Thermoelectric sensor for analytes in a fluid and related method

• US 8,722,417 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2007
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invoy Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Invoy Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Ahmad, Lubna
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, DENNIS MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/656,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20080056946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,670 Days
• Field of Search: 422/51, 422/68.1, 422/82.12, 422/84, 422/95, 422/83, 422/85, 422/86, 422/87, 422/88, 422/89, 422/90, 422/91, 422/92, 422/98, 422/400, 422/401, 422/420, 422/421, 422/422, 422/423, 422/424, 422/425, 422/426, 422/427, 422/428, 422/429, 436/147, 436/157, 436/164, 436/167, 436/900
• US Class Current: 436/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0406 specially shaped apparatus housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0276 comprising a thermosensitive compound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/26 involving oxidoreductase
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/54 involving glucose or galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/06 by intermittent summation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/01 specially adapted for biological cells, e.g. blood cells investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions in blood G01N15/05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0205 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/06 Investigating concentration of particle suspensions by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0046 in gas, e.g. smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0332 with temperature control control of temperature G05D23/00; cryostats F17C3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/71 thermally excited
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/75 Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated systems in which material is burnt in a flame or plasma G01N21/72, G01N21/73
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/783 for analysing gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/00 Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means G01N3/00 - G01N23/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/20 by investigating the development of heat, i.e. calorimetry, e.g. by measuring specific heat, by measuring thermal conductivity calorimeters per se G01K
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/4813 : concerning the measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/4873 : for a flowing, e.g. gas sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/26 : by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/042 : Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, e.g. diabetes, glucose metabolism
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/044 : Hyperlipemia or hypolipemia, e.g. dyslipidaemia, obesity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/347 : Renal failures; Glomerular diseases; Tubulointerstitial diseases, e.g. nephritic syndrome, glomerulonephritis; Renovascular diseases, e.g. renal artery occlusion, nephropathy
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/50 : Determining the risk of developing a disease
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 : using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/224 : for investigating presence of dangerous gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 : of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 : Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4975 : other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/50 : Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms, compositions or test papers therefor; processes for forming such compositions, condition responsive control in microbiological or enzymological processes C12Q
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/64 : involving ketones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6893 : related to diseases not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/98 : involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/172307 : Cyanide or isocyanide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/175383 : Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/196666 : Carbon containing compound [e.g., vinylchloride, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/200833 : Carbonyl, ether, aldehyde or ketone containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/202499 : Formaldehyde or acetone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/203332 : Hydroxyl containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/204165 : Ethanol
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/212 : Aromatic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/214 : Acyclic [e.g., methane, octane, isoparaffin, etc.]

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for sensing an analyte in a fluid. The apparatus includes a fluid collecting device configured to collect the fluid containing the analyte; a fluid input in fluid communication with the fluid collecting device configured to input the fluid containing the analyte into the fluid collecting device, an analyte interactant in fluid communication with the fluid collecting device, wherein the analyte interactant, when contacted by the analyte, reacts to cause a first change in thermal energy within the fluid collecting device; a modulator that causes a second change in thermal energy; a thermal sensing device comprising at least one pyroelectric device thermally coupled to the fluid collecting device to generate a first signal in response to at least one of the first change in thermal energy and the second change in thermal energy; a control device operatively coupled to the thermal sensing device and the modulator that generates a second signal, wherein the second signal comprises information useful in characterizing the analyte. A related method also is disclosed.

Claims

1. A hand-held apparatus for sensing an analyte in a breath, the apparatus comprising:

a fluid collecting device configured to collect the breath containing the analyte, wherein the fluid collecting device comprises a mouthpiece;

a fluid input in fluid communication with the fluid collecting device configured to input the breath containing the analyte into the fluid collecting device,

a test strip movably disposed in the fluid collecting device, the test strip comprising an analyte interactant disposed in a plurality of respective regions such that the test strip is usable on more than one occasion, the analyte interactant in fluid communication with the fluid collecting device when the test strip is inserted into the fluid collecting device, wherein the analyte interactant, when contacted by the analyte, reacts to cause a first change in thermal energy within the fluid collecting device;

a modulator that causes a second change in thermal energy;

a thermal sensing device comprising at least one pyroelectric device thermally coupled to the fluid collecting device to generate a first signal in response to at least one of the first change in thermal energy and the second change in thermal energy; and

a control device operatively coupled to the thermal sensing device and the modulator that generates a second signal, wherein the second signal comprises information useful in characterizing the analyte.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a interactant that, when contacted by the analyte, undergoes a second reaction to second analyte cause a third change in thermal energy.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of respective regions are equally spaced from one another.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of respective regions are disposed discontinuously on the test strip in a pattern.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of respective regions upon which the analyte interactant is disposed consist of only the analyte interactant.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analyte interactant disposed in each of the plurality of respective regions consists of a first analyte interactant.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of analyte interactants are respectively disposed in the plurality of respective regions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of analyte interactants indicate a single analyte.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of analyte interactants indicate a plurality of respective analytes.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of analyte interactants indicates a single disease.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of analyte interactants indicate a plurality of respective diseases.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test strip comprises a conductive surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test strip comprises a pyroelectric ribbon comprising a patterned analyte interactant.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test strip comprises a thin film.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test strip is disposable.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test strip is replenishable after use.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analyte interactant is exposed to the analyte by a process of rotation of the test strip.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analyte interactant is exposed to the analyte by a process of translation of the test strip.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analyte interactant comprises an enzyme.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analyte interactant comprises a polymer.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a packed bed containing the analyte interactant and including microspheres or nanoparticles disposed therein.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test strip comprises a disk or cartridge.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a self-contained apparatus that is portable or handheld.

24. A method for sensing an analyte in a breath, the method comprising:

a. providing a hand-held thermoelectric sensor comprising;

i. a thermal sensor comprising a pyroelectric device for measuring thermal energy,

ii. an analyte interactant; and

iii. a mouthpiece;

b. causing the breath and the analyte within the breath to contact the analyte interactant so that the analyte interactant reacts with the analyte to cause a first change in thermal energy, wherein the analyte interactant is disposed on a test strip for insertion into and operation with the thermal sensor, and further wherein the analyte interactant is disposed in a plurality of respective regions such that the test strip is usable on more than one occasion; and

c. measuring the temperature change using the pyroelectric device and a modulator, wherein the modulator causes a second change in thermal energy.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the test strip comprises a disk or cartridge.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of regions is equally spaced from one another.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of regions is disposed discontinuously on the test strip in a pattern.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of regions upon which the analyte interactant is disposed consist of only the analyte interactant.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the analyte interactant disposed in each of the plurality of regions consists of a first analyte interactant.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein a plurality of analyte interactants is respectively disposed in the plurality of regions.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of analyte interactants indicates a single analyte.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of analyte interactants indicates a plurality of respective analytes.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of analyte interactants indicates a single disease.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of analyte interactants indicates a plurality of respective diseases.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the test strip comprises a conductive surface.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein the test strip comprises a pyroelectric ribbon comprising a patterned analyte interactant.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the test strip comprises a thin film.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein the test strip is disposable.

39. The method of claim 24, wherein the test strip is replenishable after use.

40. The method of claim 24, wherein the analyte interactant is exposed to the analyte by a process of rotation of the test strip.

41. The method of claim 24, wherein the analyte interactant is exposed to the analyte by a process of translation of the test strip.

42. The method of claim 24, wherein the analyte interactant comprises an enzyme.

43. The method of claim 24, wherein the analyte interactant comprises a polymer.

44. The method of claim 24, wherein the test strip comprises a packed bed containing the analyte interactant and including microspheres or nanoparticles disposed therein.