MEMS AFFINITY SENSOR FOR CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF ANALYTES
First Claim
1. A microdevice for monitoring a target analyte in a sample using a polymer capable of binding to the target analyte, the microdevice comprising:
- a semi-permeable membrane structure;
a substrate;
a first microchamber and a second microchamber, each formed between the semi-permeable membrane structure and the substrate, and including a suspended element positioned to be spaced apart from the substrate;
wherein the first microchamber is adapted to receive a solution including the polymer;
wherein the second microchamber is adapted to receive a reference solution for screening effects not caused by the target analyte;
wherein the semi-permeable membrane structure is permeable to the target analyte and impermeable to the polymer, thereby when the sample is placed in contact with the semi-permeable membrane structure, the target analyte, if present in the sample, permeates the semi-permeable membrane structure and enters the first microchamber and the second microchamber, respectively, and the polymer is prevented from escaping from the first microchamber through the semi-permeable membrane structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for monitoring a target analyte in a sample using a polymer capable of binding to the target analyte are disclosed. A microdevice useful for the disclosed techniques includes a semi-permeable membrane structure, a substrate, a first and second microchambers formed between the membrane structure and the substrate. The first microchamber can be adapted to receive a solution including the polymer, and the second microchamber can be adapted to receive a reference solution. Environmental target analyte can permeate the semi-permeable membrane structure and enters the first microchamber and the second microchamber. Based on the difference in a property associated with the polymer solution that is responsive to the target analyte-polymer binding, and the corresponding property associated with reference solution, the presence and/or concentration of the target analyte can be determined.
22 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A microdevice for monitoring a target analyte in a sample using a polymer capable of binding to the target analyte, the microdevice comprising:
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a semi-permeable membrane structure; a substrate; a first microchamber and a second microchamber, each formed between the semi-permeable membrane structure and the substrate, and including a suspended element positioned to be spaced apart from the substrate; wherein the first microchamber is adapted to receive a solution including the polymer; wherein the second microchamber is adapted to receive a reference solution for screening effects not caused by the target analyte; wherein the semi-permeable membrane structure is permeable to the target analyte and impermeable to the polymer, thereby when the sample is placed in contact with the semi-permeable membrane structure, the target analyte, if present in the sample, permeates the semi-permeable membrane structure and enters the first microchamber and the second microchamber, respectively, and the polymer is prevented from escaping from the first microchamber through the semi-permeable membrane structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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14. A microdevice for monitoring a target analyte in a sample using a polymer capable of binding to the target analyte, the microdevice comprising
a semi-permeable membrane structure; -
a substrate; a microchamber formed between the semi-permeable membrane structure and the substrate, the microchamber adapted to receive a solution including the polymer, and including a suspended element positioned to be spaced apart from the substrate, wherein the suspended element comprises a perforated electrode; and wherein the semi-permeable membrane structure is permeable to the target analyte and impermeable to the polymer, thereby when the sample is placed in contact with the semi-permeable membrane structure, the target analyte, if present in the sample, permeates the semi-permeable membrane and enters the microchamber, and the polymer is prevented from escaping from the microchamber through the semi-permeable membrane structure.
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25. A method for monitoring a target analyte in a sample using a polymer capable of binding to the target analyte, comprising:
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loading a solution including the polymer into a first microchamber and a reference solution into a second microchamber; placing the sample in contact with a membrane structure having permeability to the target analyte and impermeability to the polymer such that the target analyte, if any, permeates the membrane structure and enters the first microchamber and the second microchamber, thereby effecting the binding of the target analyte with the polymer in the first microchamber; detecting a difference, if any, in a property associated with the polymer solution upon the binding between the polymer and the target analyte in the first microchamber and the corresponding property associated with the reference solution in the second microchamber; and based on the detected difference, determining a presence and/or concentration of the target analyte in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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29. A method for monitoring a target analyte in a sample using a microdevice comprising a substrate, a semi-permeable membrane structure, and a microchamber formed between the semi-permeable membrane structure and the substrate, the microchamber including an suspended element including a perforated electrode, comprising:
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placing the sample in contact with the semi-permeable membrane structure of the microdevice such that the target analyte, if any, in the sample permeates the membrane structure and enters the microchamber to bind with the polymer in the polymer solution; detecting the permittivity of the polymer solution using an alternating electric field applied across at least a portion of the polymer solution; and based on the detected permittivity, determining a presence and/or concentration of the target analyte in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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38. A method for monitoring a target analyte in a sample using a polymer capable of binding to the target analyte, comprising:
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placing the sample in contact with a semi-permeable membrane structure having permeability to the target analyte and impermeability to the polymer such that the target analyte, if any, in the sample permeates the membrane structure and enters the first microchamber loaded with a solution containing the polymer and the second microchamber loaded with a reference solution, respectively, thereby effecting the binding of the target analyte with the polymer in the first microchamber; detecting a difference, if any, in a property associated with the polymer solution upon the binding between the polymer and the target analyte in the first microchamber and the corresponding property associated with the reference solution in the second microchamber; and based on the detected difference, determining a presence and/or concentration of the target analyte in the sample.
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Specification