Combined Electrical Optical Sensor Fluid Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical resistance-based analyte detection methods face challenges in real-time monitoring and require repetitive enhancement, washing, and drying steps, making them less robust and tedious.
Innovation Solution
A sensor combining electrical and optical detection systems to measure conductivity or resistance, allowing for real-time monitoring of analyte deposition through optical characteristics, thereby simplifying the detection process and enhancing reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If electrical resistance measurement is used for analyte detection, then the method is simple and low cost, but real-time monitoring during enhancement is not feasible with satisfactory accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical resistance measurement with optical detection (absorbance, fluorescence, or reflectance) into a dual-detection system. The electrical electrodes measure resistance changes while optical detectors simultaneously monitor the enhancement process, allowing real-time monitoring with high accuracy while maintaining the simplicity and low cost of electrical measurement methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical detection system as an intermediary to enable real-time monitoring during the silver enhancement process. The optical detectors provide continuous feedback on the deposition progress without interfering with the electrical measurement, bridging the gap between simple electrical detection and real-time monitoring requirements.
2Reliability
If silver enhancement is allowed to continue for a specific period to form sufficient deposition, then a conductive path can be formed, but the method becomes tedious and requires repetitive enhancement, washing and drying steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs real-time optical feedback during the enhancement process to monitor when the conductive path forms (percolation threshold). The optical detection system continuously measures absorbance, fluorescence, or reflectance changes, providing feedback that indicates when sufficient silver deposition has occurred, eliminating the need for fixed-time enhancement and repetitive washing/drying steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary real-time monitoring during enhancement to detect the percolation threshold before the enhancement is complete. By identifying when the conductive path forms during the enhancement process itself, the system eliminates the need for subsequent washing and drying steps to confirm conductive path formation, streamlining the overall procedure.
3Manufacturing precision
If the enhancement period is not sufficient to form sufficient deposition, then a further enhancement step is required, but this increases the complexity and reduces robustness of the method
Solution Approach 1:
The real-time optical detection system provides continuous feedback on the deposition progress, allowing precise determination of when the percolation threshold is reached. This feedback mechanism ensures sufficient deposition formation in a single enhancement step by stopping the enhancement process at the optimal moment, eliminating the need for multiple enhancement steps and reducing overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables real-time detection of the percolation threshold during analyte deposition, improving sensitivity, stability, and reducing the risk of false positives/negatives, while being easier to miniaturize and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
measuring an optical property in the fluid holder - such as UV-absorbance, VIS-absorbance, IR-absorbance
Implementation Method 2
measuring an optical property in the fluid holder - such as fluorescence
Implementation Method 3
measuring an optical property in the fluid holder - such as phosphorescence
Implementation Method 4
measuring an optical property in the fluid holder - such as photoluminescence
Implementation Method 5
measuring an optical property in the fluid holder - such as refractive index
Implementation Method 6
an electrical detection system for measuring electric conductivity or resistance inside the fluid holder
Implementation Method 7
measuring the electrical resistance between the electrodes
Implementation Method 8
a method wherein metal or other electrically conductive material is deposited to qualitatively or quantitatively detect an analyte of interest
Implementation Method 9
enzyme or nanoparticle labels are used in combination with metal enhancement (deposition) to detect DNA. The labels serve as a nucleation site or catalyse silver deposition
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a sensor for the detection of an analyte, comprising a fluid holder (8), an optical detection system (3,9) for carrying out an optical detection at the fluid holder (8) and an electrical detection system (4) for measuring electric conductivity or resistance inside the fluid holder (8) and to a method comprising the use of such a sensor.