Remote resonant-circuit analyte sensing apparatus with sensing structure and associated method of sensing
First Claim
1. A resonant sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within a test environment to which an interrogation electromagnetic field is applied to sense an analyte, comprising:
- a sensing structure comprising an antenna in electrical communication with a resonant circuit having a capacitive component and an inductive component comprising a plurality of conductive windings, both of which are on a first side of a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte, said sensing structure operable to resonate at a characteristic resonant frequency in the presence of the interrogation electromagnetic field and the analyte;
said structural element comprises a plurality of particle-sized ferromagnetic elements embedded within said material;
a remote receiver for measurement of a plurality of values for electromagnetic emission intensity of said sensing structure to identify said characteristic resonant frequency;
said plurality of values for electromagnetic emission intensity comprise a plurality of successive values taken over an operating range of successive interrogation frequencies, and said interrogation electromagnetic field is so applied by generating a pulse of electromagnetic energy emitted just prior to each said measurement taken of said successive value; and
wherein said antenna is a biconical antenna coupled to an electro-chemical cell and a timing circuit, said pulses being emitted from said antenna at pre-determined intervals for said remote measurement thereof by said receiver;
said plurality of conductive windings are patterned onto said first side; and
said corresponding series of analyte sensing values comprises analyte pH level values.
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Abstract
A resonant sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within a test environment to sense an analyte. A sensing structure is included having an antenna in electrical communication with a resonant circuit and a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte. This sensing structure will resonate at a particular characteristic resonant frequency in the presence of an applied interrogation electromagnetic field and the analyte upon the occurrence of the selective response. A receiver is used for remotely identifying a value for the characteristic resonant frequency by measuring a plurality of values for electromagnetic emission intensity of the sensing structure taken over an operating range of frequencies. A length of a conductive segment of any component of the resonant circuit may also function as the antenna. A method of sensing an analyte with the sensing structure includes arranging the sensing structure within a test environment and applying an interrogation electromagnetic field causing the sensing structure to resonate. A pre-correlation made between a series of resonant frequency values taken for the sensing structure and a corresponding series of analyte sensing values can be used for the sensing.
643 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A resonant sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within a test environment to which an interrogation electromagnetic field is applied to sense an analyte, comprising:
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a sensing structure comprising an antenna in electrical communication with a resonant circuit having a capacitive component and an inductive component comprising a plurality of conductive windings, both of which are on a first side of a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte, said sensing structure operable to resonate at a characteristic resonant frequency in the presence of the interrogation electromagnetic field and the analyte;
said structural element comprises a plurality of particle-sized ferromagnetic elements embedded within said material;
a remote receiver for measurement of a plurality of values for electromagnetic emission intensity of said sensing structure to identify said characteristic resonant frequency;
said plurality of values for electromagnetic emission intensity comprise a plurality of successive values taken over an operating range of successive interrogation frequencies, and said interrogation electromagnetic field is so applied by generating a pulse of electromagnetic energy emitted just prior to each said measurement taken of said successive value; and
wherein said antenna is a biconical antenna coupled to an electro-chemical cell and a timing circuit, said pulses being emitted from said antenna at pre-determined intervals for said remote measurement thereof by said receiver;
said plurality of conductive windings are patterned onto said first side; and
said corresponding series of analyte sensing values comprises analyte pH level values.
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2. A resonant sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within a test environment to sense an analyte, comprising:
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a sensing structure comprising an antenna in electrical communication with a resonant circuit at least one component of which has a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte, said antenna coupled to an electro-chemical cell and a timing circuit to emit a plurality of pulses of electromagnetic energy over an operating range of interrogation frequencies at a predetermined interval;
a remote receiver for measurement of said plurality of pulses to identify a characteristic resonant frequency for said sensing structure in the presence of the analyte; and
a pre-correlation made between a series of resonant frequency values taken for said sensing structure and a corresponding series of analyte sensing values is used for the sensing. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A resonant sensing apparatus for sensing an analyte, comprising:
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a sensing structure operatively arranged within a test environment to which an interrogation electromagnetic field is applied, said sensing structure comprising a resonant circuit having first and second components, each of which comprises a conductive segment bonded to a first surface of a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte in a manner that changes the frequency characteristics of said resonant circuit;
said sensing structure operable to resonate at a characteristic resonant frequency in the presence of the interrogation electromagnetic field and the analyte; and
a remote receiver for measurement of a plurality of successive values for electromagnetic emission intensity of said sensing structure taken over an operating range of frequencies that includes a value for said characteristic resonant frequency; and
said sensing structure further comprises a relatively planar spiral antenna bonded to said structural element and coupled to an electrochemical cell and a timing circuit, said interrogation electromagnetic field is so applied by generating electromagnetic pulses emitted from said antenna at pre-determined intervals for said remote measurement thereof by said receiver; and
a pre-correlation made between a series of resonant frequency values taken for said sensing structure and a corresponding series of analyte sensing values is used for the sensing; and
said characteristic resonant frequency value corresponds with a relative maximum of said plurality of successive values for electromagnetic emission intensity.
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6. A resonant sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within an environment to sense an analyte, comprising:
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a sensing structure comprising an antenna in electrical communication with a resonant circuit at least one component of which has a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte, said antenna coupled to an electro-chemical cell and a timing circuit to emit electromagnetic energy over an operating range of interrogation frequencies;
a remote receiver for measurement of a plurality of values for said electromagnetic emission intensity to identify a characteristic resonant frequency for said sensing structure in the presence of the analyte; and
a pre-correlation made between a series of resonant frequency values taken for said sensing structure and a corresponding series of analyte sensing values. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification