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US 8,409,411 B2Granted
Nano-porous membrane based sensors
AssigneeState of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Portland State University
InventorsShalini Prasad, Ravi Kiran Kondama Reddy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sensors include nano-porous alumina membranes that are sensitized by immobilization of antibodies in the nano-pores. The nano-membranes can be sensitized to respond to a single target compound, or different portions of the nano-membrane can be differently sensitized. Capture of the target compound can be detected based on a spectral signature associated with electrical conductance in the nano-pores.
Claims18
A sensor, comprising:
- a solid substrate having a top surface;
- a nano-porous alumina membrane situated at the top surface of the solid substrate, the alumina membrane including a plurality of nano-pores that do not extend through the alumina membrane, the alumina membrane including a first sensitizing agent for detection of a target compound, the first sensitizing agent being immobilized within a first set of nano-pores so as to define a sensitized portion of the alumina membrane;
- and
- a first conductor electrically coupled to the first sensitizing agent immobilized in the first set of nano-pores defined in the alumina membrane, the first conductor situated on the top surface of the solid substrate and in contact with the sensitized portion of the alumina membrane.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a base substrate having a plurality of conductor segments defined thereon;
- a nano-porous membrane secured to the base substrate, the nano-porous membrane including a plurality of sets of sensitized nano-pores that do not extend through the nano-porous membrane, the nano-pores having respective sensitizers for detection of a target compound, the sensitizers being immobilized within the sets of nano-pores, and the respective sensitizers electrically coupled to corresponding conductor segments;
- and
- a fluid chamber configured to receive a test fluid and communicate the test fluid to the sets of sensitized nano-pores.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.