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Publication Number
US-9863931-B2
Publication Date
2018-01-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a sensor comprising an on-board control system and a testing system. The on-board system can determine viability of the control system or the testing system. Also disclosed are methods of using such a sensor.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a sensor for assessing a sample that includes an on-board control system and a testing system within a single reaction chamber. The testing system comprises reactant ingredients for performing a test reaction on the sample, while the control system comprises at least one control reagent selected from iodine, ascorbate, ferricyanide, ferrocyanide, 4-amino-2-chlorophenol, or a combination thereof. The control reagent is not an N-oxide compound and is free of nitroso functional groups.
The control reagent mediates a control reaction that generates a control signal. The control signal indicates viability of the test reaction or at least one of the reactant ingredients involved in the test reaction, and the control reagent is different from the reactant ingredients involved in the test reaction. In electrochemical implementations, the control reaction assessment is performed without an external voltage, and a control signal can be differentiated from a test signal by timing.
A further feature includes a neutralizing agent that neutralizes the control signal via a neutralizing effect. The neutralizing effect includes chemical reaction and/or physical effect, and the physical effect can include precipitation and/or diffusion. The disclosed sensor architecture can also support chamber architectures in which the control system and at least part of the testing system are located in separate chambers with parallel or serial fluid connections.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims, each covering an on-board control system integrated with a testing system in a single reaction chamber for assessing a sample via a control reaction that generates a viability-indicating control signal. The claims include the selection and functional constraints on the control reagent and differ by the presence of a neutralizing agent in the second independent claim.
Single reaction chamber sensor with on-board control system and testing system
A sensor for assessing a sample comprises an on-board control system and a testing system within a single reaction chamber, wherein the testing system comprises reactant ingredients for performing a test reaction on the sample.
Non–N-oxide, nitroso-free control reagent mediating a viability-indicating control signal
The control system comprises at least one control reagent selected from iodine, ascorbate, ferricyanide, ferrocyanide, 4-amino-2-chlorophenol, or a combination thereof, wherein the at least one control reagent is not an N-oxide compound and is free of nitroso functional groups, and wherein the at least one control reagent mediates a control reaction that generates a control signal indicating viability of the test reaction or at least one of the reactant ingredients involved in the test reaction, and wherein the at least one control reagent is different from the reactant ingredients involved in the test reaction.
Neutralizing agent neutralizing the control signal via a neutralizing effect
The sensor further comprises a neutralizing agent, wherein the neutralizing agent neutralizes the control signal via a neutralizing effect.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on integrating an on-board control reagent (non–N-oxide and nitroso-functional-group-free) that mediates a control reaction producing a control signal that indicates viability, within an integrated single reaction chamber architecture. The second independent claim adds a neutralizing agent that neutralizes the control signal via a neutralizing effect.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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