Device and method for monitoring and quantifying analytes
The present invention can be described as an apparatus and cartridge for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid. The invention can also be described as a method of detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid using the apparatus and cartridge. The method comprises the steps of clamping a sensor cartridge into a cartridge receiver of the apparatus, providing fluid to a fluid flow-path of the cartridge, illuminating at least a portion of a sensor, and using a photodetector to detect a change in the optical property of the sensor, wherein the change is caused by the presence or absence of an analyte in the fluid.
1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid in a cartridge, the apparatus comprising:
a tube;
a first coupling configured to mate with an inlet port of the cartridge;
a condensate trap in fluid communication between the tube and the first coupling;
a head assembly having a photodetector interface, the photodetector interface configured to cooperate with a sensor port of the cartridge to expose at least a portion of the photodetector interface to a sensor assembly of the sensor port;
a tail assembly having an illumination interface, the illumination interface configured to cooperate with an illumination port of the cartridge to provide illumination to a portion of the sensor assembly;
wherein the head assembly is in clamping relation to the tail assembly such that when a cartridge is disposed between the head and tail assemblies, the head and tail assemblies clamp the cartridge to form a fluidic seal between the illumination interface and illumination port and a fluidic seal between the photodetector interface, sensor assembly, and sensor port.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pump configured to move fluid through a cartridge disposed between the head and tail assemblies.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a processor in electronic communication with the photodetector interface, the processor configured to capture analyte detection information from the photodetector interface.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a flow sensor, the processor configured to regulate the flow of fluid through the cartridge based on output from the flow sensor.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the head and tail assemblies clamp the cartridge to also form a lightproof seal.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is only exposed to light from the illumination interface.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises multiple photo detector interfaces and sensor ports.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises multiple illumination interfaces and illumination ports.
9. An apparatus for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid in a cartridge, the apparatus comprising:
a tube;
a first coupling configured to mate with an inlet port of the cartridge;
a condensate trap in fluid communication between the tube and the first coupling;
a head assembly and a tail assembly, either the head assembly or the tail assembly having a photo detector interface, the photo detector interface configured to cooperate with a sensor port of the cartridge to expose at least a portion of the photo detector interface to a sensor assembly of the sensor port;
wherein the head assembly is in clamping relation to the tail assembly such that when a cartridge is disposed between the head and tail assemblies, the head and tail assemblies clamp the cartridge to form a fluidic seal between the photo detector interface, sensor assembly, and sensor port.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second coupling configured to mate with an outlet port of the cartridge.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the condensate trap includes a thermoelectric device.