Resonant mass sensor

Abstract

A separate excitation and high sensitive resonant type mass sensor is provided. The resonant type mass sensor 1 includes: an oscillator 3; an vibrator 2 placed on the oscillator 3; and a detecting unit 5 for detecting the resonant frequency of the vibrator 2, and is characterized in that the vibrator 2 and the oscillator 3 are not coupled mechanically and that the vibrator 2 is not mechanically coupled to any members. The vibration of the vibrator 2 is represented by a standing wave. The vibrator 2 includes a molecular recognition means for recognizing the molecules of a substance to be measured. The molecular recognition means may collect specific molecules by antigen-antibody reaction. The vibrator 2 may include at least a magnetizable part. To the magnetizable part, magnetic beads 26, to which an antibody or antigen is immobilized, may be adsorbed magnetically. The detecting unit 5 is made up of a light-emitting device and a photo-sensitive device, and may include a means to detect any one of frequency, displacement, velocity, and acceleration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.