A detection device for detecting a marker in a liquid, comprising a reaction chamber, provided with a thermosensitive sensor, wherein said reaction chamber comprises an photopolymer capable of releasing or generating a chemical species that is capable of undergoing or initiating an exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction with a marker present in the liquid.

A gas sensor (1) including a first gas detection element (2) and a second gas detection element (3), a first storage portion (4) having a first internal space (4A), and a first opening (4B) establishing communication between the first internal space (4A) and the outside space thereof exposed to a detection subject atmosphere, a second storage portion (5) having a second internal space (5A) and a second opening (5B) establishing communication between the second internal space (5A) and the outside space, a first membrane (4C) allowing permeation of water vapor and substantially not allowing permeation of a detection target gas, and covering the first opening (4B), and a calculation unit (12) for calculating the concentration of a detection target gas contained in the detection subject atmosphere, based on outputs from the first and second gas detection elements (2, 3), respectively.

Assays used in conjunction with a thermal contrast reader are disclosed. In the assay, the test strip includes materials that can develop a thermal response if a target analyte is present in a sample. Linear flow assays include nanoparticles with high affinity binding to the analyte. Binding of the nanoparticles with an analyte in the sample is detected using thermal contrast. Analytes over a broad range of concentrations are detected in the linear flow assays. Methods of detecting target analytes and kits comprising lateral flow assays and thermal contrast reader are also disclosed.

A photothermal absorbance detection apparatus comprises a flow cell comprising a first temperature responsive device on an input side, a second temperature responsive device on an output side, and a detection region between the first temperature responsive device and the second temperature responsive device; and a light-emitting device positioned proximate to the detection region and configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation towards the detection region; wherein the first temperature responsive device and the second temperature responsive device together measure a change in temperature of a fluid passing through the detection region.

This invention provides a method for detecting an analyte in a sample using electromagnetic radiation comprising: (i) providing a labelled reagent, the labelled reagent having a binding site which is capable of binding the analyte or an analogue of the analyte and a label, wherein the label is capable of absorbing the electromagnetic radiation to generate energy by non-radiative decay; (ii) providing a device having a radiation source adapted to generate a series of pulses of electromagnetic radiation, a transducer having a pyroelectric or piezoelectric element and electrodes, which is capable of transducing energy generated by non-radiative decay into an electrical signal, a detector which is capable of detecting the electrical signal, a controller for controlling the source of electromagnetic radiation and the detector, wherein the device has a first and second chamber, the first chamber containing a first reagent proximal to the transducer, wherein the first reagent is capable of binding to the analyte such that the binding of the labelled reagent to the first reagent via the analyte is directly proportional to the concentration of the analyte, and the second chamber containing a second reagent proximal to the transducer, wherein the second reagent mimics the analyte such that the binding of the labelled reagent to the second reagent is inversely proportional to the concentration of the analyte; (iii) exposing the sample to the transducer; (iv) irradiating the sample with electromagnetic radiation and detecting the electrical signal.

Assays used in conjunction with a thermal contrast reader are disclosed. In the assay, the test strip includes materials that can develop a thermal response if a target analyte is present in a sample. Linear flow assays include nanoparticles with high affinity binding to the analyte. Binding of the nanoparticles with an analyte in the sample is detected using thermal contrast. Analytes over a broad range of concentrations are detected in the linear flow assays. Methods of detecting target analytes and kits comprising lateral flow assays and thermal contrast reader are also disclosed.

Ultrasensitive, ultrathin thermodynamic sensing platforms for the detection of chemical compounds at trace levels are disclosed. Embodiments of the ultrathin sensor comprise substrate, adhesion, microheater, and catalyst layers. A sensor array may include a plurality of sensors each having a different catalyst. When a sensor array exposed to an analyte, each of the various sensors of the array may experience an endothermic reaction, an exothermic reaction, or no reaction. A comparison of the reaction results to data comprising previously-obtained reaction results may be used to determine information on the analyte. Advantageously, these ultrathin vapor sensors utilize less power and provide greater sensitivity, and may be used to detect and identify analytes at the PPT level. Specialized sensors configured to detect analytes falling into a certain category (e.g., explosives, drugs and narcotics, biomarkers, etc.) are disclosed, as well as general purpose sensors capable of detecting analytes from a plurality of categories.

Ultrasensitive, ultrathin thermodynamic sensing platforms for the detection of chemical compounds at trace levels are disclosed. Embodiments of the ultrathin sensor comprise substrate, adhesion, microheater, and catalyst layers. A sensor array may include a plurality of sensors each having a different catalyst. When a sensor array exposed to an analyte, each of the various sensors of the array may experience an endothermic reaction, an exothermic reaction, or no reaction. A comparison of the reaction results to data comprising previously-obtained reaction results may be used to determine information on the analyte. Advantageously, these ultrathin vapor sensors utilize less power and provide greater sensitivity, and may be used to detect and identify analytes at the PPT level. Specialized sensors configured to detect analytes falling into a certain category (e.g., explosives, drugs and narcotics, biomarkers, etc.) are disclosed, as well as general purpose sensors capable of detecting analytes from a plurality of categories.

The present disclosure provides a hydrogen peroxide sterilization sensor and method of use. The sensor includes: at least one thermal indicator component independently selected from an electronic thermal sensor, an irreversible temperature indicator, and a heat-shrinkable film; a reactant-functional porous sorbent in thermal contact (which may or may not be direct physical contact) with the at least one thermal indicator component; and a reactant comprising a material that reacts exothermically with hydrogen peroxide. The reactant is impregnated in the porous sorbent. The method includes: providing a hydrogen peroxide sterilization sensor; allowing hydrogen peroxide to contact the reactant to generate thermal energy sufficient to cause a response from the at least one thermal indicator component; and detecting that conditions for the hydrogen peroxide sterilization have been met.