Dual-Cantilever Analyte Sensor for Thermal Interference Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensors using cantilevers for analyte detection face challenges due to mechanical and thermal interferences from sample liquids and other chemical substances, making it difficult to filter out signals solely attributable to the interaction of the analyte with the cantilever.
Innovation Solution
A sensor design incorporating a test cantilever with a receptor layer for analyte uptake and a reference cantilever with a non-uptake layer, along with transducers on both, allows for simultaneous measurements that reduce environmental interference by comparing the interactions on each cantilever, enhancing the specificity and accuracy of analyte detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single cantilever with receptor layer is used for analyte detection, then the sensor can detect the presence and concentration of analytes, but the measurement signal is contaminated by mechanical and thermal interferences from sample liquid and other chemical substances
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into two separate cantilevers: a test cantilever with a receptor layer that selectively binds to the analyte, and a reference cantilever with a reference layer that does not bind to the analyte. This segmentation allows the measurement signal to be separated into analyte-specific components and background interference components, enabling subtraction of the reference signal from the test signal to eliminate mechanical and thermal interferences.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference cantilever acts as an intermediary that experiences the same mechanical and thermal environmental conditions as the test cantilever but does not interact with the analyte. By measuring the reference cantilever's response to environmental changes and subtracting it from the test cantilever's response, the system isolates the analyte-specific signal from background interferences.
2Measurement precision
If a reference cantilever is added to compensate for environmental interferences, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The test cantilever and reference cantilever are integrated into a single sensor device structure, sharing common components such as the substrate, support structures, and electronic readout circuitry. This merging approach allows the dual-cantilever system to achieve improved measurement precision while minimizing the increase in device complexity through shared infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design significantly reduces background noise and environmental interference, enabling precise and reliable detection of analytes by differentiating between the interactions on the test and reference cantilevers, thus improving measurement accuracy and sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
at least on the deformable part a receptor layer for selective uptake of an analyte from the sample is applied
Implementation Method 2
Cantilever surface stress sensors with single-crystalline silicon piezoresistors
Implementation Method 3
a reference layer for selective non-uptake of the analyte is applied
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sensor (1) for converting chemical and/or biochemical information of an analyte (90) in a sample (9) into an electrical signal, comprising a test cantilever (2) having a base (20) and a deformable part (22), wherein at least on the deformable part a receptor layer (24) for selective uptake of the analyte (90) is applied, wherein a first and second test transducer (200, 220) is arranged on the test cantilever (2), a reference cantilever (3) having a base (30) and a deformable part (32), wherein at least on the deformable part (32) a reference layer (34) for selective non-uptake of the analyte (90) is applied, wherein a first and second reference transducer (320) is arranged on the reference cantilever (3), wherein the transducers (200, 220, 300, 320) are trained and equipped for this purpose,to output an electrical signal corresponding to the occurrence and/or concentration and/or amount of the analyte (90) in the sample (9), wherein the interaction of the reference cantilever (3) with the sample (9) containing analyte (90) corresponds to the interaction of the test cantilever (2) with the sample (9) without analyte (90) by the selective non-uptake of the analyte (90) by the reference layer (34), wherein the first and second test transducers (200, 220) are each arranged on the deformable part (22) of the test cantilever (2) and the first and second reference transducers (300, 320) are arranged on the deformable part (32) of the reference cantilever (3).