Patent ID: 7093482
Filing Date: 2006-08-22
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A detector for use in detecting the presence of particles in a liquid sample comprising: a signal generator adapted to provide a driving signal to a transient signal isolation circuit, said transient signal isolation circuit comprising a resonant piezo-electric body, an attenuator and phase shifter circuit, a first signal splitting device for directing said transient signal from said signal generator to said resonant piezo-electric body and to said attenuator and phase shifter circuit, and a comparator adapted to receive a first input signal from said resonant piezo-electric body and a second input signal from said attenuator and phase shifter circuit, wherein said comparator generates an output signal based on said first and second input signals, and wherein said resonant piezo-electric body is in contact with said liquid sample; a transient signal detector adapted to receive said output signal of said comparator and to provide a transient detection signal based on said output of said comparator.