Low-Cost QCM Sensor System for Screening Semen Samples. (5th December 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Newton, Michael I.; Atherton, Shaun; Morris, Robert H.; Stanley, Simon M.; Evans, Carl R.; Hughes, David C.; McHale, Glen
• Other Names: Mukhopadhyay S. C. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sensors. Volume 2010(2010)
• Publication Date: 2010-12-05
• Subjects: Detectors -- Periodicals; 681.205
• DOI: 10.1155/2010/326365
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-725X

Abstract

Abstract : Artificial insemination is a well-established part of modern agricultural practice. A viable semen sample is judged by the total number of spermatozoa (sperm) in the sample and the motility of the sperm. In this paper, we report the development of a reusable measurement cell and electronics for screening semen samples based on the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) and Universal Frequency to Digital Converter (UFDC-1) to produce a low-cost sensor system. After introducing the semen sample at one end of the measurement cell, sperm swim down a channel before causing a frequency change on the QCM. Data is presented that shows the different frequency changes using a commercial frequency counter caused by porcine semen samples, one two days old and one twenty one days old. Similar data is presented for a motile semen sample measurement using the low-cost UFDC-1.