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US 4,880,752 AGranted
Dielectric waveguide sensors and their use in immunoassays
AssigneeCiba Corning Diagnostics Corp.
InventorsDonald B. Keck, Walter F. Love
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to novel dielectric waveguide (i.e., fiber optic) sensors for use in spectrophotometric assays of analytes in fluids. More particularly, the use of these sensors in immunoassays is disclosed.
Claims22
A dielectric waveguide for use in fluorescence assays of an analyte in a fluid, comprising:
- (a) a core having an index of refraction (N.sub.1) and an opening in the core;
- (b) a cladding about the core having an index of refraction (N.sub.2) which is less than N.sub.1 ;
- and
- (c) a reactant coating about the opening of the core which comprises an analyte-binder, wherein the core is transmissive to radiation which can excite fluorescence of a fluorescent tag and transmissive to fluorescent radiation from the fluorescent tag.
1 more element
A multi-element dielectric waveguide for use in fluorescence assays of an analyte in a fluid comprising:
- (a) a support fiber having an index of refraction (N.sub.A) and an opening therethrough;
- (b) a second core fiber axially positioned within the support fiber opening and having an index of refraction (N.sub.B);
- (c) a means for maintaining the axial position of the core fiber within the support fiber;
- and
- (d) a reactant coating on the support fiber or on the core fiber which comprises an analyte-binder, wherein the support fiber and the core fiber are transmissive to radiation which can excite fluorescence of a fluorescent tag and transmissive to fluorescent radiation from the fluorescent tag.
2 more elements
A dielectric waveguide for use in fluorescence assays of an analyte in a fluid comprising:
- (a) a core having an index of refraction (N.sub.X) and an opening therethrough;
- (b) a series of claddings about the core having alternating indices of refraction (N.sub.2) and (N.sub.1) where N.sub.2 is less than N.sub.1 and only one of either can equal N.sub.X, and of such a number and configuration so as to enable radiation which can excite the fluorescence of a fluorescent tag to propagate within the core opening and to enable the fluorescent radiation from the fluorescent tag to propagate within the core opening and;
- (c) a reactant coating on the core surface which comprises an analyte-binder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.