# US 2025/0093203 A1 · Handheld blood measuring device using nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide substrate and application of same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0093203 A1 - Document ID: US20250093203A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/969,532 - Filed: 2024-12-05 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-19 - Assignees: Metgen Oy - Applicants: MetGen, Incorporated - Inventors: Richard D. Shunnarah; Hugh F. Garvey; Lenzi J. Williams; Devon Fish - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250093203A1 ## CPC - G01J 3/0272: {Handheld} - G01J 3/0256: {Compact construction} - G01J 3/4412: {Scattering spectrometry (particle sizing by light scattering G01N15/0205; optical velocimetry of particles G01P5/20, G01P5/26)} - G01N 21/658: {enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons} - G01N 33/523: {the element being adapted for a specific analyte} - G01N 33/6812: {Assays for specific amino acids} - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A handheld Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) device for measuring a sample collected from a subject comprises a laser generator configured to produce a laser beam; a nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (NAAO) substrate, wherein a sample collected from a subject is configured to be disposed on the NAAO substrate; wherein the laser beam is configured to be incident on the sample on the NAAO substrate, and a light signal is produced in response to the laser beam; and a light sensor configured to receive the light signal, wherein the laser generator, the NAAO substrate, and the light sensor are disposed on a base having a top surface, wherein the top surface has an area of less than 200 cm2. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A handheld Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) device for measuring a sample from a subject, the device comprising: a laser generator configured to produce a laser beam; a nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (NAAO) substrate, wherein the NAAO substrate is configured to receive a sample collected from a subject; wherein the laser beam is configured to be incident on the sample on the NAAO substrate, and a light signal is produced by the sample in response to the laser beam; and a light sensor configured to receive the light signal, wherein the laser generator, the NAAO substrate, and the light sensor are disposed in association with a base having a length less than 100 mm and a width less than 80 mm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The handheld SERS device according to claim 1, wherein the NAAO substrate comprises a multilayered nanoporous aluminum layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The handheld SERS device according to claim 2, wherein the multilayered nanoporous aluminum layer comprises a base aluminum layer, and a nanoporous aluminum layer on top of the base aluminum layer; and wherein the nanoporous aluminum layer comprises a plurality of nanocavities. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The handheld SERS device according to claim 3, wherein the NAAO substrate comprises a gold layer; wherein the gold layer is disposed on top of the NAAO substrate via a method of air-water-oil interfacial self-assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The handheld SERS device according to claim 4, wherein the gold layer comprises gold nanoparticles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The handheld SERS device according to claim 5, wherein the gold nanoparticles comprise nanorods. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The handheld SERS device according to claim 1, wherein the NAAO substrate has a high surface area to volume ratio. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The handheld SERS device according to claim 1, wherein the device detects Phe in the sample, wherein the sample comprises blood of the subject. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The handheld SERS device according to claim 1 further comprising a beam splitter locates between the laser generator and the NAAO substrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The handheld SERS device according to claim 9 further comprising a bandpass filter located between the beam splitter and the light sensor; wherein the bandpass filter selectively permits the light signal having at least one wavelength to pass through. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The handheld SERS device according to claim 10, wherein the beam splitter permits the passing of the laser beam produced by the laser generator on one of its two sides, and is configured to reflect at least a portion of the light signal on the other of its two sides. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The handheld SERS device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one wavelength is adjustable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The handheld SERS device according to claim 12, wherein the light sensor is configured to receive the light signal passes through the bandpass filter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The handheld SERS device according to claim 1 further comprising a test strip holder; wherein the test strip holder is configured to receive a test strip comprising the NAAO substrate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The handheld SERS device according to claim 14 further comprising a focusing lens; wherein the focusing lens is disposed between the test strip holder and the beam splitter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The handheld SERS device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a communication unit, wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with an interactive display for receiving an input and displaying an output. ### Claim 17 A handheld Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) device for measuring a sample collected from a subject, the device comprising: a laser generator configured to produce a laser beam; a nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (NAAO) substrate, wherein the NAAO substrate is configured to receive a sample collected from a subject; wherein the laser beam is configured to be incident on the sample on the NAAO substrate, and a light signal is produced by the sample in response to the laser beam; and a light sensor configured to receive the light signal, wherein the laser generator, the NAAO substrate, and the light sensor are disposed in association with a base having a top surface, wherein the top surface has an area of less than 200 cm2. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The handheld SERS device according to claim 17, wherein the NAAO substrate comprises a multilayered nanoporous aluminum layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The handheld SERS device according to claim 18, wherein the multilayered nanoporous aluminum layer comprises a base aluminum layer, and a nanoporous aluminum layer on top of the base aluminum layer; and wherein the nanoporous aluminum layer comprises a plurality of nanocavities. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The handheld SERS device according to claim 19, wherein the NAAO substrate comprises a gold layer; wherein the gold layer is disposed on top of the NAAO substrate via a method of air-water-oil interfacial self-assembly. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The handheld SERS device according to claim 20, wherein the gold layer comprises gold nanoparticles. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The handheld SERS device according to claim 21, wherein the gold nanoparticles comprise nanorods. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The handheld SERS device according to claim 17, wherein the NAAO substrate has a high surface area to volume ratio. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The handheld SERS device according to claim 17 further comprising a beam splitter locates between the laser generator and the NAAO substrate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The handheld SERS device according to claim 24 further comprising a bandpass filter located between the beam splitter and the light sensor; wherein the bandpass filter selectively permits the light signal having at least one wavelength to pass through. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The handheld SERS device according to claim 25, wherein the beam splitter permits the passing of the laser beam produced by the laser generator on one of its two sides, and is configured to reflect at least a portion of the light signal on the other of its two sides. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The handheld SERS device according to claim 25, wherein the at least one wavelength is adjustable. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The handheld SERS device according to claim 26, wherein the light sensor is configured to receive the light signal passes through the bandpass filter. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The handheld SERS device according to claim 25 further comprising a test strip holder; wherein the test strip holder is configured to receive a test strip comprising the NAAO substrate. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The handheld SERS device according to claim 29 further comprising a focusing lens; wherein the focusing lens is disposed between the test strip holder and the beam splitter.