Patent ID: 9182268
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: G01G,G01N

Abstract:
1. A device for mass detection of particles in a liquid medium, comprising: an electromechanical oscillator; excitation means fitted so as to cause said oscillator to vibrate at a frequency; a fluid supply circuit; a fluid system incorporated in said oscillator, said fluid system being in fluid communication with the fluid supply circuit and including at least one trapping site configured to trap a particle of interest according to the size of said particle of interest; and a detection means configured to detect a change in said frequency, said change being indicative of a mass of said particle of interest at said at least one trapping site, wherein said at least one trapping site is formed in a fluid trapping branch installed in parallel with a bypass fluid branch, where said trapping branch has, if the at least one trapping site is free, a lesser fluid resistance than that of said bypass branch, wherein said fluid trapping branch has an input end and an output end such that, if the at least one trapping site is free, a fluid flow upstream of the trapping branch is partially diverted through the input and output end of the trapping branch and the undiverted fluid flow flows through the bypass fluid branch and is rejoined with the diverted fluid flow at the output end of the trapping branch.