Apparatus, system, and method of detecting an analyte utilizing pyroelectric technology
First Claim
1. In a system for measuring a concentration of at least one target analyte, a sensor carrier subsystem comprising:
- a transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite of said first surface, and a reagent deposit supported on said first surface, said reagent deposit being reactive to an exposure to the target analyte and further characterized by a capacity to absorb electromagnetic energy, wherein said absorption capacity changes after said reagent deposit reacts upon the exposure to the target analyte such that said change in capacity is indicative of an amount of the exposure to the target analyte;
an electromagnetic spectrum emitting source (EM source) positioned proximal to said transparent substrate, said EM source being operable to irradiate said reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said transparent substrate; and
a pyroelectric transducer positioned adjacent to said reagent deposit to detect energy absorbed by said reagent deposit upon irradiation by said EM source and generate output signals indicative of the detected energy, such that said output signal is indicative of the exposure to the target analyte; and
wherein the reagent deposit is spaced apart from the pyroelectric transducer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for the measurement of a target analyte is provided including a detection apparatus and a reading apparatus. The detection apparatus, or “carrier”, includes a pyroelectric transducer (“pyroelectric film”) and one or more reagent concentrations (“reagent deposit”) deposited on the film. The reagent deposits are adapted to react with, and thus, detect the presence of a target analyte present in the local environment. Upon detection of the target analyte by the reagent deposit, the reading apparatus and the pyroelectric film may be used to detect the amount of heat that can be absorbed by the reagent deposit in response to irradiation. The pyroelectric film then delivers to the reader a signal corresponding to heat detected and the reader provides a corresponding indication of the concentration of the target substance detected.
26 Citations
61 Claims
-
1. In a system for measuring a concentration of at least one target analyte, a sensor carrier subsystem comprising:
-
a transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite of said first surface, and a reagent deposit supported on said first surface, said reagent deposit being reactive to an exposure to the target analyte and further characterized by a capacity to absorb electromagnetic energy, wherein said absorption capacity changes after said reagent deposit reacts upon the exposure to the target analyte such that said change in capacity is indicative of an amount of the exposure to the target analyte; an electromagnetic spectrum emitting source (EM source) positioned proximal to said transparent substrate, said EM source being operable to irradiate said reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said transparent substrate; and a pyroelectric transducer positioned adjacent to said reagent deposit to detect energy absorbed by said reagent deposit upon irradiation by said EM source and generate output signals indicative of the detected energy, such that said output signal is indicative of the exposure to the target analyte; and wherein the reagent deposit is spaced apart from the pyroelectric transducer. - 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, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A system for detecting a presence of at least one target analyte in a sample local environment, said system comprising:
-
a transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite of said first surface, and a reagent deposit supported on said first surface, said reagent deposit being reactive to an exposure to the target analyte and further characterized by a capacity to absorb electromagnetic energy, wherein said absorption capacity changes after said reagent deposit reacts upon the exposure such that said change in capacity is indicative of the exposure to the target analyte; an electromagnetic spectrum emitting source (EM source) positioned proximal to said transparent substrate and closer to the second surface than to the first surface, said EM source being operable to irradiate said reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said transparent substrate; a pyroelectric transducer positioned proximal to said reagent deposit to detect energy absorbed by said reagent deposit upon irradiation by said EM source and generate output signals indicative of the detected energy, such that said output signal is indicative of the exposure to the target analyte; a reader operatively associated with said pyroelectric transducer to receive said output signals, and communicate, therefrom, an indication of the presence of the target analyte in the sample local environment, and wherein the reagent deposit is spaced apart from the pyroelectric transducer. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
-
Specification