Patent ID: 7966898

Claim:
A microfluidic embedded nanoelectromechanical system (NEMs) force sensor comprising: (a) a force sensor comprising a deformable member that is integrated with a strain sensor, wherein: (i) the strain sensor converts a deformation of the deformable member into an electrical signal; (ii) the deformable member comprises a doubly clamped beam; (iii) the strain sensor comprises a piezo resistive strain sensor that is patterned asymmetrically in a horizontal plane of the doubly clamped beam so as to couple to regions of tensile or compressive strain; and (iv) the piezo resistive strain sensor is used for measuring in-plane forces; and (b) a microfluidic channel that encapsulates the force sensor, wherein the microfluidic channel controls a fluidic environment around the force sensor and improves an electrical read out of the electrical signal from the force sensor.