SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ANALYTE DETECTION

• US 20100268479A1
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Go, Steven, Cella, James Anthony, Chichak, Kelly Scott, Potyrailo, Radislav Alexandrovich, Surman, Cheryl Margaret
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/23
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/026 Dielectric impedance spectroscopy electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for measuring corrosion G01N17/02

Abstract

A system for selectively determining at least two analytes, comprising at least one resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensing material that predictably affects the resonant complex impedance response of a sensor electrode, wherein the sensing material having at least two material properties that change upon exposure to two or more analytes; and a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in the two material properties of the sensing material and a sensing device and methods adapted to detect an analyte using the same sensor system.

Claims

1. A system for selectively determining at least two analytes, comprising:

at least one resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensing material that predictably affects the resonant complex impedance response of a sensor electrode, wherein the sensing material comprises at least two material properties that change upon exposure to two or more analytes; and

a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in the two material properties of the sensing material.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of change of the at least two material properties varies for different analyte compositions, different analyte concentrations or both.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-variate sensor response pattern identifiably separates patterns associated with different analytes varying in composition or concentration.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the resonant sensor circuit predictably affects the resonant complex impedance response in the presence of at least one analyte and one interference.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the resonant complex impedance response of the resonant sensor circuit is measurably altered on variation of one or more dielectric properties of the sensing material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing material comprises an organic electronic material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing material comprises polyaniline (PANI), poly(fluorene)-diphenylpropanes copolymer (PFDPP), polymer of triarylamines (PTA), polymer of fluorenes and triarylamines (PFT) or any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing material comprises a nanotube, nanoparticle, or nanosheet.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing material comprises a carbon nanotube or graphene sheet.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the change in the at least two material properties is at least partially caused by an analyte response mechanism, wherein the mechanism is selected from the group consisting of changes in density of charge carriers, changes in mobility of charge carriers, conformational transitions of polymer chain, polymer swelling, and combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyte is selected from the group consisting of volatile organic compounds, oxidizing and reducing gases, dissolved gases, biological species in water and combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a resonant complex impedance response is operably consistent in the presence of varying levels of humidity.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the resonant complex impedance response of the sensor circuit changes relative to a concentration of analyte.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of operating within an electro magnetic spectrum comprises a frequency range from about 10⁵ Hertz to 10¹⁵ Hertz.

15. A system for selectively determining at least two analytes, comprising:

at least one resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensing material that predictably affects the resonant complex impedance response of a sensor electrode, wherein the sensor electrode comprises an inductor-capacitor-resistor circuit and wherein the sensing material comprises at least two material properties that change upon exposure to two or more analytes; and

a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in the two material properties of the sensing material.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor electrode comprises an inductor-capacitor-resistor circuit having a combination of parallel and series capacitance elements.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is capable of operating within an electro magnetic spectrum comprises a frequency range from about 10⁵ Hertz to 10¹⁵ Hertz.

18. A sensing device adapted to detect at least two analytes, comprising:

a resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensor electrode and a sensing material disposed on the sensor electrode, wherein the sensing material having at least two material properties that change upon exposure to two or more analytes;

a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in the two material properties of the sensing material; and

a memory chip to store user-defined digital data.

19. The sensing device of claim 18, wherein the digital data comprises calibration parameters of the sensor circuit.

20. The sensing device of claim 18, wherein the resonant sensor circuit comprises one or more of an antenna, a capacitor, or an integrated circuit memory chip.

21. The sensing device of claim 18, where in the resonant sensor circuit is an optical circuit.

22. A method for selectively detecting at least two or more analytes in presence of an interference, comprising:

contacting a sensor with an analyte;

wherein the sensor comprises at least one resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensing material comprises at least two material properties that change in the presence of two analytes; and

generating a multi-variate sensor response pattern.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising acquiring the complex impedance response of the sensor.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the multi-variate sensor response pattern comprises performing a multi-variate analysis on the complex impedance response of the sensor.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the multi-variate sensor response pattern identifiably separates patterns associated with different analytes varying in composition or concentration.