Flow cells for piezoelectric cantilever sensors

摘要

Flow cells configured for piezoelectric millimeter-sized cantilever sensors provide direct, sensitive detection of analytes in fluid media. The flow cells comprise a flow inlet and a flow outlet positioned to cause sample flow past a sensing surface of the cantilever sensor. The flow cell is configured for millimeter-sized cantilever sensors. The geometry of the flow cell influences the sample flow and thus the interaction of the flow with the cantilever sensor.

主权项

1. A flow cell comprising:
a first aperture configured to allow a medium to flow into a reservoir portion of the flow cell; a second aperture configured to allow the medium to flow out of the reservoir portion of the flow cell; and the reservoir portion, wherein:
the reservoir portion is configured to contain therein at least a portion of the medium;the reservoir portion contains at least a portion of a sensing surface of a piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensor;the PEMC sensor comprises:
a piezoelectric layer comprising a proximate end and a distal end;a non-piezoelectric layer comprising a proximate end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the piezoelectric layer is coupled to at least a portion of the non-piezoelectric layer such that the piezoelectric layer and the non-piezoelectric layer are not coextensive;a base portion coupled to the proximate end of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the base portion is not attached to the proximate end of the non-piezoelectric layer; andelectrodes operatively associated with the piezoelectric layer;at least a portion of the medium in the reservoir portion is exposable to the sensing surface of the PEMC sensor; andexposure of the medium to the sensing surface of the PEMC sensor is enhanced under flow conditions as compared to the medium being static within the flow cell.