Patent ID: 7771657

Claim:
A multiple piezoelectric crystal microbalance device comprising a connecting station ( 100 , 101 ) for receiving and individually operating an array of piezoelectric crystal microbalances and a plurality of individually detachable piezoelectric crystal microbalance flow-through cells for engaging with the connecting station, wherein the connecting station comprises: a connecting panel ( 112 ; 113 ) having an array of cell connecting receptors ( 118 ), each cell connecting receptor comprising a receptor connector portion ( 120 ) for automatic mating operative engagement with a cell connector portion ( 24 ) of said piezoelectric crystal microbalance flow-through cell ( 10 ) upon plugging said flow-through cell ( 10 ) into the connecting station ( 100 , 101 ), and wherein the receptor connector portion ( 120 ) comprises: a pair of electric connecting ports ( 126 , 128 ) for communication with a power and measurement means ( 130 ) for oscillating a piezoelectric crystal ( 50 ) carrying two electrodes ( 56 , 62 ) in a cell compartment ( 34 ) of one operatively engaged flow-through cell ( 10 ) and for measuring oscillating characteristics of the piezoelectric crystal ( 50 ); and a pair of fluid connecting ports ( 122 , 124 ) for communication with flowing means ( 70 ) for uninterrupted flowing of a solution ( 75 ) and a test solution aliquot ( 83 ) to, and through, the cell compartment ( 34 ); wherein the individually operated piezoelectric crystal microbalances are electrostatically and electromagnetically shielded from each other; and further comprising grounding means ( 108 ) for electrical grounding of the flow solution ( 75 ) and the test solution aliquot ( 83 ) to the cell compartment ( 34 ) of each of the flow-through cells ( 10 ).