Resonator and process for performing biological assay

Inventors

Johnson, Ward L. • FRANCE, DANIELLE C. • KIRSCHLING, TERESA L. • Walls, Fred L.

Assignees

United States Department of Commerce

Abstract

A process for assaying a biological sample includes: receiving a reference sample by an acoustic article including: a resonator including: a substrate; a piezoelectric member; and a phase noise detector; disposing the reference sample on the piezoelectric member; producing a reference phase noise signal; detecting the reference phase noise signal; disposing a biological sample on the piezoelectric member; producing a first biological phase noise signal; detecting the first biological phase noise signal; contacting the biological sample disposed on the piezoelectric member with an antimicrobial agent; producing a second biological phase noise signal; detecting the second biological phase noise signal; and analyzing the first biological phase noise signal, the second biological phase noise signal, and the reference phase noise signal to assay the biological sample.

Core Innovation

The invention discloses an acoustic article and an associated process for assaying a biological sample, particularly through detection and analysis of phase noise signals generated by a piezoelectric member within a resonator. The acoustic article includes a resonator with a substrate, a piezoelectric member disposed on the substrate that receives the biological sample, and a phase noise detector electrically connected to the piezoelectric member. The piezoelectric member produces a phase noise signal that indicates the activity of the biological sample, and the phase noise detector produces a phase noise spectrum based on the signal received.

The process includes disposing a reference sample and subsequently a biological sample on the piezoelectric member, producing and detecting phase noise signals at various stages. Particularly, the biological sample includes a microbe exhibiting motional fluctuations on the piezoelectric member. The biological sample is contacted with an antimicrobial agent, and the resulting changes in phase noise signals are analyzed to assay the biological sample. This analysis can involve comparing power spectral densities of phase noise signals before and after exposure to the antimicrobial agent, potentially determining the effect of the agent on microbial activity.

The problem addressed is the need for a rapid and efficient assay to characterize mechanical fluctuations of biological analytes, such as microbes, in fluids, and to determine the effect of antimicrobial agents on the activity of microbes. Conventional culturing techniques are slower and genomic-based techniques do not directly assess microbial activity. This invention provides a more direct, faster method to assess antimicrobial efficacy, important in clinical settings for pathogenic infections.

Claims Coverage

The patent includes two independent claims that cover an acoustic article designed for assaying biological samples using a resonator and methods for detecting phase noise signals indicative of biological activity.

The independent claims focus on the structure of the acoustic article featuring a resonator coupled with a piezoelectric member that produces a phase noise signal indicative of biological activity, and a phase noise detector that analyses this signal. The inventive features include the specific substrate structures (inverted mesa, solidly mounted bulk resonator), the use of phase noise signals produced by the piezoelectric member upon receiving biological samples, and the electrical detection and processing of these signals to assay biological samples.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications