Remote resonant-circuit analyte sensing apparatus with sensing structure and associated method of sensing

A resonant sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within a test environment to sense an analyte, comprising:

• a sensing structure comprising an antenna in electrical communication with a resonant circuit at least one component of which has a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte, said antenna coupled to an electro-chemical cell and a timing circuit to emit a plurality of pulses of electromagnetic energy over an operating range of interrogation frequencies at a predetermined interval;
• a remote receiver for measurement of said plurality of pulses to identify a characteristic resonant frequency for said sensing structure in the presence of the analyte;
• and
• a pre-correlation made between a series of resonant frequency values taken for said sensing structure and a corresponding series of analyte sensing values is used for the sensing.

A resonant sensing apparatus for sensing an analyte, comprising:

• a sensing structure operatively arranged within a test environment to which an interrogation electromagnetic field is applied, said sensing structure comprising a resonant circuit having first and second components, each of which comprises a conductive segment bonded to a first surface of a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte in a manner that changes the frequency characteristics of said resonant circuit;
• said sensing structure operable to resonate at a characteristic resonant frequency in the presence of the interrogation electromagnetic field and the analyte;
• and
• a remote receiver for measurement of a plurality of successive values for electromagnetic emission intensity of said sensing structure taken over an operating range of frequencies that includes a value for said characteristic resonant frequency;
• and
• said sensing structure further comprises a relatively planar spiral antenna bonded to said structural element and coupled to an electrochemical cell and a timing circuit, said interrogation electromagnetic field is so applied by generating electromagnetic pulses emitted from said antenna at pre-determined intervals for said remote measurement thereof by said receiver;
• and a pre-correlation made between a series of resonant frequency values taken for said sensing structure and a corresponding series of analyte sensing values is used for the sensing;
• and said characteristic resonant frequency value corresponds with a relative maximum of said plurality of successive values for electromagnetic emission intensity.

A resonant sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within an environment to sense an analyte, comprising:

• a sensing structure comprising an antenna in electrical communication with a resonant circuit at least one component of which has a structural element made of a material that selectively responds to the analyte, said antenna coupled to an electro-chemical cell and a timing circuit to emit electromagnetic energy over an operating range of interrogation frequencies;
• a remote receiver for measurement of a plurality of values for said electromagnetic emission intensity to identify a characteristic resonant frequency for said sensing structure in the presence of the analyte;
• and
• a pre-correlation made between a series of resonant frequency values taken for said sensing structure and a corresponding series of analyte sensing values.