Abstract: This invention relates to a system for exciting oscillations of micromechanical cantilever sensors and for measuring and evaluating the corresponding oscillations. Such sensors can e.g. be used to detect chemical substances, biomolecules, microorganisms or viruses, or to analyze surface-related phenomena and processes such as conformational changes or phase transitions in thin layers, or to measure physical properties of their surrounding, such as viscoelastic properties of liquids. In the so-called dynamic operation mode, cantilever oscillations are excited and the frequency shift of the ground frequency and/or of one or some higher harmonics, occurring because of a process taking place at the cantilever surface, are measured. In the so-called static mode, the deflection of the cantilever is determined. The setup described in this invention allows measurements in gases as well as liquids.

Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid measurement cell for micromechanical sensors, so-called cantilever sensors. These sensors are e.g. used for the detection of biomolecules without the need for fluorescent or radioactive labelling. These measurements are usually carried out in liquids, where air or gas bubbles present in the analyte inside the measurement cell can significantly affect measurement results or even destroy the sensor. In a measurement cell according to this invention, a closed gas volume is present above the liquid level. Consequently, gas or air bubble can be constantly absorbed by the gas volume and do not come in contact with the cantilever sensors. The measurement cell is further characterised by a very low volume in the order of microliters and can be combined with various optical or piezoelectrical/piezoresistive read-out methods.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for exciting oscillations of micromechanical cantilever sensors and for measuring and evaluating the corresponding oscillations. Such sensors can e.g. be used to detect chemical substances, biomolecules, microorganisms or viruses, or to analyze surface-related phenomena and processes such as conformational changes or phase transitions in thin layers, or to measure physical properties of their surrounding, such as viscoelastic properties of liquids. In the so-called dynamic operation mode, cantilever oscillations are excited and the frequency shift of the ground frequency and/or of one or some higher harmonics, occurring because of a process taking place at the cantilever surface, are measured. In the so-called static mode, the deflection of the cantilever is determined. The setup described in this invention allows measurements in gases as well as liquids.