Device for measurement of exhaled nitric oxide concentration

• US 9,366,664 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andas Inc.
• Original Assignee: Andas Inc.
• Inventors: Anglin, Timothy Clay Jr., Bemer, Timothy D., Jensen, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, Lyle
• Assistant Examiner(s): EOM, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US14/283,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20150338390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2027/222 for analysing gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/22 by investigating capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/226 Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/227 Sensors changing capacitance upon adsorption or absorption of fluid components, e.g. electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor sensors, MOS capacitors G01N27/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/00 Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0037 for NOx
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

Described is a personal device and methods for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a sample of gas. The device and method may utilize a chemically selective sensor element with low power consumption integrated with circuitry that enables wireless communication between the sensor and any suitable electronic readout such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. In preferred form, the sensor circuitry relies upon the quantum capacitance effect of graphene as a transduction mechanism. Also in preferred form, the device and method employ the functionalization of the graphene-based sensor to determine the concentration of nitric oxide in exhaled breath.

Claims

1. A device for detecting an analyte in a sample, comprising:

one or more analyte sensors, at least one analyte sensor having a graphene-based variable capacitor,

wherein at least one graphene-based variable capacitor comprises;

a dielectric layer;

a graphene layer which is substantially supported by the dielectric layer; and

a modifying layer in contact with the graphene layer; and

a sensor signal processor, programmed to receive data from the at least one analyte sensor having a graphene-based variable capacitor and to determine the concentration of nitric oxide in the sample.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the modifying layer is non-covalently bound to the graphene layer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the modifying layer comprises molecules having a porphyrin ring system.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the modifying layer comprises molecules of formula (I):

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the modifying layer comprises molecules of formula (Ia):

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the modifying layer comprises molecules of formula (Ib):

7. The device of claim 6, wherein

M is Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pb or Zn;

and

X is chloro, bromo, iodo or cyano.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the modifying layer comprises molecules of the structure:

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the graphene-based variable capacitor further comprises a gate electrode and a top electrode.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the gate electrode and the top electrode are arranged in a multi-finger, planarized geometry.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the gate electrode is embedded in a supporting substrate.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the gate electrode is in contact with the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a material having a high dielectric constant.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the modifying layer comprises hemin chloride non-covalently bound to the graphene layer.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a power supply.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the modifying layer comprises hemin chloride non-covalently bound to the graphene layer.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a permeable polymer membrane in contact with the modifying layer.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the modifying layer comprises hemin chloride non-covalently bound to the graphene layer.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor signal processor processes data directly from the at least one analyte sensor having a graphene-based variable capacitor.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor signal processor processes raw data from the at least one analyte sensor having a graphene-based variable capacitor.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the data from the at least one analyte sensor having a graphene-based variable capacitor is an analog signal from the graphene-based variable capacitor.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the graphene layer is in direct contact with the dielectric layer.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the direct contact with the dielectric layer is at least partially continuous.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the analyte is gaseous nitric oxide.