US 6,586,946 B2 · System and method for detecting and identifying molecular events in a test sample using a resonant test structure

Abstract

A system and method for detecting a molecular event in a test sample using a resonant test structure is presented. The method includes providing a resonant test structure having a resonant response associated therewith. Next, a first resonant response of the resonant test structure is obtained when the resonant test structure is electromagnetically coupled to a reference sample, the reference sample having a known composition. A second resonant response is also obtained when the resonant test structure is electromagnetically coupled to the test sample, the test sample having an unknown composition. Subsequently, one or more first electrical parameters, such as the q-factor of the resonator, are derived from the first resonant response. One or more second electrical parameters are similarly derived from the second resonant response. The similarity or difference between the first and second electrical parameters are analyzed to determine the presence or absence of the molecular event in the test sample.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method for detecting a molecular event in a test sample, the method comprising:

providing a test structure having a measureable signal response when a test signal is input and an output signal is recovered, wherein the measureable signal response is a resonant response;
obtaining a first resonant response of the test structure when the test structure is electromagnetically coupled to a reference sample;
obtaining a second resonant response of the test structure when the test structure is electromagnetically coupled to the test sample;
deriving one or more electrical parameters from the first resonant response;
deriving one or more electrical parameters from the second resonant response;
detecting similarity or difference between the electrical parameters derived from the first and second resonant responses as an indication of the molecular event in the test sample;
determining the difference between the electrical parameters derived from the first and second resonant response;
and
indicating that, if the reference sample contains the molecular event and if the difference between the one or more electrical parameters derived from the first and second resonant responses does not exceed a predefined value, the test sample includes the molecular event.

6 more elements

A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium and operable to control a test system to detect a molecular event in a test sample, the computer program product comprising:

code that directs the test system to obtain a first resonant response of a test structure when the test structure is electromagnetically coupled to a reference sample;
code that directs the test system to obtain a second resonant response of the test structure when the test structure is electromagnetically coupled to the test sample;
code that directs the test system to derive one or more electrical parameters from the first resonant response;
code that directs the test system to derive one or more electrical parameters from the second resonant response;
and
code that directs the test system to detect similarity or difference between the one or more electrical parameters derived from the first and second resonant responses as an indication of the molecular event in the test sample.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for detecting and identifying molecular events in a test sample using a resonant test structure

Life of this patent

System and method for detecting and identifying molecular events in a test sample using a resonant test structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31