SAW Sensor Liquid Cell with Air-Pocket Isolation for Leak-Free Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensors face challenges in biochemical analysis due to undesirable interactions between liquid media and electrical components, leading to electrical leakages and distortion of sensor responses.
Innovation Solution
The development of fluidic systems that utilize air-liquid virtual walls to isolate electrical components from liquid media, creating air pockets without physical barriers along the acoustic wave path, maintaining sensor integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical walls are used to isolate electrical components from liquid media, then electrical leakage is prevented, but acoustic wave propagation is disrupted and sensor response is distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an air pocket as an intermediary substance between the liquid media and electrical components. This air pocket acts as a mediator that prevents direct contact between liquid and electrical components (solving the electrical leakage problem) while being acoustically transparent to surface acoustic waves (maintaining sensor response accuracy). The air pocket is created by depositing a hydrophobic material layer on the substrate surface, which repels liquid and traps air in the designated sensing region.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrical components are directly exposed to liquid media for biochemical analysis, then sensor functionality is maintained, but electrical leakage occurs and sensor readings are distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a hydrophobic air pocket only in the specific region where liquid- electrical component isolation is needed, while leaving other regions of the substrate accessible to liquid media for biochemical analysis. The hydrophobic material is deposited selectively on the substrate surface to create localized air pockets around electrical components, allowing the system to simultaneously maintain biochemical analysis capability and electrical component stability in different spatial zones.
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 approach effectively prevents electrical leakages and minimizes sensor response distortion, ensuring reliable biochemical analysis without disrupting the acoustic wave propagation.
Implementation Method 1
The top layer can include a hydrophobic material that can repel the liquid media and form air pockets between the liquid media and the electrical components
Implementation Method 2
an air pocket over the electrical component, wherein the air pocket is created without a physical wall and is defined by a pressure difference between the air pocket and the liquid media
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Various liquid cells for use in surface acoustic wave-based sensors are disclosed. The sensor can include a substrate, at least one sensor element, and at least one pair of electrical components. The electrical components can be located on opposite ends of the sensor element. The liquid cell can include a top layer that is configured to cover at least a portion of the pair of electrical components. The liquid cell can also include a fluidic channel. The fluidic channel can be configured to receive a liquid media and is arranged not intersect with any of the pair of electrical components. The liquid cell can also include a plurality of peripheral walls that are configured to form a plurality of air pockets. Each of the plurality of air pockets are configured to form virtual non-physical walls to prevent the liquid media from contacting the at least one sensor element.