Resonant sensor and sensing system
The disclosed sensor chip includes a substrate and a moving member coupled to the substrate and disposed for movement relative to the substrate. The moving member moves relative to the substrate in a first direction and in a second direction in response to movement of the substrate. The first direction is different than the second direction. The moving member includes a plurality of receptors. The receptors are configured for selectively binding to a first measurand.
1 - 40 . (canceled)
41 . An apparatus for determining a property of a sample, comprising:
a substrate;
a moving member
i) coupled to the substrate by a plurality of connections, and
ii) moving relative to the substrate; and
at least one receptor area located on the moving member for selectively binding to a first measurand.
42 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of tethers for coupling the substrate to the moving member.
43 . The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the tethers are elastic and allow for movement of the moving member relative to the substrate.
44 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the moving member moves relative to the substrate in a plurality of directions.
45 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein motion of the substrate excites motion in the moving member.
46 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the moving member oscillates in more than one mode.
47 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the substrate defines a plane and the moving member moves relative to the substrate in the plane of the substrate.
48 . The apparatus of claim 47 wherein a first direction is substantially perpendicular to a second direction.
49 . The apparatus of claim 47 wherein a first direction is substantially linear and a second direction is rotational.
50 . The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the moving member defines a second plane, the second plane substantially parallel to the substrate plane.
51 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the moving member oscillates relative to the substrate.
52 . The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the moving member oscillates in at least two directions relative to the substrate.
53 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the receptor area is centrally disposed on the moving member.
54 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the receptor area is distributed over the moving member.
55 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the receptor area comprises a plurality of receptor sites.
56 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the receptor area can bind at least two different measurands.
57 . The apparatus of claim 41 , comprising a blocking site located on the moving member limiting binding of materials in a sample to the moving member.
58 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the measurand is at least one of a biological or chemical measurand.
59 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein environmental factors affecting operation of the apparatus are discriminated from effects of the measurand on the apparatus.
60 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the moving member is excited by motion of the substrate.
61 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein a system measures motion of the moving member.
62 . The apparatus of claim 61 wherein motion of the moving member is measured relative to the substrate.
63 . A method for determining a property of a sample, comprising:
exposing a first receptor area of a member to a first measurand;
moving a substrate that is coupled to the member by a plurality of connections; and
monitoring movement of the member relative to the substrate.
64 . The method of claim 63 wherein the member moves relative to the substrate in a plurality of directions.
65 . The method of claim 63 wherein motion of the substrate excites motion in the member.
66 . The method of claim 65 wherein a first direction is substantially perpendicular to a second direction.
67 . The method of claim 65 wherein a first direction is substantially linear and a second direction is rotational.
68 . The method of claim 63 wherein movement of the member is monitored relative to the substrate in a place of the substrate.
69 . The method of claim 68 wherein the member defines a second plane, the second plane substantially parallel to the substrate plane.
70 . The method of claim 63 wherein the member oscillates relative to the substrate.
71 . The method of claim 70 wherein the member oscillates in at least two directions relative to the substrate.
72 . The method of claim 63 wherein the receptor area is centrally disposed on the member.
73 . The method of claim 63 wherein the receptor area is distributed over the member.
74 . The method of claim 63 wherein the receptor area comprises a plurality of receptor sites.
75 . The method of claim 73 exposing the receptor area to a second measurand, wherein the first and second measurand bind to the receptor area.
76 . The method of claim 63 wherein the member comprises a blocking site for limiting binding of materials in a sample to the moving member.
77 . The method of claim 63 wherein the measurand is at least one of a biological or chemical measurand.
78 . The method of claim 63 , comprising discriminating between environmental factors affecting operation of the apparatus and effects of the measurand affecting operation of the apparatus.
79 . The method of claim 63 , comprising exciting the member by motion of the substrate.
80 . The method of claim 63 , comprising measuring motion of the member.
81 . The method of claim 80 wherein motion of the member is measured relative to the substrate.
82 . An apparatus for determining a property of a sample, comprising:
means for exposing a first receptor area of a member to a first measurand;
means for moving a substrate that is coupled to the member by a plurality of connections; and
means for monitoring movement of the member relative to the substrate.