Sensor Device for Interrogation of Changes in the Contents of a Sealed Container
First Claim
1. A sensor device, comprising:
- a biosensor comprising a receptor bound on a solid substrate;
a sensor compartment having an interior and an exterior, and enclosing the biosensor, the sensor compartment having a surface allowing external viewing of the biosensor; and
a separation barrier comprising a barrier material that forms at least a portion of the sensor compartment, the separation barrier being selected from the group consisting of a fibril membrane, a microporous membrane and a capillary-pore membrane, the separation barrier having at least one pore that opens upon contact of the barrier material with a stimulus, thereby allowing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the sensor compartment.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method allowing evaluation of the contents of a sealed primary container by means of an integral sensor which is separated from the contents of the sealed primary container yet provides information on quality of the contents of the primary container without breaking the sealed system. The integral sensor device includes a biosensor retained within a plastic construct by a gated-pore membrane. Pores in the membrane open in response to an environmental change in the primary container allowing the contents of the primary container to contact the biosensor. Status of the contents of the primary container can be determined by inspection of the biosensor, visually or via a fiberoptic probe, through the optical window of the plastic construct.
27 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A sensor device, comprising:
-
a biosensor comprising a receptor bound on a solid substrate; a sensor compartment having an interior and an exterior, and enclosing the biosensor, the sensor compartment having a surface allowing external viewing of the biosensor; and a separation barrier comprising a barrier material that forms at least a portion of the sensor compartment, the separation barrier being selected from the group consisting of a fibril membrane, a microporous membrane and a capillary-pore membrane, the separation barrier having at least one pore that opens upon contact of the barrier material with a stimulus, thereby allowing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the sensor compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A membrane selected from the group consisting of a fibril membrane, a microporous membrane and a capillary-pore membrane, the membrane comprising:
-
a receptor bound on a solid substrate; and at least one pore, wherein the membrane forms a separation barrier and further comprises an interior and exterior of a sensor compartment of a biosensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification