Flow-through chemical and biological sensor

A signal detection apparatus, comprising a waveguide, a mixing flow chamber, a radiation detector and an illumination source;

• said waveguide having a higher index of refraction material than its surroundings for propagation of a signal;
• said mixing flow chamber having a body forming a flow chamber with an inlet, an outlet, a radiation transmissive wall and a surface positioned to disrupt flow regularity of a sample fluid, said body of said mixing flow chamber surrounding at least a portion of said waveguide member, wherein constituents of a sample fluid entering said inlet are mixed by disruption of sample fluid flow regularity prior to discharge at said outlet;
• said radiation detector being disposed facing the direction of outgoing propagated signal from said waveguide, and
• said illumination source being positioned to direct electromagnetic radiation on one or more surfaces of said waveguide.

An analyte sensing apparatus, comprising:

• a radiation illumination member;
• a radiation detector member;
• and
• a mixing flow cartridge member, comprising a waveguide member having a first end and a second end and multiple surfaces, wherein at least a first surface of the waveguide is facing the analyte fluid sample;
• and
• a mixing flow chamber member having a body comprising at least a radiation transmissive side, a first end and a second end, an inlet and an outlet connected to said body, the body of said mixing flow chamber surrounding at least part of said waveguide member and spaced therefrom so as to allow a fluid solution to flow between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the first end and the second end of waveguide member are secured to first and second end of the mixing flow chamber body;
• wherein the first surface of the waveguide member is coated with an analyte recognition element, wherein the waveguide and the body of the mixing flow chamber is configured so that the sample fluid flow through the mixing flow chamber produces mixing of the sample, wherein the radiation illumination member constructed to provide electromagnetic radiation and arranged to direct the radiation on the analyte recognition elements on the surfaces of the waveguide member, and wherein one radiation detector member is disposed facing the first end of the waveguide.

A method for detecting an analyte in a fluid sample, comprising:

• (a) flowing a sample fluid suspected of containing an analyte over an analyte recognition coating of a signal detection apparatus under conditions sufficient for binding of an analyte to said analyte recognition coating, said signal detection apparatus comprising:
• a waveguide having an analyte recognition coating, said waveguide having a higher index of refraction material than its surroundings for propagation of a signal;
• a mixing flow chamber having a body forming a flow chamber with an inlet, an outlet, a radiation transmissive wall and a surface positioned to disrupt flow regularity of a sample fluid, said body of said mixing flow chamber surrounding at least a portion of said waveguide member, wherein constituents of a sample fluid entering said inlet are mixed by disruption of sample fluid flow regularity prior to discharge at said outlet;
• a radiation detector being disposed facing the direction of outgoing propagated signal from said waveguide, and
• an illumination source being positioned to direct electromagnetic radiation on one or more surfaces of said waveguide.
• (b) flowing an emission detection reagent over said analyte recognition coating under conditions sufficient for binding of said detection reagent to a bound analyte;
• (c) exposing said analyte recognition coating to radiation having a wavelength sufficient to excite said detection reagent, and
• (d) detecting emitted radiation with said radiation detector.

A method for detecting an analyte in a fluid sample, comprising:

• (a) contacting a sample fluid suspected of containing an analyte with an analyte recognition coating in solution under conditions sufficient for binding of an analyte to said analyte recognition coating;
• (b) immobilizing said analyte recognition coating to a waveguide of a signal detection apparatus, said signal detection apparatus comprising:
• a waveguide having an analyte recognition coating, said waveguide having a higher index of refraction material than its surroundings for propagation of a signal;
• a mixing flow chamber having a body forming a flow chamber with an inlet, an outlet, a radiation transmissive wall and a surface positioned to disrupt flow regularity of a sample fluid, said body of said mixing flow chamber surrounding at least a portion of said waveguide member, wherein constituents of a sample fluid entering said inlet are mixed by disruption of sample fluid flow regularity prior to discharge at said outlet;
• a radiation detector being disposed facing the direction of outgoing propagated signal from said waveguide, and
• an illumination source being positioned to direct electromagnetic radiation on one or more surfaces of said waveguide.
• (c) contacting said analyte recognition coating with an emission detection reagent under conditions sufficient for binding of said detection reagent to a bound analyte;
• (d) exposing said analyte recognition coating to radiation having a wavelength sufficient to excite said detection reagent, and
• (e) detecting emitted radiation with said radiation detector.