Optical Aptamer Biosensors for In-Vivo Sensing
OwnerJason Heikenfeldinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for continually sensing at least one analyte in a sample fluid via measurement of the analyte is provided. The device includes an optically transparent component adapted for in-vivo placement. The device also includes a plurality of aptamers bound to the optically transparent component. The aptamers are capable of binding to the analyte. Also, the aptamers carry at least one tag that changes in at least one optically measurable property when the aptamers bind to the analyte. Additionally, an optical source and detector coupled to the optically transparent component can measure the optically measurable property of the aptamers.
Claims64
A device for continually sensing at least one analyte in a sample fluid via measurement of the analyte, comprising:
- at least one optically transparent component adapted for in-vivo placement;
- a plurality of aptamers bound to the optically transparent component wherein the aptamers are capable of binding to the analyte and wherein the aptamers carry at least one tag that changes in at least one optically measurable property when the aptamers bind to the analyte;
- and
- at least one optical source and detector coupled to the optically transparent component capable of measuring the optically measurable property of the aptamers.
A method for continually sensing at least one analyte in a sample fluid via measurement of the analyte, comprising:
- a. at least one optically transparent component adapted for in-vivo placement;
- b. a plurality of aptamers bound to the optically transparent component wherein the aptamers bind to the analyte and carry at least one tag that changes in at least one optically measurable property when the aptamers bind to the analyte;
- c. at least one optical source and detector coupled to the optically transparent component capable of measuring the optically measurable property of the aptamers;
- d. an optical source for exciting fluorescence of the at least one tag;
- wherein the optical source is repeatedly but not constantly introduced to the optically transparent material with a duty cycle;
- and further, wherein the duty cycle is a percentage of time during which the sensor is placed in the sample fluid, wherein the percentage of time is selected from the group consisting of less than 20%, 5%, 1%, 0.2%, 0.05%, and 0.01%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.