Sensor

• US 20030222232A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark E. Welland, Trevor Rayment
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Welland, Trevor Rayment
• Inventors: Rayment, Trevor, Welland, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,972,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/573
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a sensor, suitable for use in the detection of an analyte in a fluid, comprising: a tube (4) defining a flow path for the fluid; a generally planar member (3) mounted in the flow path (→) such that the plane is in the direction of flow, wherein the member has, bound thereto, a ligand that interacts with the analyte, wherein interaction causes the member to flex; and means (1, 2) for the detection of the flexing.

Claims

1. A sensor for use in the detection of an analyte in a fluid, the sensor comprising:

a tube defining a flow path for the fluid;

a generally planar member having opposed faces mounted in the flow path such that the plane is in the direction of flow, wherein the member has, bound thereto, a ligand that interacts with the analyte, wherein interaction causes different stresses to act on the opposed faces of the member, thereby causing the member to flex; and

means for the detection of the flexing.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the ligand is bound to one face of the member, and the other face is coated with a material that is responsive to the detection means.

3. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein the detection means comprises a laser.

4. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the detection means comprises a laser.

5. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the member includes an aperture, whereby its torsional rigidity is increased.

6. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the member has the ligand and also a reference compound bound thereto, in separate areas, and the sensor includes means for distinguishing between respective signals and thereby determining common mode noise.

7. The sensor according to claim 1, which comprises a plurality of the members, positioned in series, having respective ligands bound thereto.

8. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is a liquid.

9. A method for screening a target compound with respect to a plurality of analytes in a fluid, which comprises causing the analytes to flow through the tube of a sensor, wherein the sensor comprises:

a tube defining a flow path for the fluid;

a generally planar member having opposed faces mounted in the flow path such that the plane is in the direction of flow, wherein the member has, bound thereto, a ligand that interacts with the analyte, wherein interaction causes different stresses to act on the opposed faces of the member, thereby causing the member to flex; and

means for the detection of the flexing,

the target compound being the ligand, and detecting any flexing of the member.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the analytes are provided successively, in liquid form, and bubbles are introduced between each liquid analyte, thereby allowing calibration of the device and optionally also flushing liquid between analytes.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the fluid is a liquid.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the ligand is bound to one face of the member of the sensor, and the other face is coated with a material that is responsive to the detection means.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the detection means of the sensor comprises a laser.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the member of the sensor includes an aperture, whereby its torsional rigidity is increased.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the member of the sensor has the ligand and also a reference compound bound thereto, in separate areas, and the sensor includes means for distinguishing between respective signals and thereby determining common mode noise.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of the members, positioned in series, having respective ligands bound thereto.