In response to the need to monitor and detect sub-clinical mastitis causing organisms in milk, BiSen Technologies, Inc. proposes an array based technology solution based on differential capacitance resulting from target immobilization. The approach is specifically for microorganisms, although further research will likely expand the targets to include viruses and potentially toxic chemicals. The sensor element will be fabricated using standard semiconductor manufacturing processes. This facilitates the design of an array of sensors on a single chip. Ultimately, the sensor array will be built on a CMOS integrated circuit chip, thus providing a complete integrated solution. Each individual sensor element or a group of sensor elements can be functionalized for a given specific target

BiSen's real-time sensor system functions by comparing the measured capacitance between a reference sensor and a functionalized sensor. Each sensor consists of two conducting electrodes, preferably micro-plates, separated by a small distance. One sensor is functionalized such that immobilization occurs in the presence of a specific target substance. The immobilization adds a substance between the sensor electrodes. This added material has a relative permittivity that is different from the relative permittivity of the overall fluid and therefore also different from the non-functionalized reference sensor. Therefore, the capacitance of the functionalized sensor with an immobilized target and the capacitance of the reference sensor will differ. The sensor dimensions can be tailored so that a change of capacitance due to immobilization of a target presence is significant. For an array of very small sensors, where one immobilization event is detectable, the rate of event occurrence provides information on the presence and concentration of the target substance.

BiSenExternal1

BiSen's patent pending technology utilizes an array-based sensor, functionalized to detect priority sub-clinical mastitis causing organisms, in real-time, in flow during the milking process.

BiSenInternal1

If a positive event occurs, milking of that cow immediately stops, decreasing that cow's impact on bulk tank milk quality, and marking it for treatment.