Methods, devices, and systems for measuring physical properties of fluid

Inventors

Abhishek, Ramkumar • Yoshimizu, Norimasa

Assignees

Abram Scientific Inc

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices for measuring, at one or more time points, one or more properties or changes in properties of a fluid sample. The devices may comprise a chamber defining an internal volume of the device suitable for receiving and retaining the fluid sample; a plurality of layers, the plurality comprising at least a first layer below the chamber, at least a second layer above the chamber, and a substrate layer between the first and second layers, wherein: the substrate layer is linked to at least one suspended element located within the chamber; the suspended element is linked to the substrate layer by at least two compliant structures located within the chamber; and the suspended element is configured to oscillate upon application of an actuating signal to at least one electrically conductive path, which runs across at least two of the compliant structures and the suspended element. Related methods and uses are also disclosed.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a device for measuring, at one or more time points, one or more properties or changes in properties of a fluid sample. The device includes a chamber defining an internal volume suitable for receiving and retaining the fluid sample, together with a plurality of layers comprising at least a first layer below the chamber, at least a second layer above the chamber, and a substrate layer between the first and second layers.

The substrate layer is linked to at least one suspended element located within the chamber, where the suspended element is comprised of an insulating material and at least one continuous patterned conductive layer providing at least one electrically conductive path. The suspended element is linked to the substrate layer by at least two compliant structures located within the chamber, and the suspended element and the at least two compliant structures are formed as part of the substrate layer.

The suspended element is configured to oscillate upon application of an actuating signal to at least one said electrically conductive path, which runs fully across at least two of the said compliant structures and the suspended element. The device is configured so that the suspended element and the at least two compliant structures have at least a first oscillation frequency and a second oscillation frequency, wherein the second oscillation is not a harmonic of the first oscillation.

Oscillation at the first oscillation frequency induces a first acoustic field in the fluid sample with a first shear penetration depth smaller than a threshold value, and oscillation at the second oscillation frequency induces a second acoustic field in the fluid sample with a second shear penetration depth greater than the threshold value, where the threshold value ranges from 0.5 microns to 500 microns.

Claims Coverage

Independent claims are present and the core coverage includes multiple inventive features. The claims focus on a chambered, multilayer device with a substrate-linked insulating suspended element carrying a continuous patterned conductive layer, coupled via at least two compliant structures and actuated to produce two non-harmonically related oscillation frequencies that induce acoustic fields having shear penetration depths on opposite sides of a threshold.

The claims combine the chambered multilayer structure, the insulating suspended element with a continuous patterned conductive path, the at least two compliant structures, and the non-harmonically related oscillation frequencies that produce acoustic fields with shear penetration depths on opposite sides of a stated threshold.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications