IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,188,914
Granted Patent B2
US 12,188,914 · App. 17/659,980 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Decoupled thermodynamic sensing system

Inventors: Peter P. Ricci (West Warwick, RI); Otto J. Gregory (Narragansett, RI)
Assignee: Trace Sensing Technologies Inc.
G01N33/0031G01K17/06G01N27/121G01N27/126G01N27/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,188,914
App. No.
17/659,980
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Ultrasensitive, decoupled thermodynamic sensing platforms for the molecular-level detection of target analytes are disclosed, wherein the sensors have a heating resistor decoupled from a sensing resistor. Embodiments of the decoupled sensor comprise a metallic microheater resistor on one side of substrate, and a sensor resistor coupled to a catalyst on the other side of the substrate. A sensor array may be provided including a plurality of sensors each having a different catalyst that, when exposed to an analyte, each experience an endothermic reaction, an exothermic reaction, or no reaction. A comparison of the reaction results to data comprising previously obtained reaction results may be used to determine the presence and the identity of the analyte. Advantageously, the decoupled sensors utilize less power and provide greater sensitivity than other-known systems, and may be used to detect and identify a single molecule of an analyte.

Claims (42)

1. A detection device comprising:

a first sensor comprising a first microheater layer, a first sensor layer, and a first catalyst layer in thermal communication with the first sensor layer, the first microheater layer separated from the first sensor layer by a first substrate layer;

a second sensor comprising a second microheater layer and a second sensor layer, the second microheater layer separated from the second sensor layer;

a controller in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, the controller configured to:

cause a first amount of power to be provided to the first and second microheater layers to heat the first sensor layer to a first setpoint temperature and to heat the second sensor layer to a second setpoint temperature;

in response to an endothermic and/or exothermic reaction at the first and/or second sensor, cause a second amount of power to be applied to the first and/or second microheater layers to maintain the first setpoint temperature and the second setpoint temperature;

determine a measurement of the difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power, and

determine an existence, identity, and/or concentration of an analyte based on the measurement.

2. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the first setpoint temperature is the same as the second setpoint temperature.

3. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is a reference sensor without a catalyst layer.

4. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor layer and the second sensor layer comprise a first resistor and a second resistor, respectively.

5. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises a second catalyst layer in thermal communication with the second sensor layer.

6. The detection device of claim 5 , further comprising:

a third sensor comprising a third microheater layer, a third sensor layer, and a third catalyst layer in thermal communication with the third sensor layer;

a fourth sensor comprising a fourth microheater layer, a fourth sensor layer, and a fourth catalyst layer in thermal communication with the fourth sensor layer; and

a fifth sensor comprising a fifth microheater layer, a fifth sensor layer, and a fifth catalyst layer in thermal communication with the fifth sensor layer.

7. The detection device of claim 6 , wherein the first catalyst layer comprises aluminum copper oxide (Al 2 CuO 4 ), the second catalyst layer comprises iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), the third catalyst layer comprises indium-tin oxide (ITO), the fourth catalyst layer comprises tin oxide (SnO), and the fifth catalyst layer comprises tungsten oxide (WO).

8. The detection device of claim 7 , further comprising a sixth sensor comprising a sixth catalyst layer comprising copper oxide (CuO) or manganese oxide (MnO).

9. The detection device of claim 6 , wherein the first catalyst layer, the second catalyst layer, the third catalyst layer, the fourth catalyst layer, and the fifth catalyst layer each comprise a different catalyst selected from one of the following: aluminum copper oxide (Al 2 CuO 4 ), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), chromium oxide (CrO 2 ), copper oxide (CuO), cobalt oxide (CoO 2 ), iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), indium-tin oxide (ITO), iridium oxide (IrO 2 ), manganese oxide (MnO), ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ), tungsten oxide (WO), or tin oxide (SnO).

10. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the setpoint temperature is between 50° C. and 500° C.

11. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the first microheater layer and the second microheater layers are formed from copper.

12. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor layer and the second sensor layer are formed from palladium.

13. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate layer is formed from yttria-stabilized-zirconia.

14. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the existence, identity, and/or concentration of the analyte non-invasively, continuously, and in real-time.

15. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the existence, identity, and/or concentration of the analyte by comparing the measurement to a database of known thermal responses.

16. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the detection device is configured to detect the analyte at concentration levels as low as a single molecule of the analyte.

17. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the existence, identity, and/or concentration of the analyte, the analyte selected from: proteins, DNA, RNA, nucleic acids, amino acids.

18. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the existence, identity, and/or concentration of the analyte indicative of protein folding and/or misfolding.

19. The detection device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the existence, identity, and/or concentration of the analyte sampled from a subject's breath, skin, or sweat.

20. A method for determining an existence, identity, and/or concentration of an analyte, the method comprising:

providing a sensor array comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor comprising a first microheater layer, a first sensor layer, and a first catalyst layer in thermal communication with the first sensor layer, the first microheater layer separated from the first sensor layer by a first substrate layer, the second sensor comprising a second microheater layer and a second sensor layer, the second microheater layer separated from the second sensor layer;

delivering a first amount of power to the sensor array to heat the first sensor to a first setpoint temperature and to heat the second sensor to a second setpoint temperature;

exposing the sensor array to an analyte to permit a reaction between the analyte and the sensor array;

in response to the reaction, delivering a second amount of power to the sensor array to maintain the first setpoint temperature and the second setpoint temperature;

determining a measurement of the difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power; and

determining an existence, identity, and/or concentration of the analyte based on the measurement.

21. A detection device for determining an existence, identity, and/or concentration of an analyte, the detection device comprising:

a first layer comprising a microheater;

a second layer in contact with the first layer, the second layer comprising a substrate,

a third layer in contact with the second layer, the third layer comprising a resistor, and

a fourth layer in contact with the third layer, the fourth layer comprising a catalyst,

wherein the detection device is configured to detect a heat effect resulting from a chemical reaction between the catalyst and the analyte, the heat effect indicative of the existence, identity, and/or concentration of the analyte.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2023
From: PGR HOLDINGS, LLC
To: TRACE SENSING TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 063066/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: RICCI, PETER P.; GREGORY, OTTO J.
To: PGR HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 059740/0496 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 17453620 · Nov 4, 2021
Provisional Application 63110829 · Nov 6, 2020
Related Publication 20220244229A1 · Aug 4, 2022
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