Sensors and methods for sensing
First Claim
1. A method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a medium comprising the steps of:
- exposing a sensing element to said medium, said sensing element comprising an analyte permeable matrix material and an indicator component in said matrix material comprising at least two monomeric components in enforced association, at least one of which is a monomeric indicator component which provides a first emitted signal or signals in response to being exposed to a first excitation signal, said sensing element further comprising, when exposed to said first excitation signal, an excited state complex produced from said at least two monomeric components, said excited state complex providing a second emitted signal which is dependent on the concentration of said analyte in said medium;
causing said sensing element to provide said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal; and
analyzing said second emitted signal in determining the concentration of said analyte in said medium.
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Abstract
A sensor for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a medium is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor comprises a sensing element including a matrix material and, covalently bonded thereto, one or more monomeric indicator components each of which is capable of providing a first emitted signal of a given wavelength in response to being exposed to an excitation signal. The sensing element is capable of providing a second emitted signal having a longer wavelength than the first emitted signal or signals in response to being exposed to the excitation signal, the second emitted signal being provided by an excimer component produced in the sensing element from the monomeric indicator component(s) and being dependent on the concentration of the analyte in the medium to a greater extent than the first emitted signal or signals. In another embodiment, the sensor comprises a sensing element including two or more different monomeric components at least one or which is a monomeric indicator component capable of providing a first emitted signal in response to being exposed to a first excitation signal. The sensing element is capable of providing a second emitted signal in response to being exposed to a second excitation signal. This second emitted signal is provided by an exciplex produced from the monomeric components. This second emitted signal is preferably dependent on the concentration of the analyte in the medium. An excitation assembly is positioned and adapted to provide the excitation signal to the sensing element. A detector assembly is positioned and adapted to detect the second emitted signal. Preferably, a processor assembly is positioned and adapted to analyze the second emitted signal in determining the concentration of the analyte in the medium.
90 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a medium comprising the steps of:
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exposing a sensing element to said medium, said sensing element comprising an analyte permeable matrix material and an indicator component in said matrix material comprising at least two monomeric components in enforced association, at least one of which is a monomeric indicator component which provides a first emitted signal or signals in response to being exposed to a first excitation signal, said sensing element further comprising, when exposed to said first excitation signal, an excited state complex produced from said at least two monomeric components, said excited state complex providing a second emitted signal which is dependent on the concentration of said analyte in said medium; causing said sensing element to provide said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal; and analyzing said second emitted signal in determining the concentration of said analyte in said medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 27, 28)
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4. A method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a medium comprising the steps of:
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exposing a sensing element to said medium, said sensing element comprising an analyte permeable matrix material and at least two different monomeric components at least one of which is a monomeric indicator component which provides a first emitted signal or signals in response to being exposed to a first excitation signal, said sensing element further comprising, when exposed to said first excitation signal, an exciplex component produced from said at least two monomeric components, said exciplex component providing a second emitted signal which is dependent on the concentration of said analyte in said medium wherein at least one of said monomeric components is covalently bonded to said matrix material; causing said sensing element to provide said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal; and analyzing said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal in determining the concentration of said analyte in said medium. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 19, 20)
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7. A method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a medium comprising the steps of:
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exposing a sensing element to said medium, said sensing element comprising an analyte permeable matrix material and at least two different monomeric components at least one of which is a monomeric indicator component which provides a first emitted signal or signals in response to being exposed to a first excitation signal, said sensing element further comprising, when exposed to said first excitation signal, an exciplex component produced from said at least two monomeric components, said exciplex component providing a second emitted signal which is dependent on the concentration of said analyte in said medium, and wherein a total integrated intensity at the wavelength of the second emitted signal has less than ten percent contribution due to monomer emission; causing said sensing element to provide said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal; and analyzing said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal in determining the concentration of said analyte in said medium. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 21, 29, 30, 31)
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10. A method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a medium comprising the steps of:
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exposing a sensing element to said medium, said sensing element comprising an analyte permeable matrix material and at least two monomeric components at least one of which is a monomeric indicator component which provides a first emitted signal or signals in response to being exposed to a first excitation signal, said sensing element further comprising, when exposed to said first excitation signal, an excited state complex produced from said at least two monomeric components, said excited state complex providing a second emitted signal having a longer wavelength than said first emitted signal and being dependent on the concentration of said analyte in said medium wherein at least one of said monomeric components is covalently bonded to said matrix material; causing said sensing element to provide said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal; and analyzing said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal in determining the concentration of said analyte in said medium. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 22, 23)
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13. A method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a medium comprising the steps of:
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exposing a sensing element to said medium, said sensing element comprising at least two monomeric components, at least one of which is a monomeric indicator component which provides a first emitted signal or signals in response to being exposed to a first excitation signal, said sensing element further comprising, when exposed to said first excitation signal, an excited state complex produced from said at least two monomeric components, said excited state complex providing a second emitted signal; causing said sensing element to provide said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal; and analyzing said first emitted signal or signals and said second emitted signal in determining the concentration of said analyte in said medium, wherein said first emitted signal or at least one of said first emitted signals and said second emitted signal are modulated, and at least one of;
an extent of a phase shift between a modulated second excitation signal and said modulated second emitted signal;
or an extent of a phase shift between said modulated first emitted signal or at least one of said modulated first emitted signals and said modulated second emitted signal;
or an extent of a phase shift between a combined modulated first and second emitted signals and said first excitation signal or signals;
or a magnitude of relative demodulation between said modulated second excitation signal and said modulated second emitted signal;
or a ratio of demodulation factors of said modulated first emitted signal or at least one of said modulated first emitted signals and said modulated second emitted signal;
or a magnitude of relative demodulation between a combined modulated first emitted signal or signals and the modulated second emitted signal;
or an excitation frequency necessary to maintain a fixed phase shift between said modulated first and second emitted signals is dependent on the concentration of said analyte in said medium and wherein a processor assembly is adapted to determine at least one of said phase shift, said demodulation factor, or said excitation frequency. - View Dependent Claims (14, 24, 25)
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Specification