Apparatus, system, and method of detecting an analyte utilizing pyroelectric technology

• US 20050196322A1
• Filed: 01/29/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextteq, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bryan Truex, Charles Loomis
• Inventors: Truex, Bryan, Loomis, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,425,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/482 concerning the temperature responsive elements measuring temperature or quantity of heat, thermally-sensitive elements G01K; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00, H10N15/00

Abstract

A system for the measurement of a target analyte is provided including a detection apparatus and a reading apparatus. The detection apparatus, or “carrier”, includes a pyroelectric transducer (“pyroelectric film”) and one or more reagent concentrations (“reagent deposit”) deposited on the film. The reagent deposits are adapted to react with, and thus, detect the presence of a target analyte present in the local environment. Upon detection of the target analyte by the reagent deposit, the reading apparatus and the pyroelectric film may be used to detect the amount of heat that can be absorbed by the reagent deposit in response to irradiation. The pyroelectric film then delivers to the reader a signal corresponding to heat detected and the reader provides a corresponding indication of the concentration of the target substance detected.

Claims

1. In a system for measuring the concentration of at least one target analyte, a sensor carrier subsystem comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite of said first surface, and a reagent deposit supported on said first surface, said reagent deposit being reactive to exposure to the target analyte and further characterized by a capacity to absorb electromagnetic energy, wherein said absorption capacity changes after said reagent deposit reacts upon exposure to the target analyte such that said change in capacity is indicative of an amount of exposure to the target analyte;

an electromagnetic spectrum emitting source (EM source) positioned proximal to said transparent substrate said EM source being operable to irradiate said reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said transparent substrate; and

a pyroelectric transducer positioned proximal to said reagent deposit to detect energy absorbed by said reagent deposit upon irradiation by said EM source and generate output signals indicative of the detected energy, such that said output signal is indicative of exposure to the target analyte.

2. The carrier subsystem of claim 1, wherein said pyroelectric transducer is positioned intermediate said transparent substrate and said EM source, such that said EM source is operable to irradiate said reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said pyroelectric transducer and through said transparent substrate.

3. The carrier subsystem of claim 1, wherein said transparent substrate is positioned intermediate said transducer and said EM source.

4. The subsystem of claim 1, further comprising a second EM source positioned proximal said reagent deposit such that said first surface is positioned intermediate said second surface and said second EM source.

5. The subsystem of claim 4, wherein said pyroelectric transducer is positioned intermediate said transparent substrate and said second EM source, such that said second EM source is operable to irradiate said reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said pyroelectric transducer.

6. The subsystem of claim 5, wherein said pyroelectric transducer is a transparent pyroelectric film.

7. The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said reagent deposit is supported on said transparent substrate such that said reagent deposit faces and is spaced apart from said pyroelectric transducer;

and

wherein said transparent substrate and said pyroelectric transducer are spaced apart so as to provide a sample environment flow path therebetween.

8. The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said transparent substrate further includes a second reagent deposit supported on one of said first and second surfaces.

9. The subsystem of claim 8, wherein said second reagent deposit is disposed on said second surface in generally vertical alignment with said first reagent deposit supported on said first surface.

10. The subsystem of claim 8, further comprising a second EM source positioned relative to said first EM source, such that said transparent substrate, said first and second reagent deposits, and said pyroelectric transducer are positioned intermediate said first and second EM sources.

11. The subsystem of claim 8, further comprising a second EM source positioned proximal said first EM source, such that said pyroelectric transducer is positioned intermediate said transparent substrate and said first and second EM sources.

12. The subsystem of claim 1, further comprising a second substrate supporting a reagent deposit on a first surface of said second substrate and spaced apart from said pyroelectric transducer such that said second reagent deposit faces said pyroelectric transducer, wherein said EM source is operable to irradiate said second reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said transparent substrate and through said pyroelectric transducer.

13. The subsystem of claim 1, further comprising:

a second transparent substrate having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite of said first surface, wherein a second reagent deposit is supported on said first surface and spaced apart from said pyroelectric transducer such that said second reagent deposit faces said pyroelectric transducer; and

a second EM source positioned proximal said second surface of said second transparent substrate and operable to irradiate said second reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said first and second surfaces of said second transparent substrate.

14. The subsystem of claim 1, further comprising a reflective surface positioned to redirect energy emitted by said EM source to said reagent deposit, said reflective surface being positioned relative to said EM source such that said transparent substrate, said reagent deposit, and said pyroelectric transducer are positioned intermediate said reflective surface and said EM source.

15. The subsystem of claim 14, wherein said reflective surface is a mirror spaced directly across from said reagent deposit.

16. The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said pyroelectric transducer includes pyroelectric film having conductive electrodes thereon for transmitting an output signal.

17. The subsystem of claim 16, wherein said pyroelectric film is substantially transparent to said EM energy irradiated from said EM source.

18. The subsystem of claim 17, wherein said EM source is visible, UV IR light emitting source and microwave source.

19. The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said reagent deposit is affecting the reflected EM spectrum upon chemical interaction with the analyte by one or two means consisting from shifting the reflected EM spectrum and changing the intensity of the reflected EM spectrum.

20. The subsystem of claim 19, wherein said EM source is a light emitting source and said pyroelectric transducer is adapted to detect the amount of heat absorbed in said reagent deposit upon illumination by said light emitting source.

21. The subsystem of claim 1, further comprising a fiber optic cable operatively or light bar associated with said EM source to direct EM energy via said path to said reagent deposit.

22. The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said reagent deposit is affecting the reflected EM spectrum upon biological interaction with the analyte by one or two means consisting from shifting the reflected EM spectrum and changing the intensity of the reflected EM spectrum.

23. The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said reagent deposit is affecting the reflected EM spectrum upon physical interaction with the analyte by one or two means consisting from shifting the reflected EM spectrum and changing the intensity of the reflected EM spectrum.

24. The subsystem of claim 1 further comprising an immunoassay sensor and method for detecting the presence of a particular analyte comprising:

a solid substrate which change pyroelectric properties;

an antibody to which the analyte binds immobilized on the solid substrate;

a transducer surface providing at least one electrophoretic separation layer;

an electrode means that provides a voltage signal indicative of heat generated on said transducer surface;

a means of irradiation of the transducer surface by EM source whereby heat is generated; and

,

a tagged form of the analyte displaceably bound to the antibody and having lower binding energy to the antibody than untagged analyte, wherein untagged analyte will displace tagged analyte and bind to the antibody when the antibody with tagged analyte contacts a sample containing untagged analyte, the antibody with bound tagged analyte having pyroelectric property which is changed by displacement of tagged analyte by untagged analyte, the antibody with bound tagged analyte forming a solid state system.

25. The sensor of claim 24 further comprising a pyroelectric detector operatively associated with the solid substrate to detect changes in pyroelectric property produced by displacement of the tagged analyte by untagged analyte.

26. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the solid substrate is a membrane.

27. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the transducer surface is transparent at said light frequency so as to irradiate said antibody to which the analyte binds immobilized on the solid substrate.

28. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the antibody is one or more selected from a group consisting of a monoclonal antibody, a pool of monoclonal antibodies, and a polyclonal antibody.

29. The subsystem of claim 1 further comprising an immunoassay sensor and method based on immunochromatograpy techniques for detecting the presence of a particular analyte comprising:

a conjugate antibody release pad that contains at least one pre-selected conjugated antibody to bind to analyte and thereafter migrate to analysis pad;

a sample delivery pad to filter out any undesired matter and to hold analyte so that said analyte can slowly wick to the antibody conjugate release pad;

an analysis pad to hold the conjugated antibody bound analyte;

a transducer surface providing at least one electrophoretic separation layer adjacent to the analysis pad;

an electrode means that provides a voltage signal indicative of heat generated on said transducer surface;

a means of irradiation of the transducer surface with light frequency whereby heat is generated;

a buffer to control a pH level of the sample;

a surfactant to prevent aggregates formation; and

,

a means of separating said conjugate antibody release pad from said analysis pad after a bound conjugated antibody flows to the analysis pad to prevent the sample from flowing back to the conjugate antibody release pad.

30. The sensor of claim 29 further comprising a pyroelectric detector operatively associated with the analysis pad to detect changes in pyroelectric property produced by displacement of the tagged analyte by untagged analyte.

31. The sensor of claim 29 wherein the transducer surface is transparent at said light frequency so as to irradiate said conjugated antibody to which the analyte binds.

32. The sensor of claim 29 wherein the antibody is one or more selected from a group consisting of a monoclonal antibody, a pool of monoclonal antibodies, and a polyclonal antibody.

33. The systems of claim 1 wherein the EM source generates energy in the microwave frequency spectrum.

34. The systems of claim 1 wherein the reader contains a timer.

35. The systems of claim 1 wherein the reagent is reversible and reusable.

36. The systems of claim 1 wherein the reagent is non-reversible and reusable.

37. The systems of claim 1 wherein the reagent is printed onto the substrate using an inkjet printer.

38. The systems of claim 1 wherein the reagent is screen printed onto the substrate.

39. The systems of claim 1 wherein the reagent is cast in a mold onto the substrate such that the molded reagent is symmetrical on the top, bottom and sides.

40. The systems of claim 1 wherein the EM source is located on a removable assembly subcomponent of the system.

41. The systems of claim 1 wherein the filter assembly is located on a removable assembly subcomponent of the system.

42. The systems of claim 1 wherein said transparent substrate contains a memory chip.

43. A method of detecting the presence of a target analyte in a sample environment utilizing a reagent deposit reactive to exposure to the target analyte and further characterized by a capacity to absorb electromagnetic energy irradiated thereupon, wherein the absorption capacity changes after a reaction to exposure, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, and a reagent deposit supported on one of either the first or second surfaces;

positioning an electromagnetic energy emitting source (EM source) relative to the transparent substrate such that the second surface is positioned intermediate the first surface and the EM source;

positioning a pyroelectric transducer for detecting energy absorbed by the reagent deposit proximate the reagent deposit;

directing a sample environment past the proximity of the reagent deposit, thereby initiating a reaction to exposure to the target analyte in the sample environment;

operating the EM source to irradiate the reagent deposit by way of a path directed through the transparent substrate; and

,

utilizing the pyroelectric transducer to detect the energy absorbed by the reagent deposit upon irradiation by the EM source and generate output signals corresponding with a measure of the detected energy, such that the output signal corresponds with the degree of exposure.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said step of positioning the pyroelectric transducer includes positioning the pyroelectric transducer intermediate the transparent substrate and the EM source, such that during the step of operating the EM source, the EM source irradiates the reagent deposit by way of a path through the pyroelectric film and through the transparent substrate.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of positioning the transparent substrate intermediate the pyroelectric transducer and EM source, prior to the step of directing the same environment.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of positioning a second EM source proximal the reagent deposit such that the first surface is positioned intermediate the second surface and the second EM source.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of providing a second substrate that supports a reagent deposit on a first surface of the second substrate and spaced apart from the pyroelectric transducer such that the second reagent deposit faces the pyroelectric transducer, wherein said step of operating the EM source irradiates the second reagent deposit by way of a path directed through the transparent substrate and through the pyroelectric transducer.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein said step of positioning the pyroelectric transducer includes positioning the pyroelectric transducer intermediate the transparent substrate and the second EM source, wherein said pyroelectric transducer is substantially transparent, such that, in the step of operating the EM source, the reagent deposit is irradiated by way of a path directed through the pyroelectric transducer.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the reagent deposit is supported on the transparent substrate such that the reagent deposit faces and is spaced apart from the pyroelectric transducer, and wherein the transparent substrate and the pyroelectric transducers are spaced apart, such that, in the step of directing a sample environment, a flow stream of the sample environment is directed between the pyroelectric transducer and the transparent substrate.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the EM source is a light emitting source such that, in the step of utilizing the pyroelectric transducer, the pyroelectric transducer detects the amount of heat absorbed in the reagent deposit upon illumination by the light emitting source.

51. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of positioning a reflective surface relative to the EM source such that the transparent substrate, the reagent deposit, and the pyroelectric transducer are positioned intermediate the reflective surface and the EM source, and wherein, the step of operating the EM source, directs energy to the reflective surface and the reflective surface redirects the energy to the reagent deposit.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein the reagent deposit is selected from a group of one or more of a colorimetric reagent deposit, flurecent reagent deposit and luminescent reagent deposit such that in the step of directing the sample environment, the reagent deposit changes upon exposure to the target analyte.

53. A system for detecting the presence of at least one target analyte in a sample local environment, said system comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite of said first surface, and a reagent deposit supported on said first surface, said reagent deposit being reactive to exposure to the target analyte and further characterized by a capacity to absorb electromagnetic energy, wherein said absorption capacity changes after said reagent deposit reacts upon exposure such that said change in capacity is indicative of the exposure to the target analyte;

an electromagnetic spectrum emitting source (EM source) positioned proximal to said transparent substrate and closer to the second surface than to the first surface, said EM source being operable to irradiate said reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said transparent substrate;

a pyroelectric transducer positioned proximal to said reagent deposit to detect energy absorbed by said reagent deposit upon irradiation by said EM source and generate output signals indicative of the detected energy, such that said output signal is indicative of exposure to the target analyte; and

a reader operatively associated with said pyroelectric transducer to receive said output signals, and communicate, therefrom, an indication of the presence of the target analyte in the sample local environment.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein said pyroelectric transducer is positioned intermediate said transparent substrate and said EM source, such that said EM source is operable to irradiate said reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said pyroelectric transducer and through said transparent substrate.

55. The carrier subsystem of claim 53, wherein said transparent substrate is positioned intermediate said transducer and said EM source.

56. The system of claim 53, further comprising a second EM source positioned proximal said reagent deposit such that said first surface is positioned intermediate said second surface and said second EM source.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said pyroelectric transducer includes a transparent pyroelectric film positioned intermediate said transparent substrate and said second EM source, such that said second EM source is operable to irradiate said reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said pyroelectric transducer.

58. The system of claim 53, wherein said reagent deposit is colorimetrically reactive to a target analyte and said EM source is a light emitting diode.

59. The system of claim 53, wherein said reagent deposit is supported on said transparent substrate such that said reagent deposit faces and is spaced apart from said pyroelectric transducer and wherein said transparent substrate and said pyroelectric transducer are spaced apart so as to provide a sample environment flow path therebetween.

60. The system of claim 53, wherein said transparent substrate further includes a second reagent deposit supported on said second surface and disposed on said second surface in generally vertical alignment with said first reagent deposit supported on said first surface.

61. The subsystem of claim 53, further comprising a second substrate supporting a reagent deposit on a first surface of said second substrate and spaced apart from said pyroelectric transducer such that said second reagent deposit faces said pyroelectric transducer, wherein said EM source is operable to irradiate said second reagent deposit by way of a path directed through said transparent substrate and through said pyroelectric transducer.

62. The systems of claim 53 wherein the EM source generates energy in the microwave frequency spectrum.

63. The systems of claim 53 wherein the reader contains a timer.

64. The systems of claim 53 wherein the reagent is reversible and reusable.

65. The systems of claim 53 wherein the reagent is non-reversible and reusable.

66. The systems of claim 53 wherein the reagent is printed onto the substrate using an inkjet printer.

67. The systems of claim 53 wherein the reagent is screen printed onto the substrate.

68. The systems of claim 53 wherein the reagent is cast in a mold onto the substrate such that the molded reagent is symmetrical on the top, bottom and sides.

69. The systems of claim 53 wherein the EM source is located on a removable assembly subcomponent of the system.

70. The systems of claim 53 wherein the filter assembly is located on a removable assembly subcomponent of the system.

71. The systems of claim 53 wherein said transparent substrate contains a memory chip.

72. A system for detecting a target analyte comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite said first surface and a reagent deposit supported on at least one of said first and second surfaces, said reagent deposit being reactive to exposure to a target analyte to change a capacity to absorb electromagnetic energy;

a means for moving a sample of a local environment across the transparent substrate to cause a change in the capacity of the reagent deposit to absorb electromagnetic energy when the sample of the local environment includes the target analyte;

a piezoelectric reader that includes a light source for emitting light onto said reagent deposit and a means for measuring a change in the capacity of the reagent deposit to absorb electromagnetic energy;

an indicator means coupled to the piezoelectric reader means that indicates detection of the target analyte; and

,

a control mechanism for controlling the means for moving a sample of the local environment across the transparent substrate.

73. The system of claim 72 further comprising:

an indicator means consisting of one or more selected from a digital display, a visual alarm, an audible alarm or a vibrating alarm.

74. The system of claim 72 wherein said means from moving a sample of a local environment comprises a pump.

75. The system of claim 74 further comprising:

a flow regulator for controlling an amount of sample moved across the transparent substrate; and

,

flow meter for measuring the amount of sample moved across the transparent substrate.

76. The system of claim 72 further comprising a filter coupled to said means from moving a sample of a local environment.

77. The system of claim 72 further comprising one or more environmental sensors selected from a group consisting of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor and a humidity sensor.

78. The system of claim 72 wherein said transparent substrate comprises a cartridge including multiple reagents that tests for at least one target analyte.

79. The systems of claim 72, wherein the EM source generates energy in the microwave frequency spectrum.

80. The systems of claim 72 wherein the reader contains a timer.

81. The system of claim 74 wherein the flow control of the pump is comprised of an orifice in the flow path of the system.

83. The system of claim 74 wherein the flow control of the pump is controlled by the motor speed.

84. The system of claim of 74 wherein the reading from the transducer is used as a baseline and subtracted from subsequent readings such that a non-reversible reagent becomes reusable for multiple readings.

85. The system of claim 75 wherein a maximum point of exposure relating to saturation of the reagent is pre-stored in memory.

86. The systems of claim 72 wherein the reagent is reversible and reusable.

87. The systems of claim 72 wherein the reagent is non-reversible and reusable.

88. The systems of claim 72 wherein the reagent is printed onto the substrate using an inkjet printer.

89. The systems of claim 72 wherein the reagent is screen printed onto the substrate.

90. The systems of claim 72 wherein the reagent is cast in a mold onto the substrate such that the molded reagent is symmetrical on the top, bottom and sides.

91. The systems of claim 72 wherein the EM source is located on a removable assembly subcomponent of the system.

92. The systems of claim 72 wherein the filter assembly is located on a removable assembly subcomponent of the system.

93. The systems of claim 72 wherein said transparent substrate contains a memory chip.