WO2014041573A1 - Automatic measuring device, measuring process through such device and system equipped with such device - Google Patents
Automatic measuring device, measuring process through such device and system equipped with such device Download PDFInfo
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- WO2014041573A1 WO2014041573A1 PCT/IT2013/000238 IT2013000238W WO2014041573A1 WO 2014041573 A1 WO2014041573 A1 WO 2014041573A1 IT 2013000238 W IT2013000238 W IT 2013000238W WO 2014041573 A1 WO2014041573 A1 WO 2014041573A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N9/00—Investigating density or specific gravity of materials; Analysing materials by determining density or specific gravity
- G01N9/002—Investigating density or specific gravity of materials; Analysing materials by determining density or specific gravity using variation of the resonant frequency of an element vibrating in contact with the material submitted to analysis
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
- G01N29/02—Analysing fluids
- G01N29/022—Fluid sensors based on microsensors, e.g. quartz crystal-microbalance [QCM], surface acoustic wave [SAW] devices, tuning forks, cantilevers, flexural plate wave [FPW] devices
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
- G01N29/02—Analysing fluids
- G01N29/036—Analysing fluids by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N5/00—Analysing materials by weighing, e.g. weighing small particles separated from a gas or liquid
- G01N5/02—Analysing materials by weighing, e.g. weighing small particles separated from a gas or liquid by absorbing or adsorbing components of a material and determining change of weight of the adsorbent, e.g. determining moisture content
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
- G01N2291/02—Indexing codes associated with the analysed material
- G01N2291/028—Material parameters
- G01N2291/02809—Concentration of a compound, e.g. measured by a surface mass change
Definitions
- the present invention refers to an automatic measuring device, aimed in particular to locate in real time pathogens and/or contaminants in liquid phases.
- the present invention further refers to a measuring process through such device and to a system equipped with such device.
- Measuring devices are known in the art which are equipped with mechanical nanosensors which operate as chemical or bio-chemical detectors, typically defined as “cantilevers” or “micro- cantilevers”, which allow identifying and measuring the mass of pathogens and/or contaminants: the cantilever surface in fact is functionalised with particular probe molecules, which have the capability of selectively linking themselves to particular target molecules (such as the pathogen and/or contaminant agents which have to be identified and/or whose mass has to be measured) .
- the mass measure is performed by detecting, through a laser light beam, the movement of the cantilever (in terms of static flexure or variation of the oscillating resonance frequency due to a mass variation of the cantilever determined by the possible deposition of the pathogens and/or contaminants being investigated) .
- Such known devices moreover, do not allow automatising either the functionalisation / activation procedure of the cantilever surface, or the measuring or managing modes of liquids and gases, or the chance of portability and real time measures, possibly even remotely, consequently resulting scarcely practical for an efficient and effective industrial use.
- object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems, by providing a device, a system and a process which allow performing measures in line (for example in the agricultural-foodstuff field) , without interfering with productivity.
- Another object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow monitoring the fluid to be analysed through an automatic sampling on its production line.
- an object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow a high sensitivity of the mass measure based on the evaluation of the variation of the resonance frequency of microbeams coupled with an automated fluidic system of necessary reagents for measuring the pathogens and/or contaminants of interest.
- Another object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow automating necessary operations for measuring, high repeatability and reproducibility and absence of specialised personnel for measuring, allowing to standardise the measuring procedure and therefore being able to obtain calibration curves.
- an object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow performing the measure in a vacuum environment .
- Another object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow remotely managing the measures.
- an object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which avoid the possible alteration of a measure by an operator, since all steps of the measuring process are automatically carried out without manipulating the sensor, the sample and the reagents.
- Figure 1 shows a top perspective and partially sectioned view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention
- Figure 2 shows a side and partially sectioned view of the device according to the present invention of Figure 1;
- FIG. 3 shows a top view of a component of the device according to the present invention
- Figure 4 shows a top perspective and sectional view of the component of the device of Figure 3;
- Figure 5 shows a top side sectional view of the component of the device of Figure 3 in a first operating position
- Figure 6 shows a top side sectional view of the component of the device of Figure 3 in a second operating position.
- the automatic measuring device 1 comprises:
- At least one measuring chamber 3 having therein at least one measuring volume V containing therein at least one cantilever sensor 5 for analysing at least one sampling fluid inserted into such volume V;
- each projecting means 7 operatively cooperates with suitable processing means (not shown) , preferably equipped with at least one "photo detector" device receiving the luminous flow reflected by the cantilever sensor 5, in order to preferably detect the variation of the oscillating resonance frequency due to a mass variation of the cantilever sensor 5 determined by the possible deposition of the pathogen (s) and/or contaminant (s ) present inside the sampling fluid inserted inside the volume V of the chamber 3.
- Such processing means are therefore managed by at least one software, which takes care of analysing the vibration width in frequency, automatically performing the fit of the resonance curve with a Lorentz expression and computes frequency and quality factor.
- such software is capable of centering itself on the resonant frequency of the previous, newly-computed measure and perform a new measure: in this case, it is possible to analyse the variations of the resonant frequency in real time, namely of the mass adsorbed by the sensor, and therefore quantifying the target and studying also its bond kinetics.
- At least one disk made of piezoelectric material (not shown) is arranged below the cantilever sensor 5 in order to energise its respective microbeam at the desired frequencies: moreover, such sensor 5 and possibly such disk can be arranged on at least one thermostating device for checking the temperature.
- the measuring chamber 3 can comprise therein a plurality of such cantilever sensors 3, which can be mutually equal and/or different.
- the device 1 according to the present invention can further comprise inserting and withdrawing means of such at least one sampling fluid into and from the volume V of the chamber 3: possibly, the device 1 according to the present invention can comprise a plurality of such inserting means in order to allow inserting different sampling fluids inside the volume V of the chamber 3.
- inserting and withdrawing means are respectively composed of a corresponding single duct which, by means of suitable valve control means, allows using them both for inserting the sampling fluid inside the volume V of the chamber 3 and for withdrawing the fluid from such volume V at the end of the measure.
- such inserting and withdrawing means can be composed of different inserting means and extracting means, preferably composed of respective inserting ducts 13 of at least one of such sampling fluids inside such volume V and extracting ducts 15 from such volume V towards outside.
- Such inserting and withdrawing means can also be used to insert and withdraw at least one washing fluid into and inside such volume V, for example after having inserted the sampling fluid and before measuring such fluid.
- the device 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one dedicated inserting means for such washing fluid different from the inserting means of the sampling fluid.
- Such inserting and withdrawing means can further be used to insert and withdraw at least one drying fluid into and from inside such volume V, for example after inserting the sampling fluid to dry the fluid arranged on the cantilever sensor 5.
- the device 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one dedicated inserting means of such drying fluid different from the inserting means of the sampling fluid.
- the device 1 according to the present invention further comprises vacuum creating means inside such volume V of the chamber 3 in order to allow performing surveys and measures of possible pathogens and/or contaminants contained in the sampling fluid under vacuum conditions in order to increase the sensitivity of the measure itself.
- vacuum creating means comprise at least one vacuum duct 17 having at least one end communicating with such volume V of such chamber 3 and connected to at least one vacuum pump (not shown) .
- the chamber 3 of the device 1 is composed of at least one external envelope 3a and at least one internal container 3b, such external envelope 3a and such internal container 3b being mutually moving along at least one movement direction Vi-V 2 coaxial with such external envelope 3a and such internal container 3b between a rest position and a measuring position, and vice versa.
- such external envelope 3a is fixed while such internal container 3b is moving and slides along such movement direction V 1 -V 2 inside such external envelope 3a between the rest position (like the one, for example, shown in Figure 5) and the measuring position (like the one, for example, shown in Figure 6) , and vice versa.
- such external envelope 3a comprises the window 11 while the internal container 3b comprises the cantilever sensor 5 and at least one perimeter edge 18 adapted to go against such window 11 when such chamber 3 is in the measuring position, in order to further increase the internal seal of the volume V during the measuring steps.
- such internal container 3b can be externally equipped with at least one, radial first retaining means 19 interposed between the external surface of such internal container 3b and the internal surface of such external envelope 3a.
- such internal container 3b can be equipped with at least one second retaining means 21 arranged externally above such perimeter edge 18 and interposed in contact between such internal container 3b and the internal surface of the window 11 when the chamber 3 is in the measuring position.
- the passage of the internal container 3b from the rest position to the measuring position can be spontaneously generated by the creation and maintenance of vacuum inside the volume V: in parallel, breaking of vacuum inside the volume V at the end of the measure generates, due to gravity, the spontaneous return of the internal container 3b to the rest position from the measuring position (for example according to a movement having the direction shown by arrow V 2 in Figure 6) .
- the device 1 according to the present invention can further comprise suitable actuating means (not shown) adapted to take such chamber 3 from the rest position to the measuring position and vice versa: possibly, such actuating means can cooperate with such processing means in order to automatise the movement of the chamber 3 and suitably coordinated with all other steps of the measuring process through the device 1 according to the present invention.
- suitable actuating means (not shown) adapted to take such chamber 3 from the rest position to the measuring position and vice versa: possibly, such actuating means can cooperate with such processing means in order to automatise the movement of the chamber 3 and suitably coordinated with all other steps of the measuring process through the device 1 according to the present invention.
- the present invention further deals with at least one automatic system for detecting and measuring pathogen and/or contaminant agents in a fluid comprising:
- processing means comprising managing means of the sampling of such fluid adapted to control the operation of such withdrawing means and of such supplying means and managing means of the operation of the device 1: in particular, ' such processing means allow automatically performing in a controlled way the operations of withdrawing the sampling fluid, filling, emptying, drying, moving the chamber 3 and forming vacuum inside the chamber 3 of the device 1.
- withdrawing means such supplying means and such processing means can be composed of any combination of fluid pumping systems, electro-served valves, fluid connections, PLC, etc. per se known in the art, which guarantee the chance of managing at the operator's will the different steps necessary for preparing the measure through the device 1 according to the present invention.
- the present invention further deals with an automatic measuring process through at least one device 1 according to the present invention like the previously described one.
- the process according to the present invention comprises the steps of:
- the device 1, the system and the process according to the present invention allow, in particular, to automatically locate pathogen and/or contaminant agents under liquid and aerial phases, for example:
Abstract
An automatic measuring device (1) is described, comprising at least one measuring chamber (3) having therein at least one measuring volume (V) containing therein at least one cantilever sensor (5) for analysing at least one sampling fluid inserted inside such volume (V); at least one projecting means (7) of at least one laser light beam (9) incident onto such cantilever sensor (5), such chamber (3) being equipped with at least one window (11) transparent to such laser light beam (9); inserting and withdrawing means of such at least one sampling fluid into and from such volume (V) of such chamber (3). A system equipped with such device (1) and a measuring process through such device (1) are further described.
Description
AUTOMATIC MEASURING DEVICE, MEASURING PROCESS THROUGH SUCH DEVICE AND SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH SUCH
DEVICE
The present invention refers to an automatic measuring device, aimed in particular to locate in real time pathogens and/or contaminants in liquid phases. The present invention further refers to a measuring process through such device and to a system equipped with such device.
Measuring devices are known in the art which are equipped with mechanical nanosensors which operate as chemical or bio-chemical detectors, typically defined as "cantilevers" or "micro- cantilevers", which allow identifying and measuring the mass of pathogens and/or contaminants: the cantilever surface in fact is functionalised with particular probe molecules, which have the capability of selectively linking themselves to particular target molecules (such as the pathogen and/or contaminant agents which have to be identified and/or whose mass has to be measured) .
Typically, the mass measure is performed by detecting, through a laser light beam, the movement of the cantilever (in terms of static flexure or variation of the oscillating resonance frequency due to a mass variation of the cantilever determined by the possible deposition of the pathogens and/or contaminants being investigated) .
Examples of such known devices are disclosed in US2005121615, US007671511, US2008034840, CN2857015, CN1975432, US2009/0235746,
US2010/0136556, US2011212511.
Such known devices are however designed and built for a manual use aimed for laboratory measures and therefore they are scarcely practical for being used in line along with industrial processes, since they would imply constant interruptions of such processes in order to withdraw the samples and perform their measure.
Such known devices, moreover, do not allow automatising either the functionalisation / activation procedure of the cantilever surface, or the measuring or managing modes of liquids and gases, or the chance of portability and real time measures, possibly even remotely, consequently resulting scarcely practical for an efficient and
effective industrial use.
Therefore, object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems, by providing a device, a system and a process which allow performing measures in line (for example in the agricultural-foodstuff field) , without interfering with productivity.
Another object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow monitoring the fluid to be analysed through an automatic sampling on its production line.
Moreover, an object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow a high sensitivity of the mass measure based on the evaluation of the variation of the resonance frequency of microbeams coupled with an automated fluidic system of necessary reagents for measuring the pathogens and/or contaminants of interest.
Another object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow automating necessary operations for measuring, high repeatability and reproducibility and absence of specialised personnel for measuring, allowing to standardise the measuring procedure and therefore being able to obtain calibration curves.
Moreover, an object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow performing the measure in a vacuum environment .
Another object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which allow remotely managing the measures.
Moreover, an object of the present invention is providing a device, a system and a process which avoid the possible alteration of a measure by an operator, since all steps of the measuring process are automatically carried out without manipulating the sensor, the sample and the reagents.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained with a measuring device, a system and a process as claimed in the respective independent Claims.
Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
It is intended that all enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.
It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related
to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) could be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the enclosed claims.
The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a top perspective and partially sectioned view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a side and partially sectioned view of the device according to the present invention of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 shows a top view of a component of the device according to the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a top perspective and sectional view of the component of the device of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a top side sectional view of the component of the device of Figure 3 in a first operating position; and
Figure 6 shows a top side sectional view of the component of the device of Figure 3 in a second operating position.
With reference to the Figures, it is possible
to note that the automatic measuring device 1 according to the present invention comprises:
at least one measuring chamber 3 having therein at least one measuring volume V containing therein at least one cantilever sensor 5 for analysing at least one sampling fluid inserted into such volume V;
at least one projecting means 7 of at least one laser light beam 9 incident onto such cantilever sensor 5, such chamber 3 being equipped with at least one window 11 transparent to such laser light beam 9.
In particular, each projecting means 7 operatively cooperates with suitable processing means (not shown) , preferably equipped with at least one "photo detector" device receiving the luminous flow reflected by the cantilever sensor 5, in order to preferably detect the variation of the oscillating resonance frequency due to a mass variation of the cantilever sensor 5 determined by the possible deposition of the pathogen (s) and/or contaminant (s ) present inside the sampling fluid inserted inside the volume V of the chamber 3.
Such processing means are therefore managed by at least one software, which takes care of
analysing the vibration width in frequency, automatically performing the fit of the resonance curve with a Lorentz expression and computes frequency and quality factor. For a continuous monitoring of the cantilever sensor 5, such software is capable of centering itself on the resonant frequency of the previous, newly-computed measure and perform a new measure: in this case, it is possible to analyse the variations of the resonant frequency in real time, namely of the mass adsorbed by the sensor, and therefore quantifying the target and studying also its bond kinetics.
In addition, it is possible to provide that at least one disk made of piezoelectric material (not shown) is arranged below the cantilever sensor 5 in order to energise its respective microbeam at the desired frequencies: moreover, such sensor 5 and possibly such disk can be arranged on at least one thermostating device for checking the temperature.
Due to redundancy reasons and/or to have the chance of performing multi-parameter measures in order to detect the presence of different types of pathogen and/or contaminant agents, the measuring chamber 3 can comprise therein a plurality of such cantilever sensors 3, which can be mutually equal
and/or different.
The device 1 according to the present invention can further comprise inserting and withdrawing means of such at least one sampling fluid into and from the volume V of the chamber 3: possibly, the device 1 according to the present invention can comprise a plurality of such inserting means in order to allow inserting different sampling fluids inside the volume V of the chamber 3. In a possible preferred embodiment, such inserting and withdrawing means are respectively composed of a corresponding single duct which, by means of suitable valve control means, allows using them both for inserting the sampling fluid inside the volume V of the chamber 3 and for withdrawing the fluid from such volume V at the end of the measure. Alternatively, as shown for example in the preferred embodiment of the device 1 of the Figures, such inserting and withdrawing means can be composed of different inserting means and extracting means, preferably composed of respective inserting ducts 13 of at least one of such sampling fluids inside such volume V and extracting ducts 15 from such volume V towards outside.
Such inserting and withdrawing means can also be used to insert and withdraw at least one washing fluid into and inside such volume V, for example after having inserted the sampling fluid and before measuring such fluid. Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the device 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one dedicated inserting means for such washing fluid different from the inserting means of the sampling fluid.
Such inserting and withdrawing means can further be used to insert and withdraw at least one drying fluid into and from inside such volume V, for example after inserting the sampling fluid to dry the fluid arranged on the cantilever sensor 5. Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the device 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one dedicated inserting means of such drying fluid different from the inserting means of the sampling fluid.
In addition, it is possible to provide that the device 1 according to the present invention further comprises vacuum creating means inside such volume V of the chamber 3 in order to allow performing surveys and measures of possible pathogens and/or contaminants contained in the
sampling fluid under vacuum conditions in order to increase the sensitivity of the measure itself. Preferably, such vacuum creating means comprise at least one vacuum duct 17 having at least one end communicating with such volume V of such chamber 3 and connected to at least one vacuum pump (not shown) .
In a preferred embodiment, like the one shown for example in the Figures, the chamber 3 of the device 1 according to the present invention is composed of at least one external envelope 3a and at least one internal container 3b, such external envelope 3a and such internal container 3b being mutually moving along at least one movement direction Vi-V2 coaxial with such external envelope 3a and such internal container 3b between a rest position and a measuring position, and vice versa. Still more preferably, such external envelope 3a is fixed while such internal container 3b is moving and slides along such movement direction V1-V2 inside such external envelope 3a between the rest position (like the one, for example, shown in Figure 5) and the measuring position (like the one, for example, shown in Figure 6) , and vice versa. In particular, such external envelope 3a comprises the
window 11 while the internal container 3b comprises the cantilever sensor 5 and at least one perimeter edge 18 adapted to go against such window 11 when such chamber 3 is in the measuring position, in order to further increase the internal seal of the volume V during the measuring steps. On the perimeter, such internal container 3b can be externally equipped with at least one, radial first retaining means 19 interposed between the external surface of such internal container 3b and the internal surface of such external envelope 3a. Moreover, such internal container 3b can be equipped with at least one second retaining means 21 arranged externally above such perimeter edge 18 and interposed in contact between such internal container 3b and the internal surface of the window 11 when the chamber 3 is in the measuring position.
The passage of the internal container 3b from the rest position to the measuring position (for example according to a movement having the direction shown by arrow νχ in Figure 5) can be spontaneously generated by the creation and maintenance of vacuum inside the volume V: in parallel, breaking of vacuum inside the volume V at the end of the measure generates, due to gravity,
the spontaneous return of the internal container 3b to the rest position from the measuring position (for example according to a movement having the direction shown by arrow V2 in Figure 6) .
Alternatively, the device 1 according to the present invention can further comprise suitable actuating means (not shown) adapted to take such chamber 3 from the rest position to the measuring position and vice versa: possibly, such actuating means can cooperate with such processing means in order to automatise the movement of the chamber 3 and suitably coordinated with all other steps of the measuring process through the device 1 according to the present invention.
The present invention further deals with at least one automatic system for detecting and measuring pathogen and/or contaminant agents in a fluid comprising:
at least one source of such fluid;
- at least one device 1 according to the present invention like the previously described one;
withdrawing means of at least one aliquot of such fluid from such source as sampling fluid;
supplying means of such sampling fluid from such withdrawing means to such inserting means of
the device 1;
processing means comprising managing means of the sampling of such fluid adapted to control the operation of such withdrawing means and of such supplying means and managing means of the operation of the device 1: in particular,' such processing means allow automatically performing in a controlled way the operations of withdrawing the sampling fluid, filling, emptying, drying, moving the chamber 3 and forming vacuum inside the chamber 3 of the device 1.
Obviously, such withdrawing means, such supplying means and such processing means can be composed of any combination of fluid pumping systems, electro-served valves, fluid connections, PLC, etc. per se known in the art, which guarantee the chance of managing at the operator's will the different steps necessary for preparing the measure through the device 1 according to the present invention.
The present invention further deals with an automatic measuring process through at least one device 1 according to the present invention like the previously described one. In particular, the process according to the present invention
comprises the steps of:
a) providing at least one amount of a sampling fluid, for example withdrawn through the withdrawing means from the source of the system according to the present invention;
b) inserting such sampling fluid inside the volume V of the chamber 3 of the device 1 according to the present invention like the previously described one, for example through the supplying means of the system according to the present invention and the inserting means of the device 1; c) incubating such sampling fluid inside such volume V, for example for a period of time included between 5 minutes and 25 minutes: during such incubating period, the pathogens and/or contaminants possibly present inside the sampling fluid are allowed to be deposited on the beam of the cantilever sensor 5;
d) withdrawing the sampling fluid from the volume V of the chamber 3, for example through the extracting means of the device 1; possibly inserting and withdrawing at least one washing fluid in and from such volume 3; possibly inserting and withdrawing at least one drying fluid in and from such volume 3/ possibly creating vacuum inside
such volume 3, for example through such vacuum creating means of the device 1; possibly taking such chamber 3 from the rest position to the measuring position; and
e) performing the measure through such projecting means 7; possibly breaking vacuum inside such volume V of the chamber 3; possibly taking again such chamber 3 from the measuring position to the rest position.
As described above, the device 1, the system and the process according to the present invention allow, in particular, to automatically locate pathogen and/or contaminant agents under liquid and aerial phases, for example:
- for quality and safety control in the agricultural-foodstuff field;
for quality and safety control of water ducts; for analyzing biomarkers in the biomedical field (molecular biology, oncology, "-omics", etc. ) ;
for monitoring health and safety in sensitive environments (airports, hospitals, etc.) in addition to revealing bioterrorism acts or dangerous gases.
Claims
1. Automatic measuring device (1) characterised in that it comprises:
at least one measuring chamber (3) having therein at least one measuring volume (V) containing therein at least one cantilever sensor
(5) for analysing at least one sampling fluid inserted inside said volume (V) ;
at least one projecting means (7) of at least one laser light beam (9) incident onto said cantilever sensor (5), said chamber (3) being equipped with at least one window (11) transparent to said laser light beam (9);
inserting and withdrawing means of said at least one sampling fluid into and from said volume
(V) of said chamber (3) ;
characterized in that:
the device (1) further comprises at least one inserting means of at least one washing fluid and/or at least one drying fluid inside said volume
(V) ;
and in that:
said inserting and withdrawing means are composed of different inserting means and extracting means, composed of respective inserting
ducts (13) of at least one said sampling fluid inside said volume (V) and extracting ducts (15) from said volume (V) towards outside.
2. Device (1) according to the previous claim, characterised in that said projecting means (7) operatively cooperate with processing means equipped with at least one "photo detector" device receiving a luminous flow reflected from said cantilever sensor (5) to detect a variation of the oscillating resonance frequency due to a mass variation of said cantilever sensor (5) .
3. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one disk made of piezoelectric material arranged below said cantilever sensor (5) to energise a respective microbeam at desired frequencies.
4. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 3, characterised in that it comprises at least one thermostating device for controlling the temperature, said sensor (5) and possibly said disk being arranged on said thermostating device.
5. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises vacuum creating means inside said volume (V) of said chamber (3) .
6. Device (1) according to any one of the
previous claims, characterised in that said chamber (3) is composed of at least one external envelope (3a) and at least one internal container (3b), said external envelope (3a) and said internal container (3b) being mutually moving along at least one movement direction (Vi-V2) coaxial with said external envelope (3a) and said internal container (3b) between a rest position and a measuring position, and vice versa.
7. Device (1) according to the previous claim, characterised in that said external envelope (3a) is fixed while said internal container (3b) is mobile and slides along said movement direction (Vi-V2) inside said external envelope (3a) between said rest position and said measuring position, said external envelope (3a) comprising said window (11) while said internal container (3b) comprises said cantilever sensor (5) and at least one perimeter edge (18) adapted to go against said window (11) when said chamber (3) is in said measuring position.
8. Device (1) according to the previous claim, characterised in that said internal container (3b) is externally equipped with at least one, radial first retaining means (19) interposed between an
external surface of said internal container (3b) and an internal surface of said external envelope (3a), and in that said internal container (3b) is equipped with at least one second retaining means (21) externally arranged above said perimeter edge (18) and interposed in contact between said internal container (3b) and an internal surface of said window (11) when said chamber (3) is in said measuring position.
9. Device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that it comprises actuating means adapted to take said chamber (3) from said rest position to said measuring position, and vice versa.
10. Automatic system for detecting and measuring pathogen and/or contaminant agents in un fluid characterised in that it comprises:
at least one source of said fluid;
at least one device (1) according to any one of the previous claims;
withdrawing means of at least one aliquot of said fluid from said source as sampling fluid;
supplying means of said sampling fluid from said withdrawing means to said inserting means of said device (1) ;
processing means comprising managing means of a sampling of said fluid adapted to control an operation of said withdrawing means and of said supplying means and managing means of an operation of said device (1) .
11. Automatic measuring process through at least one device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or a system according to claim 10, characterised in that it comprises the steps of:
a) providing at least one amount of one of said sampling fluids;
b) inserting said sampling fluid inside said volume (V) of said chamber (3) of said device (1) ; c) incubating said sampling fluid inside said volume (V) ;
d) withdrawing said sampling fluid from said volume (V) of said chamber (3); and
e) performing the measure through said projecting means (7) and possibly breaking vacuum inside said volume (V) of said chamber (3) .
12. Process according to the previous claim, characterised in that it comprises, between step d) and step e), the steps of inserting and withdrawing at least one washing fluid into and from said volume (3), inserting and withdrawing at least one
drying fluid into and from said volume (3) , creating vacuum inside said volume (3) , taking said chamber (3) from said rest position to said measuring position, and, after step e) , the step of taking back said chamber (3) from said measuring position to said rest position.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITTO2012A000789 | 2012-09-14 | ||
| IT000789A ITTO20120789A1 (en) | 2012-09-14 | 2012-09-14 | AUTOMATIC MEASUREMENT DEVICE, MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE THROUGH THIS DEVICE AND SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH THIS DEVICE. |
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| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2014041573A1 true WO2014041573A1 (en) | 2014-03-20 |
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Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT2013/000238 WO2014041573A1 (en) | 2012-09-14 | 2013-09-10 | Automatic measuring device, measuring process through such device and system equipped with such device |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| IT (1) | ITTO20120789A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2014041573A1 (en) |
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|---|---|
| ITTO20120789A1 (en) | 2012-12-14 |
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