Porous membrane sensor element

Abstract

A sensor element (101) for detecting an analyte in a fluid sample by optical probing comprises a translucent membrane (110) with a front side (111) defining a sensor surface for contacting a fluid sample, and a back side (112) facing away from the front side (111). The sensor element (101) has a reflective layer (114) at the front side (111) of the translucent membrane (110). An optical input port(120) is connected to the back side (112) of the translucent membrane (110) for feeding probing light to the translucent membrane (110) through the back side (112). An optical output port (130) is connected to the back side (112) of the translucent membrane (110) for collecting an optical response from the translucent membrane (110) through the backside (112). The sensor element further comprisesan optical constriction element (140) with a screen element (141) arranged between the input port (120) and the output port (130), thereby optically separating the output port (130) from the input port (140). The constriction element (140) further comprises a reflective element (142) arranged at the backside (112) of the translucent membrane (110). The reflective element (142) faces towards the reflective layer (114) at a vertical distance D therefrom, thereby defining a probing region (116). Light travelling from the input port (120) to the output port (130) is confined to pass through the probing region (116), wherein at least the probing region (116) comprises pores (118) extending from respective openings at the sensor surface into the translucent membrane (110). A further aspect relates to sensor assembly (101) comprising a sensor element (101) integrated with a sample chamber (102).

Description

technical field [0001] In one aspect, the invention relates to a sensor element for detecting an analyte in a fluid sample by optical detection. According to another aspect, the invention relates to a sensor assembly comprising a sensor element and a sample chamber, wherein the sensor element is used for optical detection of a fluid sample in a sample space of the sample chamber. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the sensor element and the sensor assembly are used for analyzing at least a portion of a bodily fluid, such as blood, for an analyte. According to yet another particular aspect of the invention, the sensor element and sensor assembly are used to analyze a sample of a complex fluid comprising both a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase of an analyte in a continuous phase of the fluid. According to yet another aspect, a method of detecting an analyte in a fluid sample by optical detection is provided. Background technique [0002] Detecting a...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, due to clogging issues, the disclosed device is best suited for use as a single-use device rather than a continuous and reusable device, as complete flushing of samples after measurement can be difficult, or at least very time-consuming and unreliable, in the presence of subsequent samples. risk of cross-contamination between

Furthermore, in this particular type of setup, additional challenges in obtaining quantitative results from optical detection may arise due to changes in the optical path used to probe the filtrate due to pressure-induced deformation of the filter membrane.

[0006] In another example, applications in the food industry, such as the dairy industry, most conventional filtration and detection methods include filter papers, sieves, etc. for visual inspection of residues, spectroscopic analysis or bacterial counts, with the Disadvantages: Requires a relatively large sample size and involves a time-consuming measurement process that is not conducive to the sample and is not compatible with integrated multiparameter measurements performed on the same sample

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