Low-Cost QCM Sensor System for Screening Semen Samples

Abstract EN

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.