Biochemical temperature-sensitive probe and method for measuring reactant concentrations thereof

• US 3,878,049 A
• Filed: 04/03/1973
• Issued: 04/15/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles L. Cooney, James C. Weaver, Steven R. Tannenbaum
• Original Assignee: Charles L. Cooney, James C. Weaver, Steven R. Tannenbaum
• Inventors: Weaver, James C., Cooney, Charles L., Tannenbaum, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Monacell, A. Louis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/347,574
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 195/13.5R,127 204/195B
• US Class Current: 205/777.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/48 on solution, sorption, or a chemical reaction not involving combustion or catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/482 concerning the temperature responsive elements measuring temperature or quantity of heat, thermally-sensitive elements G01K; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00, H10N15/00

Abstract

A biochemical sensing apparatus is provided for measuring the concentration of a substrate by measuring the change in temperature evolved by the reaction of the substrate with an enzyme or microorganism. The apparatus includes a reference thermal probe and a second thermal probe coated with an enzyme or microorganism. The probes are formed of a material which exhibits a change in an electrical property such as electrical resistence or voltage as a function of temperature and the probes form part of a bridge circuit. An electrical current or voltage generator and means for measuring the difference in current, voltage or resistance are associated in circuit relationship with the probes.

Claims

1. AN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE CONCENTRATION OF A SUBSTRATE IN A FLUID WHICH COMPRISES A REFRENCE THERMAL PROBE, A SECOND THERMAL PROBE COATED WITH A MICROORGANISM OR AN ENZYME, SAID PROBES BEING FORMED OF A MATERIAL WHICH EXHIBITS A CHANGE IN A MEASURABLE ELECTRICAL PROPERTY AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE, AND MEANS FOR MEASURING THE DIFFERENCE IN SAID MEASURABLE ELECTRICAL PROPERTY OF SAID PROBES.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 having a plurality of second thermal probes each coated with the same microorganism or enzyme.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second pro is coated with an enzyme.

4. The apParatus of claim 1 wherein said second probe has a coating containing at least two enzymes, one enzyme adapted to cause the reaction of a substrate with the attendant formation of a first reaction product and at least one other enzyme adapted to effect a second reaction involving said first reaction product.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reference probe is coated with an enzyme or a microorganism different from that on said second probe, said apparatus adapted to be used to measure the concentration of a substrate in a fluid which fluid contains only one substrate reactive with any of the enzymes or microorganisms or said probe.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each probe is coated with a different system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reference thermal probe is coated with a material having a heat of solution similar to the heat of solution of a matrix to which the enzyme or microorganism is attached on said second probe.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the second probe is coated with an enzyme.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second probe is coated with an enzyme.

10. A process for measuring the concentration of a substrate in a fluid which comprises contacting an apparatus for measuring the concentration of a substrate in a fluid with at least two fluids each containing a known concentration of said substrate to calibrate said apparatus, said apparatus comprising a reference thermal probe, a second thermal probe coated with a microorganism or an enzyme, said probes being formed of a material which exhibits a change in an electrical property as a function of temperature, and means for measuring the difference in said measurable electrical property of said probes, and thereafter placing the probes in a fluid containing the substrate and measuring the difference of the measurable electrical property of said probes which difference is caused by a change in temperature at the surface of the second probe resulting from a chemical reaction involving said substrate and said enzyme or microorganism.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein said reference probe is coated with an enzyme or a microorganism different from that on said second probe, calibrating said apparatus by first contacting said probes with at least two fluids each containing a known concentration of a substrate for the enzyme or microorganism on only one probe and measuring the difference in said measurable electrical property of said probes, contacting said probes with at least two fluids each containing a known concentration of one substrate for an enzyme or microorganism on one probe but not for the enzyme or microorganism on the other of said probes and measuring the difference in said measurable electrical property of said probes and thereafter placing the probes in a fluid containing only one of said substrates and measuring the difference in said measurable electrical property of said probes.