DISPOSABLE MULTIVARIABLE SENSING DEVICES HAVING RADIO FREQUENCY BASED SENSORS

• US 20160125210A1
• Filed: 11/04/2014
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Potyrailo, Radislav Alexandrovich
• Granted Patent: US 9,536,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A multivariable sensing device for sensing one or more parameters of a process fluid disposed in a container is provided. The multivariable sensing device includes a radio frequency based sensor configured to sense a physical parameter, a chemical parameter, a biological parameter, or combinations thereof, representative of the process fluid. The radio frequency based sensor includes a sensor substrate, a radio frequency coil disposed on at least a portion of the sensor substrate, and a support structure configured to be physically coupled to the container. Further, the support structure is configured to position the radio frequency based sensor in operative proximity to an inside of the container.

Claims

1. A multivariable sensing device for sensing one or more parameters of a process fluid disposed in a container, comprising:

a radio frequency based sensor configured to sense a physical parameter, a chemical parameter, a biological parameter, or combinations thereof, representative of the process fluid, wherein the radio frequency based sensor comprises;

a sensor substrate;

a radio frequency coil disposed on at least a portion of the sensor substrate; and

a support structure configured to be physically coupled to the container, wherein the support structure is configured to position the radio frequency based sensor in operative proximity to an inside of the container.

2. The multivariable sensing device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency based sensor is disposed in the support structure such that at least a portion of the sensor substrate faces the inside of the container.

3. The multivariable sensing device of claim 2, further comprising a sensing layer disposed on at least a portion of the sensor substrate.

4. The multivariable sensing device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency based sensor is disposed in the support structure such that at least a portion of the radio frequency coil faces the inside of the container.

5. The multivariable sensing device of claim 4, further comprising a protection layer disposed on at least a portion of the radio frequency coil.

6. The multivariable sensing device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the radio frequency based sensor and the support structure is disposable.

7. The multivariable sensing device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency based sensor is removably disposed in the support structure.

8. The multivariable sensing device of claim 1, wherein the container is a disposable bioprocess component.

9. The multivariable sensing device of claim 8, wherein the bioprocess component comprises one or more of a storage bag, a transfer line, a filter, a connector, a valve, a pump, a bioreactor, a separation column, or combinations thereof.

10. The multivariable sensing device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency based sensor is gamma-radiation sterilizable.

11. The multivariable sensing device of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a body and a projection mechanically coupled to the body, and wherein the body is configured to receive the radio frequency based sensor.

12. The multivariable sensing device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency based sensor does not comprise a pick-up coil.

13. A multivariable sensing system, comprising,

multivariable sensing device for sensing one or more parameters of a process fluid disposed in a container, comprising:

a radio frequency based sensor configured to sense a physical parameter, a chemical parameter, a biological parameter, or combinations thereof, representative of the process fluid, wherein the radio frequency based sensor comprises;

a sensor substrate;

a radio frequency coil disposed on at least a portion of the sensor substrate;

a support structure configured to be physically coupled to the container, wherein the support structure is configured to position the radio frequency based sensor in operative proximity to an inside of the container;

a sensor reader configured to transmit interrogating radio frequency signals to the radio frequency based sensor and receive response signals from the radio frequency based sensor; and

a pick-up coil operatively coupled to the radio frequency based sensor and the sensor reader, wherein the pick-up coil is configured to receive the response signals from the radio frequency based sensor and transmit the response signals to the sensor reader.

14. The multivariable sensing system of claim 13, further comprising a memory chip coupled to the radio frequency based sensor, the container, or both.

15. The multivariable sensing system of claim 13, wherein the pick-up coil is disposed in a housing of the sensor reader, or on a portion of the container.

16. The multivariable sensing system of claim 13, comprising a plurality of radio frequency based sensors disposed in the support structure.

17. The multivariable sensing system of claim 16, wherein two or more radio frequency based sensors of the plurality of radio frequency based sensors are operatively coupled to the memory chip.

18. The multivariable sensing system of claim 16, wherein each radio frequency based sensor of the plurality of radio frequency based sensors comprises a corresponding memory chip.

19. The multivariable sensing system of claim 13, wherein the sensor reader and the radio frequency based sensor are coupled to one another using a wireless connection, an electrical cable or a direct connection.

20. A method for multivariable sensing for a process fluid disposed in a container, comprising:

operatively coupling a radio frequency based sensor to a support structure to form a multivariable sensing device, wherein the radio frequency based sensor comprises;

a sensor substrate;

a radio frequency coil disposed on at least a portion of the sensor substrate;

operatively coupling the multivariable sensing device to the container;

providing a sensor reader operatively coupled to the radio frequency based sensor;

providing a pick-up coil disposed outside the support structure;

operatively coupling the pick-up coil to the radio frequency based sensor;

sensing one or more parameters from the container;

transmitting data representative of the one or more parameters to the sensor reader using the pick-up coil; and

determining one or more parameters associated with the process fluid disposed in the container.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising calibrating the radio frequency based sensor before or after disposing the radio frequency based sensor in the support structure.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising sterilizing the container and the multivariable sensing device coupled to the container prior to operatively coupling the multivariable sensing device to the container.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of sterilizing comprises sterilizing using gamma radiation.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising de-coupling the support from the container.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising re-calibrating the radio frequency based sensor, and re-coupling the support of the multivariable sensing device to the container for further use.