Method of detecting an analyte in a fluid

• US 7,402,441 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cambridge Enterprises Limited
• Original Assignee: Smart Holograms Ltd.
• Inventors: Gonzalez, Blanca Madrigal, Marshall, Alexander James, Lowe, Christopher Robin, Blyth, Jeffrey, Kabilan, Satyamoorthy, Davidson, Colin Alexander Bennett, James, Anthony Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Christopher L
• Application Number:
  US10/509,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20060166350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 436/518
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7723 Swelling part, also for adsorption sensor, i.e. without chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4788 Diffraction for sizing particles G01N15/0205
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0248 Volume holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0044 holographic fringes deformations; holographic sensors holographic rain sensor in vehicles B60S1/084
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/808 Optical sensing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 Optical property

Abstract

A method for the detection of an analyte in a fluid, comprising contacting the fluid with a holographic element comprising a medium and a hologram disposed throughout the volume of the medium, wherein an optical characteristic of the element changes as a result of a variation of a physical property occurring throughout the volume of the medium, wherein the variation arises as a result of interaction between the medium and the analyte, and wherein the reaction and the variation are reversible; and detecting any change of the optical characteristic.

Claims

1. A method for the detection of an analyte in a fluid, which comprises passing the fluid continuously over a holographic element comprising a medium and a hologram disposed throughout the volume of the medium, wherein an optical characteristic of the element changes as a result of a variation of a physical property occurring throughout the volume of the medium, wherein the variation arises as a result of interaction between the medium and the analyte, and wherein the reaction and the variation are reversible;

and detecting any change of the optical characteristic.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the physical property is the size of the medium.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the optical characteristic is the reflectance, refractance or absorbance of the holographic element.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein any change of the optical characteristic is detected as a color change.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein any change of the optical characteristic is detected as an intensity change.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyte is glucose or lactate.

7. The method, according to claim 6, wherein the fluid is an optical fluid.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyte is CO₂ or oxygen.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is an optical fluid.

10. A device for the detection of an analyte in a fluid, which comprises a fluid conduit having an inlet, an outlet, and a holographic element, which comprises a medium and a hologram disposed throughout the volume of the medium, over which the fluid can flow, wherein the device also includes a window whereby non-ionising radiation can irradiate the holographic element, and wherein the analyte is detected by contacting the fluid with the holographic element, wherein an optical characteristic of the element changes as a result of a variation of a physical property occurring throughout the volume of the medium, wherein the variation arises as a result of interaction between the medium and the analyte, and wherein the reaction and the variation are reversible.

11. The device, according to claim 10, wherein the physical property is the size of the medium.

12. The device, according to claim 10, wherein the optical characteristic is the reflectance, refractance or absorbance of the holographic element.

13. The device, according to claim 10, wherein any change of the optical characteristic is detected as an intensity change.

14. The device, according to claim 10, wherein any change of the optical characteristic is detected as an intensity change.