Microfabricated field calibration assembly for analytical instruments
| DWPI Title: Field calibration assembly used in sensor systems or analytical instruments for determining presence of analyte comprises circuit board with microbridge unit having electrical connection; interface device; and circuit board positioning unit |
| Abstract: A microfabricated field calibration assembly for use in calibrating analytical instruments and sensor systems. The assembly comprises a circuit board comprising one or more resistively heatable microbridge elements, an interface device that enables addressable heating of the microbridge elements, and, in some embodiments, a means for positioning the circuit board within an inlet structure of an analytical instrument or sensor system. |
| Use: In calibrating analytical instruments and sensor systems for reliable determination of presence and/or quantity of particular analyte; also used as field calibration devices for portable analytical instruments. |
| Advantage: The system has ability to generate potentially dangerous calibrant within inlet manifold using safer precursors. With multiple microbridge elements, it is possible to have multiple calibrants readily available to select and use, depending on what is required for calibration for particular analysis. The nitride encapsulation protects polysilicon from oxidation while at elevated operating temperatures; and also protects against possible corrosive environments. The portion of circuit board comprising electrical connections can be positioned in fixed fashion and microbridge unit devices can be replaceably mounted in sockets in circuit board through operable lid. The surface of bridge may be coated to repel solution, thus reducing spreading by changing contact angle; and viscosity can be increased by using less solvent for given amount of calibrant or calibrant precursor or by using different solvent combinations. The small size of the assembly is amenable to applications using quantities down to picogram aliquots of calibrating analyte, also suitable for portable analytical instruments. |
| Novelty: Field calibration assembly comprises circuit board (10) with microbridge unit having electrical connections connected to current source i.e. battery through interface device (20); and unit for positioning circuit board within inlet (30) structure of analytical instrument (40), where microbridge unit comprises microbridge element, such that heating of microbridge element by use of current source can provide calibrant to instrument, where microbridge element has surface length of 50-5000 micrometers. The assembly further comprises at least one calibrant deposit on microbridge elements. |
| Filed: 1/10/2007 |
| Application Number: US2007651890A |
| Tech ID: SD 7727.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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