US Patent 7407814 - Molecular detection nanoresonator array

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7407814.html

This patent from Caltech has relatively early priority and claims a nanoelectromechanical resonator system for detecting plural analytes in solution. Claim 1 reads:

1. A molecular detector capable of detecting an analyte in solution comprising:

a solution reservoir;

at least one first nanometer-scale mechanical resonator which is disposed within the reservoir, wherein the at least one first resonator is biofunctionalized with a first receptor or a first ligand;

a substrate or a second mechanical resonator which is disposed within the reservoir, wherein the substrate or the second resonator is biofunctionalized with a second receptor or a second ligand, and wherein the first receptor or ligand and the second receptor or ligand are capable of binding to the analyte in solution such that the analyte binds to both the first receptor or ligand and to the second receptor or ligand at a same time; and

a detector in signal communication with the at least one first resonator for measuring a mechanical displacement of the resonator for detection of the analyte.