Devices, systems, and methods for detecting targeted compounds

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12174164-B2
Application number	US-201716085523-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Dec 24, 2024
Grant date	Dec 24, 2024

Abstract

Systems, devices, kits, and methods for detecting and quantifying targeted compounds within a liquid (such as urine) are provided. Such systems, devices, and methods may be autonomous, noninvasive, and provide quick and accurate results. The systems and devices are at least partially disposable (single-use) and configured to be embedded within or applied to a conventional diaper or the like. Methods for using the systems and devices hereof include receiving a liquid to be tested within a portion of a disposable device, allowing the liquid to traverse through one or more channels defined within the device in a controlled fashion, reacting the liquid with one or more chemical reagents, using a sensing unit to collect photocurrent data regarding the chemical reach on(s), and wirelessly transmitting that data to a computing unit for storage and quantitative analysis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A detection system comprising:
a first disposable device for embedding or placement within a diaper, the first disposable device comprising:
a sensing unit integrated onto a flexible substrate, the sensing unit comprising:
at least one light source,
a sensing strip comprising at least one reagent strip containing one or more colorimetric reagents for reacting with a targeted compound, and
at least one sensor for measuring color density data from the at least one reagent strip and generating photocurrent data related thereto,
wherein the color density data correlates with a concentration of the targeted compound detected on the sensing strip,

a power source unit in electrical communication with the sensing unit, the power source unit comprising at least one battery operable to power at least the sensing unit, and
a transport path unit defining at least one open area for receiving liquid therethrough and comprising a transport path comprising a channel extending between the at least one open area and the sensing unit, between the at least one open area and the power source unit, or between the at least one open area, the sensing unit, and the power source unit;

a second device configured for wired communication with the first disposable device and comprising:
a signal processing unit comprising a sensor interface circuit in operative communication with a microprocessor and configured to convert the photocurrent data received from the sensing unit into one or more output signals, and
a data transmission unit in operable communication with the signal processing unit; and

a computer readable program code executable by a computer to analyze the one or more output signals received from the data transmission unit and calculate the concentration of the targeted compound in liquid received through the transport path based on the one or more output signals.

2. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the transport path comprises a first transport path and a second transport path, the first transport path comprising a first channel extending for a first length between the at least one open area and the at least one battery and the second transport path comprising a second channel extending for a second length extending between the at least one open area and the sensing unit; and
parameters of the transport path unit are selected such that liquid received through the at least one open area and absorbed into the first transport path travels along the first length and reaches the at least one battery of the power source prior to when such received liquid reaches the reagent strip of the sensing unit via the second transport path such that the at least one battery of the power source unit activates the sensing unit and the at least one sensor measures color density data from the at least one reagent strip both before and after the liquid reaches a portion of the at least one reagent strip adjacent to the at least one sensor.

3. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the transport path unit further comprises a pad positioned between the at least one open area and the transport path, the pad comprising an absorbent material; and
the sensing strip is sandwiched between the at least one light source and at least one of the at least one sensor such that the at least one light source is aligned with at least one sensor, the at least one reagent strip, or both.

4. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the at least one sensors is configured to measure color density data from the at least one reagent strip when the at least one reagent strip is dry, when the at least one reagent strip that is wet from absorbing a liquid, and after the one or more reagents of the at least one reagent strip that has reacted with the liquid; and
the concentration of the targeted compound is calculated using the difference between a first output signal corresponding with photocurrent data from the at least one reagent strip that is wet and a second output signal corresponding with photocurrent data from the at least one reagent strip that has reacted with the liquid.

5. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one reagent strip of the sensing strip comprises a first reagent strip containing one or more colorimetric reagents for reacting with a first targeted compound and a second reagent strip containing one or more colorimetric reagents for reacting with a second targeted compound,
the first and second targeted compounds are not the same compound; and
the first and second targeted compounds are each selected from a group consisting of nitrite, nitrate, protein, albumin, red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and leucocyte esterase.

6. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the power source unit comprises at least one liquid-activated battery such that when liquid is received within the at least one liquid-activated battery, the liquid-activated battery generates power and the sensing unit measures color density data from the at least one reagent strip.

7. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source of the sensing unit comprises at least one light emitting diode or at least one laser.

8. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an active photodetector.

9. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises urine or soil, the targeted compound comprises a nitrite or a nitrate, and the concentration of the targeted compound calculated is used to detect a urinary tract infection.

10. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable program code is further executable to issue a notification if the concentration of the targeted compound is outside of a defined parameter.

11. A detection system comprising:
a first disposable device for embedding or placement within a diaper, the first disposable device comprising:
a sensing unit integrated onto a flexible substrate, the sensing unit comprising:
at least one light source,
a sensing strip comprising at least one reagent strip containing one or more colorimetric reagents for reacting with a targeted compound and an open area where the sensing strip may receive liquid, and
at least one sensor for measuring color density data from the at least one reagent strip and generating photocurrent data related thereto,
wherein the color density data correlates with a concentration of the targeted compound detected on the sensing strip; and

a transport path unit defining at least one open area for receiving liquid therethrough and comprising at least one transport path comprising a microfluidic channel extending at least between the at least one open area and the sensing unit;

a second device for removable attachment to a diaper, the second device configured for wired communication with the first disposable device and comprising:
a signal processing unit comprising a sensor interface circuit in operative communication with a microprocessor and configured to convert photocurrent data received from the sensing unit into one or more output signals, and
a data transmission unit in operable communication with the signal processing unit;
a power source unit in electrical communication with the first and second devices, the power source unit comprising a power source for providing power to the sensing unit and a power stage for regulating voltage produced by the power source;
a power control unit communicatively coupled with one or more of the sensing unit, the signal processing unit, and the data transmission unit, the power control unit configured to initiate one or more sleep mode events, each sleep mode eve

Assignees

• Purdue Research Foundation

Inventors

• Jung Byunghoo
• Ziaie Babak
• Yu Wuyang
• Seo Weeseong

Classifications

• G01N33/528

  Atypical element structures, e.g. gloves, rods, tampons, toilet paper · CPC title

• A61F2013/424

  having an electronic device · CPC title

• A61F13/42

  with wetness indicator or alarm · CPC title

• G01N31/22

  using chemical indicators (G01N31/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N31/227 Primary

  for nitrates or nitrites · CPC title