Sensor for measuring amount of heat generated from cells using zweifach-fung effect and method for manufacturing the same
US9151682B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2010 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N25/4866
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sensor for measuring heat generated from cells, including a thermopile manufactured by surface-micromachining technology, and a microfluidic flow-channel structure for mixing cells with medium and dividing the mixture into cells and medium. Medium and cells are uniformly mixed using a micro-mixer. The mixture is separated into a medium microfluid and a cell microfluid using the Zweifach-Fung effect, after which signals measured in the two microfluids are amplified. The difference between the two signal values determines the amount of heat generated from the cells. The influence of noise caused by a change in external environment is eliminated. Convection heat dissipation caused by fluid flow is minimized. The sensor accurately measures the amount of heat generated from cells flowing in the microfluidic flow-channel. Diseases such as cancer are diagnosed using the difference between the measured amount of heat generated from cells and the standard amount of heat generated from normal cells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.