

18. The microfluidic device of claim 11, wherein the sensors are resistive sensors, and each resistive sensor comprises a single heater element.

19. The microfluidic device of claim 11, wherein the sensors are capacitive sensors, and each sensor comprises:

a first input electrode,

a second input electrode, and

a common output electrode, between the first and second input electrodes.

20. The microfluidic device of claim 19, wherein the first input electrode is connected to the primary input lead, the second input electrode is connected to the secondary input lead, and the common output electrode is connected to the common output lead.

22. A method of detecting fluid in a channel of a microfluidic device, comprising:

applying a constant current from input leads to a common output lead and measuring potential between each input lead and the common output lead, or applying a constant potential from the input leads to the common output lead and measuring current flow between each input lead and the common output lead;

wherein the microfluidic device comprises a sensor array,

the sensor array comprises;

a plurality of q sensors,

a common output lead, electrically connected to each sensor,

a plurality of m primary input leads, each primary input lead electrically connected to n of the plurality of sensors, and

a plurality of n secondary input leads, each secondary input lead electrically connected to m of the plurality of sensors,

q=m·

n, m is at least 2, n is at least 2,

each sensor is electrically connected to one of the plurality of primary input leads and one of the plurality of secondary input leads.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein m is at least 4, and n is at least 4.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein m is 4-100, and n is 4-100.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of resistive sensors, capacitive sensors and conductive sensors.