Acoustic MEMS transducers for biomedical applications

A recent acoustic MEMS transducer, a mass sensor based on FBAR (film bulk acoustic resonator), is shown to detect addition of a single DNA base. As the FBAR sensor can detect minute amount of DNA (and/or RNA) markers without the need for optical imaging, it will enable us to develop an “easy to use” and reliable system to detect the presence of pathogen's nucleic acids in non-invasive fluids, such as urine and saliva, when arrayed on a small chip and coupled with a simple sample preparation and an “on-chip” isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques. Another recent acoustic MEMS, self-focusing acoustic transducers (SFATs) are ideally suited for on-chip DNA and protein synthesis, high frequency ultrasonic imaging, cell lysis or high-intensity ultrasonic treatment with excellent localization on particular cells over a micron-sized area. The focused acoustic beam generated by SFAT is strong and precise enough to eject micron-sized droplets at any desired direction, activate cell-detaching cavitation, and/or lyse cells.