Systems and methods for monitoring chemical and biological activities using differential measurements

A system operable to monitor one or more bio/chemical activities within a sample, the system comprising:

• a first measurement probe coupled to the sample at a first location of the sample, the first measurement probe configured to interrogate one or more physical properties of the sample at the first location and to output, in response, a first measurement signal;
• a second measurement probe coupled to the sample at a second location of the sample, the second measurement probed configured to interrogate one or more physical properties of the sample at the second location, and to output, in response, a second measurement signal;
• and
• a comparator coupled to receive the first and second measurement signals, the comparator configured to output a difference signal comprising the difference between the first and second measurement signals, the difference signal corresponding to the difference in one or more bio/chemical activities occurring at the first location relative to the second location.

A system operable to monitor one or more bio/chemical activities within a first sample relative to a second sample, the system comprising:

• a first measurement probe operable to interrogate one or more physical properties of a first sample at a first location of the first sample, and to output, in response, a first measurement signal;
• a second measurement probe operable to interrogate one or more physical properties of a second sample at a first location of the second sample, and to output, in response, a second measurement signal;
• and
• a comparator coupled to receive the first and second measurement signals, the comparator configured to output a difference signal comprising the difference between the first and second measurement signals, the difference signal corresponding to the difference in one or more bio/chemical activities occurring within the first sample at the first location thereof relative to the second sample at the first location thereof.