Micromechanical calorimetric sensor

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873126

Thundat, Thomas G ^[1]; Doktycz, Mitchel J ^[1]

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1. Knoxville, TN

A calorimeter sensor apparatus is developed utilizing microcantilevered spring elements for detecting thermal changes within a sample containing biomolecules which undergo chemical and biochemical reactions. The spring element includes a bimaterial layer of chemicals on a coated region on at least one surface of the microcantilever. The chemicals generate a differential thermal stress across the surface upon reaction of the chemicals with an analyte or biomolecules within the sample due to the heat of chemical reactions in the sample placed on the coated region. The thermal stress across the spring element surface creates mechanical bending of the microcantilever. The spring element has a low thermal mass to allow detection and measuring of heat transfers associated with chemical and biochemical reactions within a sample placed on or near the coated region. A second surface may have a different material, or the second surface and body of microcantilever may be of an inert composition. The differential thermal stress between the surfaces of the microcantilever create bending of the cantilever. Deflections of the cantilever are detected by a variety of detection techniques. The microcantilever may be approximately 1 to 200 .mu.m long, approximately 1 to 50 .mu.m wide, and approximately 0.3 to 3.0 .mu.m thick. A sensitivity for detection of deflections is in the range of 0.01 nanometers. The microcantilever is extremely sensitive to thermal changes in samples as small as 30 microliters.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464
• Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 6096559
• OSTI ID: 873126
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

micromechanical
calorimetric
sensor
calorimeter
apparatus
developed
utilizing
microcantilevered
spring
elements
detecting
thermal
changes
sample
containing
biomolecules
undergo
chemical
biochemical
reactions
element
bimaterial
layer
chemicals
coated
region
surface
microcantilever
generate
differential
stress
reaction
analyte
due
heat
placed
creates
mechanical
bending
mass
allow
detection
measuring
transfers
associated
near
material
inert
composition
surfaces
create
cantilever
deflections
detected
variety
techniques
approximately
200
50
wide
thick
sensitivity
range
01
nanometers
extremely
sensitive
samples
30
microliters
material layer
detection techniques
extremely sensitive
differential thermal
spring element
sample containing
thermal stress
heat transfer
chemical reaction
sensor apparatus
chemical reactions
thermal mass
microcantilevered spring
thermal changes
biochemical reactions
detecting thermal
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