# US 2014/0197850 A1 · Piezoelectric Sensor for the Detection and Characterization of at Least One Biochemical Element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197850 A1 - Document ID: US20140197850A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/126,094 - Filed: 2012-06-13 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-16 - Assignees: Universite De Cergy Pontoise - Inventors: Stephane Serfaty; Pascal Griesmar; Jean-Yves Le Huerou; Emmanuel Caplain - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197850A1 ## CPC - G01N 27/023: {where the material is placed in the field of a coil} - 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: 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) ## Abstract A piezoelectric sensor for the detection and characterization of at least one biochemical element in a fluid, has a piezoelectric substrate exhibiting at each of its opposite faces at least one conducting surface forming electrodes, the electrodes being linked to an electrical generator, one at least of the surfaces being wrapped in a functionalized film, the electrodes form transmission lines exhibiting a zone constituting an induction loop for the excitation of the piezoelectric substrate, the link between the electrodes and the generator being ensured by inductive coupling. A system implementing such a sensor, as well as applications of such a sensor, are described. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-19. (canceled) ### Claim 20 A piezoelectric sensor for the detection and characterization of at least one biochemical element in a fluid, consisting of a piezoelectric substrate exhibiting at each of its opposite faces at least one conducting surface forming electrodes, said electrodes being linked to an electrical generator, at least one of said opposite faces being covered with a functionalized film, said electrodes forming transmission lines exhibiting a zone constituting an induction loop for an excitation of said piezoelectric substrate, and a link between said electrodes and said electrical generator being ensured by inductive coupling. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The piezoelectric sensor according to claim 20, wherein the dimensions Ltot and lm of said transmission lines are determined by the formula: L tot  ω 4   Z 0  tan ( ω  ɛ  l m 4   c ) = 1 where: Ltot designates an equivalent inductance of a two-electrode system, Z0 designates a characteristic impedance of the transmission line, ∈ designates a dieletric constant of the piezoelectric substrate, lm designates a mean length of a line, c designates a speed, and ω designates a resonance angular frequency. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The piezoelectric sensor according to claim 20, wherein a mechanical resonant frequency of the piezoelectric substrate corresponds to an autoresonant frequency of one of the transmission lines and said piezoelectric sensor is associated with unique means for measuring electrical and mechanical properties of the piezoelectric substrate when said piezoelectric substrate is excited. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The piezoelectric sensor according to claim 20, wherein a mechanical resonant frequency of the piezoelectric substrate is different from an autoresonant frequency of one of the transmission lines and said piezoelectric sensor is associated with a means for simultaneously measuring mechanical properties at a first frequency and, at a second frequency, electrical properties of the piezoelectric substrate when said piezoelectric substrate is excited. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The piezoelectric sensor according to claim 20, wherein said functionalized film comprises at least one interaction element specific to at least one target, and means for attaching said at least one interaction element on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate. ### Claim 25 A system for detecting and characterising at least one biochemical element in a fluid comprising a piezoelectric sensor and control equipment comprising a generator for exciting said piezoelectric sensor, said generator supplying at least one induction loop interacting with said piezoelectic sensor, and the control equipment comprising a circuit for electrical processing of a signal resulting from said at least one induction loop. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for the predictive detection of the corrosion of metals, wherein the functionalized film is selective for at least one microorganism inducing a process of corrosion of metals. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for the predictive detection of the degradation of mineral materials, wherein the functionalized film is selective for at least one microorganism inducing a process of degradation of said mineral materials. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for the predictive detection of the degradation of organic materials, wherein the functionalized film is selective for at least one microorganism inducing a process of degradation of said organic materials. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for the monitoring of circuits for the distribution of water, wherein the functionalized film of said sensor being selective for at least one microorganism disposed in a stream of said water. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for the monitoring of a liquid reservoir, wherein the functionalized film of said sensor is selective for at least one microorganism causing corrosion disposed in said reservoir. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for the monitoring of gas tanks, the functionalized film of said sensor being selective for at least one active agent disposed in said tank. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for the monitoring of an air-conditioning installation, wherein the functionalized film of said sensor is selective for at least one microorganism disposed in a heat-transfer fluid transport circuit. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for diagnosis in health fields, wherein a biological sample is deposited on said functionalized film, and said functionalized film being specific to a pathogen. ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for diagnosis in health fields, wherein a biological sample is deposited on said functionalized film, and said functionalized film comprising a hybridization probe. ### Claim 35 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for diagnosis in health fields, wherein a biological sample is deposited on said functionalized film, and said functionalized film being specific to a biological marker. ### Claim 36 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for the analysis of food products, wherein a sample is deposited on said functionalized film, and said functionalized film being specific to an active agent. ### Claim 37 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 for the analysis of cosmetic products, wherein a sample is deposited on said functionalized film, and said functionalized film being specific to an active agent. ### Claim 38 (depends on 20) The sensor according to claim 20 wherein said sensor analyzes an amount of polysaccharide and/or ethanol in a reactor for producing ethanol from algae, to maximize the production of said ethanol.