Sensing of Components in Liquids

• US 20150148627A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMEC International
• Original Assignee: Universiteit Gent Vzw
• Inventors: BAETS, Roeland, RYCKEBOER, Eva
• Granted Patent: US 9,770,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/316
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• 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 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0662 Comparing measurements on two or more paths in one sample

Abstract

A sensing system and method for sensing a component in a liquid is disclosed. The system comprises a microfluidic channel, the microfluidic channel comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the microfluidic channel is open at the first end and closed at the second end. The system also comprises at least one measurement sensor positioned adjacent the first end, the measurement sensor being arranged for detecting a measurement signal and a reference sensor positioned in the microfluidic channel adjacent the second end, the reference sensor being arranged for detecting a reference signal of the liquid. The system further is configured for combining the measurement signal and the reference signal so as to filter out background influences.

Claims

1. A sensing system for sensing a component in a liquid, the system comprising:

a microfluidic channel, the microfluidic channel comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the microfluidic channel is open at the first end and closed at the second end,

at least one measurement sensor positioned adjacent the first end, the measurement sensor being arranged for detecting a measurement signal,

at least one reference sensor positioned in the microfluidic channel adjacent the second end, the reference sensor being arranged for detecting a reference signal of the liquid, the system being configured for combining the measurement signal and the reference signal so as to filter out background influences.

2. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor is positioned in the microfluidic channel adjacent the first end.

3. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor and the reference sensor are any of an absorption sensor, a chemical sensor, an electrical sensor or an optical sensor.

4. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor and the reference sensor are based on a transmitter/receiver architecture wherein the transmitter of the measurement sensor is shared with the transmitter of the reference sensor.

5. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor and the reference sensor are optical sensors using a common excitation source as transmitter.

6. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor and the reference sensor are part of a dual beam optical sensor system.

7. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor and the reference sensor are spectral optical sensors allowing spectral characterisation of the fluid.

8. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor and the reference sensor are optical sensors based on a resonator element.

9. A sensing system according to claim 8, wherein the resonator element is an optical resonator ring.

10. A sensing system according to claim 1 wherein the measurement sensor comprises a first optical ring and wherein the reference sensor comprises a second optical ring and wherein the first optical ring is in contact with the liquid at the open end and the second optical ring is in contact with the liquid at the closed end.

11. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic channel comprises a diffusion barrier for a component to be detected.

12. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic channel has a curved shape such that the first end of the channel is nearby the second end of the channel.

13. A sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor and the reference sensor are configured for directly combining the signals for compensating the measured signal with the reference signal.

14. A sensing system according to claim 1, the sensing system comprising a processor for receiving the measurement signal of the measurement sensor and the reference signal and for combining the signals in the processor.

15. A sensing system according to claim 1, the sensing system being an implantable sensor for implantation into a living creature.

16. A method for sensing a component in a liquid, the method comprising

obtaining a measurement signal of a fluid to be characterized using a measurement sensor adjacent a first, open end of a microfluidic channel,

obtaining a reference signal for the fluid to be characterized using a reference sensor adjacent a second, closed end of the microfluidic channel,

compensating the measurement signal with the reference signal so as to filter out background influences.