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US 6,458,547 B1Granted
Apparatus and method for detecting and identifying infectious agents
AssigneeProlume, Ltd.
InventorsBruce J. Bryan, Stephen Gaalema, Randall B. Murphy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Solid phase methods for the identification of an analyte in a biological medium, such as a body fluid, using bioluminescence are provided. A chip designed for performing the method and detecting the bioluminescence is also provided. Methods employing biomineralization for depositing silicon on a matrix support are also provided. A synthetic synapse is also provided.
Claims66
A microelectronic device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of micro-locations defined on the substrate, wherein each micro-location is for linking a macromolecule;
- an independent photodetector integrated at each micro-location and optically coupled to each micro-location, each photodetector being configured to generate a sensed signal responsive to the photons of light emitted at the corresponding micro-location when a light-emitting chemical reaction occurs at that micro-location, each photodetector being independent from the photodetectors optically coupled to the other micro-locations;
- and
- an electronic circuit coupled to each photodetector and configured to read the sensed signal generated by each photodetector and to generate output data signals therefrom that are indicative of the light emitted at each micro-location by the light-emitting chemical reactions, whereby the device detects photons of light emitted by light-emitting chemical reactions, wherein
- each micro-location is defined by a portion of the surface of the device.
3 more elements
A microelectronic device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of micro-locations defined on the substrate, wherein each micro-location is for linking a macromolecule and is defined by a portion of the surface of the device;
- an independent photodetector integrated at each micro-location and optically coupled to each micro-location, each photodetector being configured to generate a sensed signal responsive to the photons of light emitted at the corresponding micro-location when a light-emnitting chemical reaction occurs at that micro-location, each photodetector being independent from the photodetectors optically coupled to the other micro-locations;
- and
- an electronic circuit coupled to each photodetector and configured to read the sensed signal generated by each photodetector and to generate output data signals therefrom that are indicative of the light emitted at each micro-location by the light-emitting chemical reactions, whereby the device detects photons of light emitted by light-emnitting chemical reactions, wherein the electronic circuit includes a pixel unit cell circuit associated with each photodiode and a delta-sigma A/D conversion circuit, each pixel unit cell circuit being configured to integrate the sensed signal from the respective photodiode and the A/D conversion circuit being configured to quantize the integrated sensed signals.
2 more elements
A microelectronic device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of micro-locations defined on the substrate, wherein each micro-location is for linking a macromolecule and is defined by a portion of the surface of the device;
- an independent photodetector integrated at each micro-location and optically coupled to each micro-location, each photodetector being configured to generate a sensed signal responsive to the photons of light emitted at the corresponding micro-location when a light-emitting chemical reaction occurs at that micro-location, each photodetector being independent from the photodetectors optically coupled to the other micro-locations;
- a layer of polyethylene terephthalate reflective material on all or a portion on the surface of the device or above the surface of the device, whereby light generated in the reaction is reflected thereby enhancing the light signal detected by the photodetector;
- and
- an electronic circuit coupled to each photodetector and configured to read the sensed signal generated by each photodetector and to generate output data signals therefrom that are indicative of the light emitted at each micro-location by the light-emitting chemical reactions, whereby the device detects photons of light emitted by light-emitting chemical reactions.
3 more elements
A microelectronic device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of micro-locations defined on the substrate, wherein each micro-location is for linking a macromolecule and is defined by a portion of the surface of the device;
- an independent photodetector integrated at each micro-location and optically coupled to each micro-location, each photodetector being configured to generate a sensed signal responsive to the photons of light emitted at the corresponding micro-location when a light-emitting chemical reaction occurs at that micro-location, each photodetector being independent from the photodetectors optically coupled to the other micro-locations, wherein the photodetector optically coupled to each micro-location is configured to generate a sensed signal responsive to bioluminescence emitted at the corresponding micro-location;
- and
- an electronic circuit coupled to each photodetector and configured to read the sensed signal generated by each photodetector and to generate output data signals therefrom that are indicative of the light emitted at each micro-location by the light-emitting chemical reactions, whereby the device detects photons of light emitted by light-emitting chemical reactions.
2 more elements
A microelectronic device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of micro-locations defined on the substrate, wherein each micro-location is for linking a macromolecule and the micro-locations are in the form of an array, the array of micro-locations including a first and a second array of pixel elements comprising a first size and a second size, respectively, the first and second sizes being different;
- an independent photodetector integrated at each micro-location and optically coupled to each micro-location, each photodetector being configured to generate a sensed signal responsive to the photons of light emitted at the corresponding micro-location when a light-emitting chemical reaction occurs at that micro-location, each photodetector being independent from the photodetectors optically coupled to the other micro-locations;
- and
- an electronic circuit coupled to each photodetector and configured to read the sensed signal generated by each photodetector and to generate output data signals therefrom that are indicative of the light emitted at each micro-location by the light-emitting chemical reactions, whereby the device detects photons of light emitted by light-emitting chemical reactions, wherein:
- the micro-locations defined on the substrate are for receiving a fluid sample for analysis, each micro-location comprising an attachment layer to which macromolecules are linked;
- a macromolecule is linked to each of a plurality of the micro-locations via the attachment layer;
- a linked macromolecule selectively binds to analyte present in the sample received by the device;
- and
- each photodetector is configured to generate a sensed signal responsive to photons of light emitted at the corresponding mnicro-location when the selected analyte bound at that micro-location is exposed to a second macromolecule that binds to the first macromolecule or analyte linked to one or more components of a light-emitting reaction in the presence of the remaining components of the light-emitting reaction.
7 more elements
A microelectronic device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of micro-locations defined on the substrate, wherein each micro-location is for linking a macromolecule and is defined by a portion of the surface of the device;
- a layer of reflective material on all or a portion of the micro-portions defined on the substrate;
- an independent photodetector integrated at each micro-location and optically coupled to each micro-location, each photodetector being configured to generate a sensed signal responsive to the photons of light emitted at the corresponding micro-location when a light-emitting chemical reaction occurs at that micro-location, each photodetector being independent from the photodetectors optically coupled to the other micro-locations;
- and
- an electronic circuit coupled to each photodetector and configured to read the sensed signal generated by each photodetector and to generate output data signals therefrom that are indicative of the light emitted at each micro-location by the light-emitting chemical reactions, whereby the device detects photons of light emitted by light-emitting chemical reactions.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.