Towards a modular, versatile and portable sensor system for measurements in gaseous environments based on microcantilevers

Microfabricated silicon cantilever sensor arrays represent a powerful platform for sensing applications in physics, chemistry, material science, biology and medicine. The sensor response is mechanical bending due to absorption of molecules. In gaseous environment, polymer-coated microcantilevers are used as electronic nose for characterization of vapors, resulting in cantilever bending due to polymer swelling upon exposure. Medical applications involve fast characterization of exhaled patient's breath samples for detection of diseases, based on the presence of certain chemicals in breath. We present a portable, compact, modular microcantilever setup, which uses a micropump for aspiration and a bluetooth interface for remote data acquisition.