Small volume and ultra speed colorimetric sensor

• US 20100297601A1
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tom Cheng Xu
• Original Assignee: Tom Cheng Xu
• Inventors: Xu, Tom Cheng
• Application Number:
  US12/454,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20100297601A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/4
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/521 Single-layer analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/523 the element being adapted for a specific analyte
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/525 Multi-layer analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/526 the element being adapted for a specific analyte

Abstract

A sensor designed to accommodate an aqueous analyte sample having a volume of less than 1 μL and can be used to quantify the amount and concentration of such analyte through light reflectance or fiber-optic light reflectance. The sensor includes a reaction membrane and a fixed-volume sample chamber. The fixed-volume sample chamber acts to collect the sample and to secure such sample while it undergoes detection. The reaction membrane contains all of the chemicals and enzymes needed to cause a color reaction when contacted with the sample. The amount of analyte can be determined by light reflectance intensity. The sensor can be used with a meter for in-vitro clinical diagnosis and for patient self-monitoring of a physical condition, such as blood glucose levels.

Claims

1. A disposable sensor strip for measuring the amount of an analyte in a liquid sample, said sensor comprising:

(a) a base support member which provides support for said sensor and having an aperture for reaction inspection by a measurement instrument;

(b) a reaction membrane having a surface which is in direct physical contact with said support member and covers all of said aperture; and

(c) a capillary chamber for receiving and holding said sample, which capillary chamber encloses a capillary passage for conducting said sample from an incision to said capillary chamber and securing said sample over said reaction membrane, wherein;

(i) said capillary chamber is attached directly to said support member and said capillary passage is positioned directly over said reaction membrane;

(ii) the open ends of said capillary passage extends to the lateral edges of said support member;

(iii) the ventral side of said capillary passage is exposed entirely to said reaction membrane and the width of said capillary passage is no greater than the diameter of said aperture;

(iv) said capillary passage is configured to align said sample over an area of said reaction membrane in vertical alignment with said aperture; and

(v) said capillary passage is sized to contain a volume of less than about 1 μ

L of said sample.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said sample passage is sized to contain a volume of less than about 0.5 μ

L of said sample.

3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein said sample passage is sized to contain a volume of less than about 0.1 μ

L of said sample.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said aperture has a surface area no greater than approximately 1.0 mm².

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said support member comprises multiple indentations as means for engagement with said measurement instrument.

6. The sensor of claim 5, wherein said multiple indentations are bores with a surface area no greater than 1 mm² as means for engagement with said measurement instrument.

7. The sensor of claim 6, wherein upon engagement with said measurement instrument, said capillary chamber and said aperture both remain above said measurement instrument'"'"'s light source.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said reaction membrane comprises a hydrophilic material.

9. The sensor of claim 7, wherein said reaction membrane comprises at least one reagent for reacting with at least one compositional component of said sample.