Use of an array of polymeric sensors of varying thickness for detecting analytes in fluids

• US 7,144,553 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Matzger, Adam J., Freund, Michael, Severin, Erik J., Lewis, Nathan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy, Dwayne K.
• Application Number:
  US10/651,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20040042933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68.1, 422/82.01, 422/82.02, 422/82.03, 422/98, 436/149, 436/150, 204/406, 204/415, 204/418, 427/2.1, 427/2.11, 427/421, 427/427, 427/429
• US Class Current: 422/82.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0826 and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0217 Smoke, combustion gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0256 Adsorption, desorption, surface mass change, e.g. on biosensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02863 Electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0423 Surface waves, e.g. Rayleigh waves, Love waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0426 Bulk waves, e.g. quartz crystal microbalance, torsional waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/022 Fluid sensors based on microsensors, e.g. quartz crystal-microbalance [QCM], surface acoustic wave [SAW] devices, tuning forks, cantilevers, flexural plate wave [FPW] devices microdevices per se B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/449 Statistical methods not provided for in G01N29/4409, e.g. averaging, smoothing and interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array

Abstract

Chemical sensors for detecting the activity of a molecule or analyte of interest is provided. The chemical sensors comprise and array or plurality of sensors that are capable of interacting with a molecule of interest, wherein the interaction provides a response fingerprint. The fingerprint can be associated with a library of similar molecules of interest to determine the molecule'"'"'s activity and diffusion coefficient.

Claims

1. A plurality of sensors comprising:

a first conductive material and a second compositionally different material, wherein at least one sensor comprises a different thickness than at least one other sensor of the plurality of sensors such that each sensor of the plurality of sensors comprises regions of a first conductive material and regions of a second material compositionally different than the first material, the plurality of sensors made by a process comprising;

spraying a plurality of substrates, each having at least two conductive leads, with a suspension between the at least two conductive leads, and wherein at least one substrate receives more suspension that at least one other substrate.

2. The plurality of sensor of claim 1, wherein the suspension is applied to the substrates with an airbrush.

3. The plurality of sensors of claim 2, wherein the airbrush is fitted with a nozzle that sprays in a desired geometry.

4. The plurality of sensors of claim 1, wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, carbon black, and AuCu, and the second material compositionally different than the first material is selected form the group consisting of a non-conductive material, a semi-conductive material, a conductive organic material, wherein the conductive organic material is selected form the group consisting of a polyaniline, an emeraldine salt of polyaniline, a polypyrrole, a polythiophene, and a polyEDOT.

5. A plurality of sensor comprising a first conductive material and a second compositionally different material , wherein at least one sensor comprises a different thickness than at least one other sensor of the plurality of sensors such that each sensor of the plurality of sensors comprises regions of a first conductive material and regions of a second material compositionally different than the first material, the plurality of sensors made by a process comprising:

spraying a substrate, comprising at least 2 pair of conductive leads, with a suspension between the at least 2 pair of conductive leads wherein at least one area of the substrate receives more suspension that at least one other area of the substrate thereby forming at least 2 sensors of different thickness.