SPATIOTEMPORAL AND GEOMETRIC OPTIMIZATION OF SENSOR ARRAYS FOR DETECTING ANALYTES IN FLUIDS

• US 20090214762A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Freund, Michael S., Mitchell, David T., Tokumaru, Phil, Martin, Charles R., Lewis, Nathan S., Briglin, Shawn M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,595,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/12 Condition responsive control

Abstract

Sensor arrays and sensor array systems for detecting analytes in fluids. Sensors configured to generate a response upon introduction of a fluid containing one or more analytes can be located on one or more surfaces relative to one or more fluid channels in an array. Fluid channels can take the form of pores or holes in a substrate material. Fluid channels can be formed between one or more substrate plates. Sensor can be fabricated with substantially optimized sensor volumes to generate a response having a substantially maximized signal to noise ratio upon introduction of a fluid containing one or more target analytes. Methods of fabricating and using such sensor arrays and systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1-71. -71. (canceled)

72. A method of fabricating a sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising:

providing a substrate having a surface and a sampling headspace proximate to the surface;

identifying a sampling headspace volume V₁ for at least a portion of the sampling headspace, and a partition coefficient K of at least one target analyte in a sensing material;

calculating a sensor volume based on the sampling headspace volume and the partition coefficient; and

fabricating a sensor on the surface proximate to the at least a portion of the sampling headspace, the sensor including an amount of the sensing material derived from the calculated sensor volume.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein:

the sensor volume V_p is calculated based on the function V_p=V_VK.