Sensor arrays for detecting analytes in fluids
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing a chemically sensitive sensor, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first nonconductive organic material, a second nonconductive organic material, a conductive material, a solvent, a substrate, and an electrical measuring apparatus having first and second conductive leads;
mixing the first and second nonconductive organic materials, the conductive material and the solvent to form a mixture;
contacting the substrate with the mixture;
allowing the solvent to substantially evaporate leaving a sensor film; and
connecting the first and second conductive leads to the sensor film.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance. Variability in chemical sensitivity from sensor to sensor is provided by qualitatively or quantitatively varying the composition of the conductive and/or nonconductive regions. An electronic nose for detecting an analyte in a fluid may be constructed by using such arrays in conjunction with an electrical measuring device electrically connected to the conductive elements of each sensor.
143 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a chemically sensitive sensor, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first nonconductive organic material, a second nonconductive organic material, a conductive material, a solvent, a substrate, and an electrical measuring apparatus having first and second conductive leads; mixing the first and second nonconductive organic materials, the conductive material and the solvent to form a mixture; contacting the substrate with the mixture; allowing the solvent to substantially evaporate leaving a sensor film; and connecting the first and second conductive leads to the sensor film. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of manufacturing a chemically sensitive sensor, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first solution of a first nonconductive organic material and a conductive material dissolved in a solvent, a second solution of a second nonconductive organic material dissolved in a solvent, a substrate having a pre-selected region, first and second conducting leads each coupled to an electrical measuring apparatus and an inkjet device; delivering the first solution to the inkjet device; ejecting the first solution from the inkjet device onto the pre-selected region of the substrate; delivering the second solution to the inkjet device; ejecting the second solution from the inkjet device onto the pre-selected region of the substrate; and connecting the first and second conductive leads to the pre-selected region of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification