# US 11,441,987 B2 · Systems and methods for analysis of liquids by covered fluidic channels integrated onto sensor platforms

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- Number: US 11,441,987 B2
- Document ID: US11441987B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/335,874
- Filed: 2017-09-26
- Published: 2019-08-22
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-26
- Assignees: Duke University
- Applicants: Duke University
- Inventors: Zehra Parlak; Stefan Zauscher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441987B2

## CPC

- G01N 9/002: {using variation of the resonant frequency of an element vibrating in contact with the material submitted to analysis (G01N9/34 takes precedence)}
- B01L 3/502707: {characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components}
- B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces}
- G01N 11/00: Investigating flow properties of materials, e.g. viscosity, plasticity; Analysing materials by determining flow properties
- G01N 29/022: {Fluid sensors based on microsensors, e.g. quartz crystal-microbalance [QCM], surface acoustic wave [SAW] devices, tuning forks, cantilevers, flexural plate wave [FPW] devices (microdevices per se B81B)}
- G01N 29/036: by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
- G01N 29/222: {Constructional or flow details for analysing fluids (optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425)}
- G01N 29/42: by frequency filtering {or by tuning to resonant frequency}
- B01L 2200/12: Specific details about manufacturing devices
- B01L 2300/0861: Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
- G01N 2011/0073: {acoustic properties}
- G01N 2291/02466: Biological material, e.g. blood
- G01N 2291/0255: (Bio)chemical reactions, e.g. on biosensors
- G01N 2291/0256: Adsorption, desorption, surface mass change, e.g. on biosensors
- G01N 2291/0422: Shear waves, transverse waves, horizontally polarised waves
- G01N 2291/0426: Bulk waves, e.g. quartz crystal microbalance, torsional waves
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

## Abstract

Systems and methods for analysis of liquids by covered fluidic channels integrated onto sensor platforms. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving at least one of a liquid and an analyte of interest into a covered fluidic channel with a predetermined orientation. The method also includes confining at least one of the liquid and the analyte of interest within the covered fluidic channel. The method further includes analyzing properties of at least one of the liquid and the analyte of interest.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
providing a characterization device comprising:
a plurality of covered fluidic channels with a predetermined orientation; and
a sensor platform comprising a non-sensing region and at least one of an active region, a sensitive region, and a central sensing region, wherein the plurality of covered fluidic channels are positioned on a surface of the sensor platform over a portion of the at least one of the active region, the sensitive region, and the central sensing region;
receiving at least one of a liquid and an analyte of interest into the plurality of covered fluidic channels;
confining the at least one of the liquid and the analyte of interest within the plurality of covered fluidic channels;
generating a shear motion on the surface of the sensor platform for application to the at least one of the liquid and the analyte of interest within the plurality of covered fluidic channels; and
analyzing properties of the at least one of the liquid and the analyte interest, wherein analyzing properties comprises analyzing of a mass property of the liquid via a perpendicular orientation of the plurality of covered fluidic channels and/or analyzing a mass property of an analyte attached to a channel surface of the plurality of covered fluidic channels via at least one of the perpendicular orientation and a parallel orientation of the plurality of covered fluidic channels.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the liquid and the analyte of interest comprises at least one of a liquid mixture, blood, oil, and an analyte.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined orientation is based on a surface motion of the sensor platform.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined orientation comprises at least one of a perpendicular orientation of the plurality of covered fluidic channels, a parallel orientation of the fluidic channels, and a combination of the parallel orientation and the perpendicular orientation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the combination of the parallel orientation and the perpendicular orientation are arranged in at least one of a serial configuration and a parallel configuration on the sensor platform.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing properties further comprises at least one of analyzing a density property via only a perpendicular orientation of the plurality of covered fluidic channels, analyzing a product of a fluid viscosity and density via a parallel orientation of the plurality of covered fluidic channels, and analyzing a fluid viscosity via a combination of the parallel and the perpendicular orientation of the plurality of covered fluidic channels.

### Claim 7

A characterization device comprising:
a plurality of covered fluidic channels with a predetermined orientation;
a sensor platform comprising a non-sensing region and at least one of an active region, a sensitive region, and a central sensing region, wherein the plurality of covered fluidic channels are positioned on a surface of the sensor platform over a portion of the at least one of the active region, the sensitive region, and the central sensing region;
an inlet configured to receive at least one of a liquid and an analyte of interest into the covered fluidic channels, wherein the at least one of the liquid and the analyte of interest are confined by the covered fluidic channels;
a resonator configured to generate a shear motion on the surface of the sensor platform for application to the at least one of the liquid and the analyte of interest within the plurality of covered fluidic channels; and
an analyzer configured to analyze properties of at least one of the liquid and the analyte interest, and
wherein the predetermined orientation comprises either a perpendicular orientation to sense a mass property of the liquid, or at least one of a parallel orientation to sense a mass property of an analyte attached to a channel surface of the plurality of covered fluidic channel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The characterization device of claim 7, wherein the orientation further comprises at least one of a parallel orientation to sense a product of a fluid viscosity and density, a perpendicular orientation to sense a density property, and a combination of the parallel orientation and the perpendicular orientation to sense a fluid viscosity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The characterization device of claim 8, wherein the combination of the parallel orientation and the perpendicular orientation is arranged in either a serial configuration or a parallel configuration on the sensor platform.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The characterization device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of covered fluidic channels have a predetermined height based on a measure of an acoustic wavelength inside channel walls at an operating frequency range, and wherein the height is set to be lower than the measured acoustic wavelength.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The characterization device of claim 10, wherein the operating frequency range comprises at least one of a harmonic range of the sensor platform and a surface acoustic wave actuation frequency.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The characterization device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of covered fluidic channels have a predetermined width based on a predetermined height of the plurality of covered fluidic channels and an operating frequency of the characterization device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The characterization device of claim 7, further comprising an adhesion mechanism comprising at least one of a gold layer between the plurality of covered fluidic channels and the sensor platform, a silicon layer between the plurality of covered fluidic channels and the sensor platform, and a silicon dioxide layer between the plurality of covered fluidic channels and the sensor platform.

### Claim 14

A method comprising:
fabricating a characterization device comprising:
a plurality of covered fluidic channels comprising a predetermined width and height with predetermined orientation;
a sensor platform comprising a non-sensing region and at least one of an active region, a sensitive region, and a central sensing region, wherein the plurality of covered fluidic channels are positioned on a surface of the sensor platform over a portion of the at least one of the active region, the sensitive region, and the central sensing region;
an inlet configured to receive at least one of a liquid and an analyte of interest into the covered fluidic channels, wherein the at least one of the liquid and the analyte of interest are confined by the covered fluidic channels;
an adhesion mechanism configured to attach the sensor platform to the plurality of covered fluidic channels;
a resonator configured to generate a shear motion on the surface of the sensor platform for application to the at least one of the liquid and the analyte of interest within the plurality of covered fluidic channels; and
an analyzer configured to analyze properties of at least one of the liquid and the analyte interest, and
wherein the orientation comprises either a perpendicular orientation to sense a mass property of the liquid, or a parallel orientation of the covered fluidic channel to sense a mass property of an analyte attached to a channel surface of the plurality of covered fluidic channels.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined orientation further comprises at least one of a parallel orientation to sense a product of a fluid viscosity and density, a perpendicular orientation to sense a density property, and a combination of the parallel orientation and the perpendicular orientation to sense a fluid viscosity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the combination of the parallel orientation and the perpendicular orientation is further arranged in either a serial configuration or a parallel configuration on the sensor platform.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the adhesion mechanism comprises at least one of a gold layer between the plurality of covered fluidic channels and the sensor platform, a silicon layer between the plurality of covered fluidic channels and the sensor platform, and a silicon dioxide layer between the plurality of covered fluidic channels and the sensor platform.