Diagnostic radio frequency identification sensors and applications thereof

• US 9,470,699 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altivera, LLC
• Original Assignee: Altivera, LLC
• Inventors: Peeters, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACK-CHILDRESS, RAJSHEED O
• Application Number:
  US14/503,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20150056099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0285 Apparatus for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1491 Heated applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150793 Electrical or magnetic identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150854 long distance, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150969 Low-profile devices which resemble patches or plasters, e.g. also allowing collection of blood samples for testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150984 : Microneedles or microblades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 : Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 : Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 : combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/08 : Geometry, shape and general structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 : Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 : Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 : Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 : Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 : Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 : network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/12 : Meat; fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/146 : containing alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 : involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 : Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/58 : involving labelled substances G01N33/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 : the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 : the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 : Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 : including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/00 : Adapting or protecting infrastructure or their operation

Abstract

An integrated passive wireless chip diagnostic sensor system is described that can be interrogated remotely with a wireless device such as a modified cell phone incorporating multi-protocol RFID reader capabilities (such as the emerging Gen-2 standard) or Bluetooth, providing universal easy to use, low cost and immediate quantitative analyses, geolocation and sensor networking capabilities to users of the technology. The present invention can be integrated into various diagnostic platforms and is applicable for use with low power sensors such as thin films, MEMS, electrochemical, thermal, resistive, nano or microfluidic sensor technologies. Applications of the present invention include on-the-spot medical and self-diagnostics on smart skin patches, Point-of-Care (POC) analyses, food diagnostics, pathogen detection, disease-specific wireless biomarker detection, remote structural stresses detection and sensor networks for industrial or Homeland Security using low cost wireless devices such as modified cell phones.

Claims

1. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system for use in conducting rapid diagnostic measurements comprising:

a Lab-On-A-Chip (LOC) microfluidics sensor test strip comprising a substrate containing a plurality of wells and a plurality of microfluidics channels, said channels permitting a flow of fluids between said wells;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising an antenna, a unique identification number, and an RFID electronic chip in combination with at least one sensor module and both integrated with said substrate, with a plurality of conductive leads connecting said RFID electronic chip and said sensor module to said wells and said channels, and said RFID tag and said sensor module combination configured to sense, control and transmit wirelessly signals that correspond to reactions occurring in said wells and to transmit wirelessly said unique identification number;

a wireless reader configured to communicate wirelessly with said RFID tag and said sensor module combination through the use of multiple protocols and to receive said signals that correspond to said reactions occurring in said wells and said unique identification number, said wireless reader configured to control a flow of fluids through said microfluidics channels and to and from said wells by sending signals to said REID tag and said sensor module combination wirelessly; and

said wireless reader further configured to communicate wirelessly over a network through the use of multiple communication protocols to download software wirelessly from a remote location to enable reading and analysis of said signals received from said RFID tag and said sensor module combination based on said unique identification number of said RFID tag and sensor module combination.

2. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wireless reader is a cellular telephone.

3. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said RFID electronic chip includes a temperature sensor.

4. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said LOC microfluidics sensor test strip is disposable.

5. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said wells is an input well for receiving a fluid for analysis.

6. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said wells is a test well for receiving a fluid for analysis.

7. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said wells is a chemical well for containing at least one chemical used in a reaction conducted on said LOC microfluidics sensor test strip.

8. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said LOC microofluidics sensor test strip is configured to perform quantitative protein measurements and said reaction includes a quantitative determination of protein in a test sample in at least one of said wells.

9. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said LOC microfluidics sensor test strip is configured to perform quantitative biomarker measurements and said reaction includes a quantitative determination of at least one biomarker in a test sample in at least one of said wells.

10. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said LOC microfluidics sensor test strip is configured to perform DNA tests on a sample and said reaction includes performing a DNA test on a sample in at least one of said wells.

11. A Lab-on-a-hip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said RFID electronic chip communicates with said wireless reader to provide power to said wells and to said microfluidics channels.

12. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said RFID electronic chip is selected from the group consisting of an RFID chip, a Bluetooth chip, a Zigbee chip, and an IEEE 1073 chip.

13. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said multiple communication protocols include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Broadband, WLAN, air 3G communication protocols.

14. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reaction is mixing of a sample in a well.

15. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said LOC microfluidics sensor test strip or said wireless reader is further configured to be geolocated by one of a global positioning system or a non-global positioning system by triangulation means.

16. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wireless reader is further configured to communicate over a network through the use of multiple protocols and to upload said signals received from said RFID to and said sensor module for analysis in a location other than a location of said wireless reader.

17. A Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidics sensor system as set forth in claim 1, further including a light emitting diode (LED) electronic measuring device on said sensor test strip.