Fluid sensor preventing generation of air bubbles

• US 8,968,674 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Hun Joo, Lee, Soo Suk, Lee, Jung Nam
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, MELANIE YU
• Application Number:
  US13/037,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20120015451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 422/401, 422/50, 422/400, 422/68.1, 422/82.05, 436/501, 436/518, 436/807, 435/283.1, 435/287.2, 435/287.9, 435/288.3, 435/288.7
• US Class Current: 422/401
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/222 Constructional or flow details for analysing fluids optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/807 Apparatus included in process claim, e.g. physical support structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Provided herein is a fluid sensor, which includes a closed reaction unit in which reaction of a fluid sample takes place. The reaction unit is tapered on a side through which the fluid is injected so as to prevent generation of air bubbles during the injection of the fluid. Thus, the sensor has improved sensitivity.

Claims

1. A fluid sensor comprising:

a main body comprising;

an underlying substrate and a top plate disposed thereon,

a reaction unit including an inner space of the main body,

an inlet disposed in a first side of the top plate and fluidly connected to the reaction unit; and

an outlet disposed in a second side of the top plate and fluidly connected to the reaction unit, the lower side of the outlet being disposed on the top plate,

wherein the reaction unit has a side profile from a vertical cross-section in a direction from the inlet to the outlet that includes a slope at a positive angle (α

) to the underlying substrate that is less than a contact angle of the substrate, which tapers the inner space of the reaction unit towards the inlet, and

the vertical cross-section of the reaction unit in a direction perpendicular to the direction from the inlet to the outlet, and a horizontal cross-section of the reaction unit, have a shape that is inwardly tapered on both sides, with an inwardly tapered angle (β

) that is less than a contact angle of the substrate.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a top of the slope is rounded or flat.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a vertical cross-section of the reaction unit in a direction perpendicular to the direction from the inlet to the outlet has a quadrilateral shape, a rounded shape or a flat shape inwardly tapered on both sides.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a horizontal cross-section of the reaction unit has a quadrilateral shape, a rounded shape or a flat shape inwardly tapered on both sides.

5. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a receptor that specifically reacts with a target material in the fluid sample, the receptor immobilized on at least a portion of a substrate area in the reaction unit.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a lower side of the inlet is in contact with or adjacent to the substrate.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the side view profile of the reaction unit from a vertical cross-section in a direction from the inlet to the outlet includes a second slope at a positive angle (θ

) to the underlying substrate, which tapers the inner space of the reaction unit towards the outlet.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a surface Plasmon resonance sensor, a quartz crystal microbalance sensor, a cantilever sensor, a surface acoustic wave sensor and a bulk acoustic wave sensor.