Resonant sensor and sensing system

Abstract

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.