Three-dimensional metal ion sensor arrays on printed circuit boards

• US 9,011,670 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Incorporated
• Inventors: Bickford, James A., Williams, John R., Harjes, Daniel I., Reiter, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Luan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kessel, Maris R
• Application Number:
  US12/541,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 204409-411, 204/416, 204/419, 204/422, 205/789, 205/789.5, 205/792.5, 205/790.5
• US Class Current: 205/789
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/333 Ion-selective electrodes or membranes glass electrodes G01N27/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3335 the membrane containing at least one organic component G01N27/3271 takes precedence; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent in enzyme electrodes C12Q1/001
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

An electronic device includes a substrate and a plurality of sensors. Each sensor is disposed in a well over the substrate and includes a working electrode, an inner filling solution disposed thereover, and an ion-selective membrane. The working electrode is in contact with the substrate and the ion-selective membrane is disposed over the inner filling solution and substantially seals the well.

Claims

1. A method of detecting an analyte, the method comprising:

a) delivering an ambient comprising a first analyte and a second analyte to a plurality of sensors, wherein the ambient is a liquid or a gas and wherein each sensor comprises;

a working electrode;

an inner filling solution disposed in contact with the working electrode; and

an ion-selective membrane disposed in contact with the inner filling solution, the ion-selective membrane (i) sealing the inner filling solution from the ambient and (ii) being in fluidic communication with a channel of a micro-fluidic front end that delivers the ambient;

b) using the micro-fluidic front end to temporally separate the first and second analytes within the ambient such that the first analyte arrives at the plurality of sensors earlier than the second analyte; and

c) measuring an electromotive force resulting from passage of the first analyte into the ion-selective membrane of at least one sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is disposed within a well over a substrate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the working electrode is an electrically conductive wire.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner filling solution comprises a high-boiling point fluid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a cover is disposed over a sub-array of the plurality of sensors.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising removing the cover before delivering the ambient comprising the first analyte to the plurality of sensors.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a signal corresponding to the electromotive force to a remote location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring an electromotive force resulting from passage of the second analyte in the ambient through the ion-selective membrane of at least one sensor.