A microorganism test method includes: covering, with a hydrophobic capping solvent, a sample containing a specimen and a liquid culture medium, within a region in a vicinity of a sensor configured to detect a microorganism contained in the specimen; and calculating, based on an output from the sensor, information indicating a degree of growth of the microorganism contained in the specimen. For example, an analysis unit drives an array sensor in which many resonators are arranged in a matrix pattern, stores a resonance frequency of a resonator which is acquired at the time of starting the measurement as an initial frequency, and calculates a difference (frequency shift) between the initial frequency and a resonance frequency of the resonator which is measured at predetermined time intervals as information indicating a degree of growth of the microorganism contained in the specimen.

A microorganism test method includes: covering, with a hydrophobic capping solvent, a sample containing a specimen and a liquid culture medium, within a region in a vicinity of a sensor configured to detect a microorganism contained in the specimen; and calculating, based on an output from the sensor, information indicating a degree of growth of the microorganism contained in the specimen. For example, an analysis unit drives an array sensor in which many resonators are arranged in a matrix pattern, stores a resonance frequency of a resonator which is acquired at the time of starting the measurement as an initial frequency, and calculates a difference (frequency shift) between the initial frequency and a resonance frequency of the resonator which is measured at predetermined time intervals as information indicating a degree of growth of the microorganism contained in the specimen.

A lysis device including a sample vessel, at least one piezo element, and a controller is disclosed. The sample vessel has a microchannel formed therein. The sample vessel has at least one port extending through a surface to the microchannel. The piezo element is attached to the surface of the sample vessel. The controller has logic to cause the controller to emit a first signal including a series of frequencies to the at least one piezo element to cause the at least one piezo element to generate ultrasonic acoustic standing waves in the sample vessel, to receive a second signal indicative of measured vibration signals from the sample vessel detected by the at least one piezo element, and to determine a resonant frequency of the sample vessel using the measured vibration signals.

A lysis device including a sample vessel, at least one piezo element, and a controller is disclosed. The sample vessel has a microchannel formed therein. The sample vessel has at least one port extending through a surface to the microchannel. The piezo element is attached to the surface of the sample vessel. The controller has logic to cause the controller to emit a first signal including a series of frequencies to the at least one piezo element to cause the at least one piezo element to generate ultrasonic acoustic standing waves in the sample vessel, to receive a second signal indicative of measured vibration signals from the sample vessel detected by the at least one piezo element, and to determine a resonant frequency of the sample vessel using the measured vibration signals.

A reference chamber for a fluid sensor comprises a housing, a deflectable structure, which is arranged movably within the housing, a control device configured to drive the deflectable structure at a first point in time such that the deflectable structure assumes a defined position, and to drive the deflectable structure at a second point in time such that the deflectable structure moves out of the defined position and a movement of the deflectable structure in the housing is obtained. The reference chamber comprises an evaluation device configured to determine a movement characteristic of the movement of the deflectable structure on the basis of the moving into the defined position or on the basis of the moving out of the defined position and to determine an atmospheric property in the housing on the basis of the movement characteristic.

A reference chamber for a fluid sensor comprises a housing, a deflectable structure, which is arranged movably within the housing, a control device configured to drive the deflectable structure at a first point in time such that the deflectable structure assumes a defined position, and to drive the deflectable structure at a second point in time such that the deflectable structure moves out of the defined position and a movement of the deflectable structure in the housing is obtained. The reference chamber comprises an evaluation device configured to determine a movement characteristic of the movement of the deflectable structure on the basis of the moving into the defined position or on the basis of the moving out of the defined position and to determine an atmospheric property in the housing on the basis of the movement characteristic.

Methods of forming a shear-mode chemical/physical sensor for liquid environment sensing on V-shaped grooves of a [100] crystal orientation Si layer and the resulting devices are provided. Embodiments include forming a set of V-shaped grooves in a [100] Si layer over a substrate; forming an acoustic resonator over and along the V-shaped grooves, the acoustic resonator including a first metal layer, a thin-film piezoelectric layer, and a second metal layer in an IDT pattern or a sheet; and forming at least one functional layer along a slope of the acoustic resonator.

A micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) resonator device includes at least one functionalization material arranged over at least a central portion, but less than an entirety, of a top side electrode. For an active region exhibiting greatest sensitivity at a center point and reduced sensitivity along its periphery, omitting functionalization material over at least one peripheral portion of a resonator active region prevents analyte binding in regions of lowest sensitivity. The at least one functionalization material extends a maximum length in a range of from about 20% to about 95% of an active area length and extends a maximum width in a range of from about 50% to 100% of an active area width. Methods for fabricating MEMS resonator devices are also provided.

A micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) resonator device includes at least one functionalization material arranged over at least a central portion, but less than an entirety, of a top side electrode. For an active region exhibiting greatest sensitivity at a center point and reduced sensitivity along its periphery, omitting functionalization material over at least one peripheral portion of a resonator active region prevents analyte binding in regions of lowest sensitivity. The at least one functionalization material extends a maximum length in a range of from about 20% to about 95% of an active area length and extends a maximum width in a range of from about 50% to 100% of an active area width. Methods for fabricating MEMS resonator devices are also provided.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an interrogation device that is operable to apply one or more source signals to one or more coils surrounding a volume, where a material is disposed within the volume. Each of the one or more source signals may excite one of the one or more coils, and the behavior of each the one or more coils responsive to the exciting may be monitored. One or more parameters may be determined based on the behavior of each the one or more coils, and the one or more parameters may be utilized to generate a signature for the material within the volume. The signature may be compared to one or more signatures of known materials to identify the material within the volume.