Device for photoresponsive detection and discrimination

• US 5,500,188 A
• Filed: 01/24/1994
• Issued: 03/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molecular Devices
• Original Assignee: Molecular Devices
• Inventors: Parce, John W., McConnell, Harden M., Hafeman, Dean G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Housel, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Soderquist, Arlen
• Application Number:
  US08/185,492
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 204/153.12, 204/153.2, 204/403, 204/412, 324/71.5, 357/25, 422/82.01, 422/82.02, 422/82.05, 435/4, 435/6, 435/7, 435/32, 435/7, 435/9, 435/29, 435/34, 435/39, 435/291, 435/817, 435/973, 436/501, 436/806, 436/827
• US Class Current: 204/403.01
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00626 Covalent
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00637 by coating it with another layer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00702 Processes involving means for analysing and characterising the products
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/817 Enzyme or microbe electrode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/806 Electrical property or magnetic property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/827 Lectins

Abstract

Photoresponsive devices including a photoresponsive electrode are provided, and methods for their use to measure changes in environment at a site at or about the surface of the photoresponsive device. By employing a source of light for irradiating a site on the surface and means for biasing the photoresponsive electrode in relation to a counterelectrode, a variation in electrical signal can be related to a change in a medium in photoresponsive modulation relationship to the photoresponsive electrode surface.

Claims

1. A device for making a determination of one or more substances capable of affecting the photoresponsive characteristics of a photoresponsive element, said device comprising:

one or more photoresponsive elements each having one or more sample surfaces with one or more sample sites, each of said one or more photoresponsive elements having one or more irradiation-receiving surfaces with one or more irradiation sites, each said irradiation site being in close physical relationship with a certain one of said sample sites;

irradiation means for irradiating said one or more irradiation sites on said one or more photoresponsive elements to provide distinguishable signals from each of said one or more irradiation sites;

a counterelectrode;

means for applying a first electrical signal to said photoresponsive element and said counterelectrode;

means for retaining gas, liquid, or solid material in which said substances are to be determined in contact with said one or more sample surfaces such as to affect the photoresponsive characteristics of said photoresponsive elements;

insulating means for preventing the flow of a direct or faradaic current between said photoresponsive elements and said media; and

means for measuring a second electrical signal produced as a result of said first electrical signal and said irradiating of said photoresponsive elements, where said second electrical signal is capacitively coupled across said insulating means.