Patent ID: 8105552
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A system for simultaneously measuring a plurality of analyte concentrations in a chemical or biological sample, comprising: (a) a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor elements, each said element responding to at least one of said plurality of analytes; (b) at least one light source for directing light onto said sensor elements; (c) a sample delivery device for delivering said sample to said sensor elements, wherein said sample delivery device comprises a sample entry port, a plurality of reservoirs, and a plurality of fluidic channels, said channels being connected between said reservoirs and said entry port, and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer has a hydrophobic outer surface, a hydrophilic lower surface, and a plurality of vent holes formed therein configured to be aligned with said reservoirs, wherein when sample is introduced into the system through the sample entry port, said sample is driven along the channels by the hydrophilic surface of the cover layer and into said reservoirs in order to create a chemical reaction between at least one analyte and said sensor elements, wherein air escapes through the vent holes as the reservoirs fill with sample and the hydrophobic outer surface prevents sample from flowing through the vent holes, thereby allowing a hydrostatic balance to be reached such that a fixed volume of sample is delivered to each reservoir and sensor element without requiring an external force other than gravity to move the sample through the sample delivery device; (d) a detector for detecting a spectral profile and positional arrangement of light reflected from said sensor array, said detector adapted to convert said detected spectral profile and said positional arrangement into a digital record; (e) an image identification algorithm for identifying said at least one analyte based on an image intensity, color pattern, positional arrangement, or combinations thereof; and (f) a software-based optimization algorithm incorporating sensor responses from said sensor array to produce an analysis result with full system and variable compensation.