Biosensor for measuring changes in viscosity and/or density of a fluid

US5494639A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Behringwerke Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventor

• Andrzej Grzegorzewski · Haltern am See, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 13, 1994
• Grant date: Feb 27, 1996
• Expiry date: Oct 13, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/02818
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A disposable biosensor for measuring changes in viscosity and/or density in a test fluid includes a disposable housing surrounding a measuring chamber. A piezoelectric element is disposed in the measuring chamber and constitutes an oscillating unit. The piezoelectric element has a measuring surface adapted to be wetted with a measuring mixture comprising the test fluid and a reaction component. The reaction component is disposed inside the measuring chamber in a vicinity of and not touching the measuring surface of the piezoelectric element before any test fluid is introduced into the measuring chamber. Access is provided in the disposable housing for introducing the test fluid into the measuring chamber so that the test fluid comes into contact with the reaction component and the measuring surface of the piezoelectric element upon its introduction into the measuring chamber.