Abstract: Methods for therapeutic drug monitoring are provided. A plurality of particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent capable of binding a therapeutic drug of choice is combined with the sample to form a plurality of therapeutic drug-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample and/or particles to the sensor surface, and optionally a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of therapeutic drug-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Abstract: A system for processing analytes in samples includes an instrument and a cartridge. The cartridge includes fluid inputs, input and output valve assemblies, processing devices, fluid reservoirs, and channels for carrying samples from the fluid inputs to the fluid reservoirs. The valve assemblies include valves adapted to form a sealed fluid chamber in response to force applied by a movable head assembly of the instrument. Each fluid reservoir is adapted to mate and align with an air displacement pump interface member. A valve assembly includes a recess wall surrounding a recess and a valve assembly wall surrounding both the recess and the recess wall. The recess wall and the valve assembly walls are adapted to mate with and seal against a flexible sheet covering the recess, the recess wall, and the valve assembly wall. The cartridge and instrument include complementary features for finely and coarsely aligning instrument assemblies with portions of the cartridge.

Abstract: Methods for detecting cardiac injury by detecting one or more cardiac markers are provided. A plurality of particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent having an affinity for a cardiac marker, is combined with the sample to form a plurality of analyte-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample to the sensor surface, and optionally a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of analyte-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluidic system that includes a body structure having a chamber disposed therein. The fluidic system includes at least one fluid input at a first end of the chamber and at least one fluid output at a second end of the chamber. The fluidic system also includes a sensor device (e.g., an acoustic device) having a surface defining a portion of a surface of the chamber. The fluidic system also includes a first surface at the first end of the chamber oriented at an oblique or arcuate (e.g., curved) angle relative to the surface of the sensor device to direct fluid through the chamber.

Abstract: Methods for detecting analytes in a sample are provided. A plurality of particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent having an affinity for the analyte, is combined with the sample to form a plurality of analyte-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample to the sensor surface, and a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of analyte-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Abstract: Methods for therapeutic drug monitoring are provided. A plurality of particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent capable of binding a therapeutic drug of choice is combined with the sample to form a plurality of therapeutic drug-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample and/or particles to the sensor surface, and optionally a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of therapeutic drug-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for sensors such as microfabricated resonant sensors is disclosed. The disclosed assembly provides improved performance of the sensors by providing a thermally insensitive environment and short pathways for signals to travel to processing components. Further, the assembly provide modular construction for the sensors and housing modules, thereby allowing replacement of the sensors at a lower cost. The assembly includes a sensor module including a sensor formed on a conductive substrate with a cavity formed on one surface. The substrate has conductive vias extending from the cavity to a second surface of the substrate. A housing assembly accommodates the sensor and includes a rigid housing, preferably made from a ceramic. An electronic component, such as an amplifier, is mounted on the rigid housing. The electronic component electrically engages the vias substantially at the second surface of the substrate. The electronic component receive signals from the sensor through the vias.

Abstract: The technology provided herein generally relates to reusable detection surfaces and methods for reusing a detection surface after using the detection surface in an assay for an analyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to fluid paths in etchable materials. Fluid paths are formed by forming a cavity through a substrate material with a first dry removal process to produce a first surface of the cavity. The first surface of the cavity is associated with a first roughness. The first surface of the cavity is etched with a second wet removal process to reduce the first roughness and produce a second roughness associated with the first surface of the cavity. A coating is applied to the first surface of the cavity to produce a second surface to improve wettability of the first or second surface of the cavity, reduce in size or number gas nucleation sites in the first or second surface of the cavity, reduce the amount of debris associated with the first roughness carried by the fluid flow, and/or improve hydrophilicity of the first or second surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to micro-fabricated devices having a suspended membrane or plate structure and micro-fabrication techniques for making such devices. A substrate defines a cavity passing through the substrate, and the cavity defines a first opening. An intermediate portion is disposed over the substrate and defines a second opening. The second opening is larger in size than the first opening, and the dimensions of the second opening are controlled according to a parameter associated with performance of the device. A membrane is positioned adjacent the second opening.

Abstract: A method and system for determining properties of a fluid involves interacting the fluid with a standing wave in a first state to establish the standing wave in a second state, analyzing an electric signal associated with the standing wave to determine a characteristic associated with the second state, and determining the property of the fluid by comparing the characteristic with a function that associates a plurality of properties with a corresponding plurality of characteristics. The characteristic can include a maximum phase slope, a phase slope associated with a resonant frequency, a maximum magnitude associated with the resonant frequency, the value of the resonant frequency, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Microfabricated devices for operation in a fluid that include a substrate that has a first and second surface and a first electrode material layer located over the first surface of the substrate. The devices have a piezoelectric material layer located over the first electrode material layer and a second electrode material layer located over the piezoelectric material layer. The devices also include a layer of isolation material located over the second electrode material layer that at least one of chemically or electrically isolates a portion of the second electrode material layer from a fluid. Some devices include a layer of conductive material located over the layer of isolation material.

Abstract: A system for detecting an analyte in a sample includes a resonant sensor that has a sensor surface coated with the capture agent. A plurality of magnetic particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent having an affinity for the analyte, is combined with the sample to form a plurality of analyte-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample to the sensor surface, and a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of analyte-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Abstract: A system for detecting an analyte in a sample includes a resonant sensor that has a sensor surface coated with the capture agent. A plurality of magnetic particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent having an affinity for the analyte, is combined with the sample to form a plurality of analyte-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample to the sensor surface, and a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of analyte-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing bioprocess fluids are provided. A plurality of particles coated with a plurality of capture agents having an affinity for one or more biological markers is combined with bioprocess fluid to form a plurality of analyte-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample to a sensor surface, and optionally a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of analyte-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Abstract: A method and system for determining properties of a fluid involves interacting the fluid with a standing wave in a first state to establish the standing wave in a second state, analyzing an electric signal associated with the standing wave to determine a characteristic associated with the second state, and determining the property of the fluid by comparing the characteristic with a function that associates a plurality of properties with a corresponding plurality of characteristics. The characteristic can include a maximum phase slope, a phase slope associated with a resonant frequency, a maximum magnitude associated with the resonant frequency, the value of the resonant frequency, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing assays involving binding material elements with a plurality of bonds over a substantial area of a surface of a resonant device establishing a normalized exposure. The methods and apparatuses also involve controlling an external influence applied to the material elements over a first period of time and measuring a signal during a second period of time that is indicative of the change in the amount of material elements bound to the surface relative to the normalized exposure. In some cases, the measured signals are integrated with respect to time to determine the time averaged amount of material elements bound to the surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining whether a fluid has been introduced into an assay measurement apparatus involving delivering a fluid to a surface of a resonant device. The methods also involve monitoring an electrical signal output by the resonant device, wherein properties of the electrical signal vary based on physical properties of the fluid in contact with the surface of the resonant device and determining if the electrical signal output by the resonant device satisfies a predetermined condition indicative of the presence of the fluid.

Abstract: Methods for detecting estradiol and metabolites thereof in a sample are provided. A plurality of particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent having an affinity for estradiol, is combined with the sample to form a plurality of estradiol-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample and/or particles to the sensor surface, and optionally a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of estradiol-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Abstract: The disclosed sensor chip includes a substrate and a moving member coupled to the substrate and disposed for movement relative to the substrate. The moving member moves relative to the substrate in a first direction and in a second direction in response to movement of the substrate. The first direction is different than the second direction. The moving member includes a plurality of receptors. The receptors are configured for selectively binding to a first measurand.