Molecular detection using an optical waveguide fixed to a cantilever
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorsAlex Tran, Dustin Carr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to devices and methods for detecting a ligand in a liquid, based on deflection of one or more microscopic cantilevers. Each cantilever has an optical waveguide fixed thereto or integral therewith. Deflection of the cantilever is detected by assessing coupling of light between the optical waveguide on the cantilever and an optical waveguide fixed distally thereto.
Claims23
A method of assessing occurrence in a fluid of a ligand that binds specifically with a receptor, the method comprising
- contacting the fluid and a surface of a cantilever extending from a second body into a gap between the second body and a first body, wherein the receptor is immobilized on the surface and
- assessing light coupling across the gap of a gapped waveguide extending across the first and second bodies and along the length of the cantilever, wherein the gap of the waveguide coincides with the gap between the first body and the distal end of the cantilever,
- whereby binding of the ligand with the receptor induces bending of the cantilever, thereby misaligning the gapped ends of the waveguide and decreasing light coupling across the gap.
A method of assessing occurrence in a fluid of a ligand that binds specifically with a receptor, the method comprising
- contacting the fluid and a surface of a cantilever extending from a second body into a gap between the second body and a first body, wherein the receptor is immobilized on the surface,
- inducing a regular vibration of the cantilever, and
- thereafter assessing light coupling across the gap of a gapped waveguide extending across the first and second bodies and along the length of the cantilever, wherein the gap of the waveguide coincides with the gap between the first body and the distal end of the cantilever,
- whereby the frequency of vibration of the cantilever can be assessed by the frequency of light coupling across the gap and whereby binding between the ligand and the receptor alters the resonant frequency of vibration of the cantilever.
In a method of assessing occurrence in a fluid of a ligand that binds specifically with a receptor immobilized on a microscopic cantilever extending from a second body, wherein binding between the ligand and the cantilever induces deflection of the cantilever in the presence of the fluid, the improvement comprising
- assessing deflection of the cantilever by assessing light coupling across the gap of an optical waveguide disposed across the second body, along the length of the cantilever, and across a first body distally spaced from the cantilever, wherein the gap of the waveguide coincides with the space between the first body and the cantilever.
23-25. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.