Sensor system and methods for selective analyte detection using resonance sensor circuit

• US 8,364,419 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Potyrailo, Radislav Alexandrovich, Cella, James Anthony, Surman, Cheryl Margaret, Chichak, Kelly Scott, Go, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Khuu, Cindy H
• Application Number:
  US12/424,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 702/24, 702/23, 702/25, 702/27, 702/30, 702/32
• US Class Current: 702/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/026 Dielectric impedance spectroscopy electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for measuring corrosion G01N17/02

Abstract

A system, device and methods, for determining at least two analytes, wherein the system and device include at least one resonant sensor circuit that includes a sensing material that predictably affects the resonant complex impedance response of a sensor electrode. The sensing material has at least two material properties that change when the materials are exposed to two or more analytes. The system and device also include a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in the two material properties of the sensing material.

Claims

1. A system for selectively determining at least two analytes, comprising:

at least one resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensing material that predictably affects a resonant complex impedance response of a sensor electrode, wherein the sensing material comprises at least two material properties that change upon exposure to two or more analytes; and

a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in at least two of the material properties of the sensing material to determine a characteristic of the at least two analytes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of change of the at least two material properties varies for different analyte compositions, different analyte concentrations or both.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-variate sensor response pattern identifiably separates patterns associated with different analytes varying in composition or concentration.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one resonant sensor circuit predictably affects the resonant complex impedance response in the presence of at least one analyte and one interference.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the resonant complex impedance response of the at least one resonant sensor circuit is measurably altered on variation of one or more dielectric properties of the sensing material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing material comprises an organic electronic material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing material comprises polyaniline (PANI), poly(fluorene)-diphenylpropanes copolymer (PFDPP), polymer of triarylamines (PTA), polymer of fluorenes and triarylamines (PFT) and combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing material comprises a nanotube, nanoparticle, or nanosheet.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing material comprises a carbon nanotube or graphene sheet.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the change in the at least two material properties is at least partially caused by an analyte response mechanism, wherein the mechanism is selected from a group consisting of, changes in density of charge carriers, changes in mobility of charge carriers, conformational transitions of polymer chain, polymer swelling, and combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyte is selected from a group consisting of, volatile organic compounds, oxidizing and reducing gases, dissolved gases, biological species in water and combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the resonant complex impedance response is operably consistent in the presence of varying levels of humidity.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the resonant complex impedance response of the at least one sensor circuit changes relative to a concentration of analyte.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system operates within an electro magnetic spectrum comprising a frequency range from about 10⁵ Hertz to 10¹⁵ Hertz.

15. A system for selectively determining at least two analytes, comprising:

at least one resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensing material that predictably affects the resonant complex impedance response of a sensor electrode, wherein the sensor electrode comprises an inductor-capacitor-resistor circuit and wherein the sensing material comprises at least two material properties that change upon exposure to two or more analytes; and

a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in at least two of the material properties of the sensing material to determine a characteristic of at least two of the analytes.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the inductor-capacitor-resistor circuit comprises a combination of parallel and series capacitance elements.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the system operates within an electro magnetic spectrum comprising a frequency range from about 10⁵ Hertz to 10¹⁵ Hertz.

18. A sensing device adapted to detect at least two analytes, comprising:

a resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensor electrode and a sensing material disposed on the sensor electrode, wherein the sensing material has at least two material properties that change upon exposure to two or more analytes;

a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in at least two of the material properties of the sensing material to determine a characteristic of at least two of the analytes; and

a memory chip to store user-defined digital data comprising the multivariate sensor response pattern.

19. The sensing device of claim 18, wherein the digital data comprises calibration parameters of the resonance sensor circuit.

20. The sensing device of claim 18, wherein the resonant sensor circuit comprises one or more of an antenna, a capacitor, or an integrated circuit memory chip.

21. The sensing device of claim 18, where in the resonant sensor circuit is an optical circuit.

22. A method for selectively detecting at least two or more analytes in presence of an interference, comprising:

contacting a sensor with an at least two of the analytes to generate multiple response signals that are not substantially correlated with each other;

wherein the sensor comprises at least one resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensing material which comprises at least two material properties that change in the presence of at least two of the analytes; and

generating a multi-variate sensor response pattern from the multiple response signals in the presence of the interference to detect a characteristic of the at least two or more analytes.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising acquiring the complex impedance response of the sensor.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the multi-variate sensor response pattern comprises performing a multi-variate analysis on a complex impedance response of the sensor.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the multi-variate sensor response pattern identifiably separates patterns associated with different analytes varying in composition or concentration.