US 7,348,181 B2Granted

Self-encoding sensor with microspheres

AssigneeTrustees of Tufts College

InventorsDavid R. Walt, Todd A. Dickinson

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Abstract

A microsphere-based analytic chemistry system is disclosed in which self-encoding microspheres having distinct characteristic optical response signatures to specific target analytes may be mixed together while the ability is retained to identify the sensor type and location of each sensor in a random dispersion of large numbers of such sensors in a sensor array using an optically interrogatable encoding scheme. An optical fiber bundle sensor is also disclosed in which individual microsphere sensors are disposed in microwells at a distal end of the fiber bundle and are optically coupled to discrete fibers or groups of fibers within the bundle. The identities of the individual sensors in the array are self-encoded by exposing the array to a reference analyte while illuminating the array with excitation light energy. A single sensor array may carry thousands of discrete sensing elements whose combined signal provides for substantial improvements in sensor detection limits, response times and signal-to-noise ratios.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method of statistically analyzing response signals obtained from a sensor element array to determine the statistical validity of said response signals, said method comprising:

a) providing an array comprising a population of sensor elements at a density of least 20,000 sensor elements per 1 mm2, said population of sensor elements comprising a plurality of subpopulations of sensor elements, the plurality of subpopulations of sensor elements comprising a first subpopulation comprising sensor elements having the same first bioactive agent and a second subpopulation comprising sensor elements having the same second bioactive agent;
b) contacting said array with a composition comprising at least a target analyte, thereby producing a response signal at said sensor elements of at least one of said first and second subpopulations;
c) obtaining individual response signals from 5 to 100 separate sensor elements from at least one of said first and second subpopulations;
and
d) performing a statistical analysis on said response signals from at least one of said first and second subpopulations, whereby statistical validity of said response signals is determined.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/287,573Filed 6 Apr 1999 · continuation in part
Priority: 6 Oct 1997
Published: US 2001/0029049 A111 Oct 2001
Granted: 25 Mar 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

C12Q 1/682
Characterised by the detection means: signal amplification
C12Q 1/6834
Hybridisation assays: enzymatic or biochemical coupling of nucleic acids to a solid phase
G01N 21/6428
Fluorescence; Phosphorescence: measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g.…
G01N 21/6452
Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters: individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates

Family

Application08/944,850Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Oct 1997
PCT/US98/21193Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Oct 1998
US 2001/0029049 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 Oct 2001
US 7,115,884 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 7,348,181 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.