Chemical and biological sensing using tuning forks

Patent · 10 July 2012

OSTI ID:1176453

Tao, Nongjian; Boussaad, Salah

A device for sensing a chemical analyte is disclosed. The device is comprised of a vibrating structure having first and second surfaces and having an associated resonant frequency and a wire coupled between the first and second surfaces of the vibrating structure, wherein the analyte interacts with the wire and causes a change in the resonant frequency of the vibrating structure. The vibrating structure can include a tuning fork. The vibrating structure can be comprised of quartz. The wire can be comprised of polymer. A plurality of vibrating structures are arranged in an array to increase confidence by promoting a redundancy of measurement or to detect a plurality of chemical analytes. A method of making a device for sensing a chemical analyte is also disclosed.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-01ER45943
• Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (Scottsdale, AZ)
• Patent Number(s): 8,215,170
• Application Number: 11/568,209
• OSTI ID: 1176453
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES