Abstract: Disclosed are prion sensors that may be used as a diagnostic tool to diagnose TSE, or to detect PrPSc molecules, in biological and environmental samples, and methods for using these sensors. The prion sensor may comprise an acoustic sensor, such as a TSM sensor, coated with PrPC molecules, whose resonance characteristics change when contacted with a sample from an animal with TSE, or a sample comprising PrPSc molecules. Alternatively the prion sensor may comprise an optical sensor, such as an SPR sensor, coated with PrPC molecules, whose optical characteristics change when contacted with a sample from an animal with TSE, or a sample comprising PrPSc molecules. These changes provide both rapid detection and a quantitative assay for diagnosing TSE or for detecting PrPSc molecules.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer (10) comprises a flexible transmitter (18), a flexible receiver array (22), and flexible electrodes (14), (16), (20), for the transmitter and receiver. The elements of the transducer are arranged such that the transducer may be flexed for conformity with surfaces of test specimens of a variety of non-planar configurations.