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Optical sensor, optical sensing apparatus, and methods for detecting an analyte of interest using spectral recognition patterns

  • US 5,512,490 A
  • Filed: 08/11/1994
  • Issued: 04/30/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An optical sensor for detecting an analyte of interest in a fluid sample, said optical sensor comprising:

  • a supporting member; and

    an optic array formed of multiple semi-selective sensing receptor units which differ in their constituent chemical formulations, which differ in their spectral characteristics, which are immobilized at different spatial positions on said supporting member for reactive contact with the fluid sample, and which react concurrently and semi-selectively but spectrally differently with an individual analyte of interest, each of said multiple semi-selective sensing receptor units of said optic array being comprised ofa polymeric substance of predetermined chemical composition, anda semi-selective dye compound of predetermined chemical composition which has characteristic spectral properties, is disposed in admixture with said polymeric substance, and can react semi-selectively and spectrally differently over time with more than one analyte,(a) wherein said admixed dye compound absorbs light energy of a predetermined wavelength and, in the presence of said polymeric substance without an analyte able to react semi-selectively, yields a baseline spectral response over time which is optically detectable and recognizable as showing an absence of analyte, and(b) wherein said admixed dye compound absorbs light energy of a predetermined wavelength and, in the presence of said polymeric substance and at least one analyte of interest able to react semi-selectively, generates a modified spectral response over time which is optically detectable and recognizable as showing the spectral consequence of semi-selective reaction with the analyte of interest,said multiple semi-selective sensing receptor units of said optic array presenting a plurality of differing and alternative modified spectral responses after concurrent semi-selective reaction with the analyte of interest in the fluid sample, the spectral pattern formed collectively by said plurality of differing and alternative modified spectral responses resulting in spectral recognition progression pattern means by which to detect and identify that analyte of interest.

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