Sensor arrays for detecting analytes in fluids
First Claim
1. A sensor for detecting an analyte in a fluid comprising:
- a first chemically sensitive resistor comprising a first blend of a first nonconductive polymer and nonconductive polymer, and a conductive material arranged in a matrix of non-conductive and conductive regions;
a second chemically sensitive resistor comprising a second blend of a first nonconductive polymer and nonconductive polymer, and a conductive material arranged in a matrix of non-conductive and conductive regions;
a conductive material;
electrical measuring apparatus electrically connected to said first resistor and to said second resistor,wherein during use, the permeation of the first blend of nonconductive polymers by the analyte in the first chemically sensitive resistor produces a first resistance which is different from a baseline resistance of the first resistor, the permeation of the second blend of nonconductive polymers by the analyte in the second chemically sensitive resistor produces a second resistance which is different from a baseline resistance of the second resistor, and wherein the difference between the first resistance and the baseline resistance of the first resistor is different from the difference between the second resistance and the baseline resistance of the second resistor.
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Abstract
Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance. Variability in chemical sensitivity from sensor to sensor is provided by qualitatively or quantitatively varying the composition of the conductive and/or nonconductive regions. An electronic nose for detecting an analyte in a fluid may be constructed by using such arrays in conjunction with an electrical measuring device electrically connected to the conductive elements of each sensor.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A sensor for detecting an analyte in a fluid comprising:
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a first chemically sensitive resistor comprising a first blend of a first nonconductive polymer and nonconductive polymer, and a conductive material arranged in a matrix of non-conductive and conductive regions; a second chemically sensitive resistor comprising a second blend of a first nonconductive polymer and nonconductive polymer, and a conductive material arranged in a matrix of non-conductive and conductive regions; a conductive material; electrical measuring apparatus electrically connected to said first resistor and to said second resistor, wherein during use, the permeation of the first blend of nonconductive polymers by the analyte in the first chemically sensitive resistor produces a first resistance which is different from a baseline resistance of the first resistor, the permeation of the second blend of nonconductive polymers by the analyte in the second chemically sensitive resistor produces a second resistance which is different from a baseline resistance of the second resistor, and wherein the difference between the first resistance and the baseline resistance of the first resistor is different from the difference between the second resistance and the baseline resistance of the second resistor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first chemically sensitive resistor having a baseline resistance, a first measured resistance response to permeation by said fluid and a first resistance response to permeation by said analyte, said first chemically sensitive resistor comprising a mixture of a nonconductive polymer and a conductive material; providing a second chemically sensitive resistor having a baseline resistance, a second measured resistance response to permeation by said fluid and a second resistance response to permeation by said analyte, said second chemically sensitive resistor comprising a mixture of a nonconductive polymer and a conductive material; providing an electrical measuring apparatus electrically connected to the first resistor and to the second resistor; exposing the first resistor and the second resistor to the fluid; measuring said first resistance response that occurs when the first resistor is permeated by the fluid, and said second resistance response that occurs when the second resistor is permeated by the fluid; comparing the first measured resistance response to the first resistance response to permeation by the analyte to generate a first indicator which indicates the presence of the analyte in the fluid, and comparing the second measured resistance response to the second resistance response to permeation by the analyte to generate a second indicator which indicates the presence of the analyte in the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first chemically sensitive element having a first detectable measured response to permeation by said fluid and a first detectable response to permeation by said analyte, said first element comprising a first blend of first and second polymers and a conductive material arranged in a matrix of non-conductive and conductive regions; providing a second chemically sensitive element having a second detectable measured response to permeation by said fluid and a second detectable response to permeation by said analyte, said second element comprising a second blend of first and second polymers and a conductive material arranged in a matrix of non-conductive and conductive regions; providing a detector operatively associated with the first and second chemically sensitive elements; exposing the chemically sensitive elements to said fluid; measuring said first detectable measured response of the first element that occurs when the first element is permeated by the fluid, and said second detectable measured response of the second element that occurs when the second element is permeated by the fluid; comparing the first detectable measured response of the first element to said first detectable response to permeation by the analyte for the first element to generate a first indicator which indicates the presence of the analyte in the fluid; and comparing the second detectable measured response of the second element to said second detectable response to permeation by the analyte for the second element to generate a second indicator which indicates the presence of the analyte in the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification