Holographic based bio-assay
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorsKay Lichtenwalter, Hewlett E. Melton, Jr.
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Abstract
An apparatus detects a target reactant that binds to an immobilized reactant. The apparatus generates a holographic image at a predetermined location when the reactants are present and bound to one another. The immobilized reactant is bound to a support surface at selected locations. The locations are chosen such that a holographic plate is generated when the target reactant binds to the immobilized reactant. An associated method may be used to detect antibody-antigen reactions, the binding of two strands of nucleic acid, the binding of an enzyme to one of its substrates, and so on.
Claims19
An apparatus for detecting a target reactant, said apparatus comprising:
- a support structure;
- a coherent light source;
- a second reactant immobilized on said support structure at selected locations thereon, said locations corresponding to a predetermined pattern, said immobilized reactant binding said target reactant when said target and immobilized reactants are brought into contact with one another, wherein said predetermined pattern causes a holographic image to be generated at a predetermined image location when said immobilized reactant is bound to said target reactant and said bound reactants are illuminated by said coherent light source;
- and
- detection means for detecting said holographic image.
A method for detecting a target reactant, said method comprising the steps of:
- bringing said target reactant into contact with an immobilized reactant that is immobilized on a support structure at selected locations thereon, said locations corresponding to a predetermined pattern, said immobilized reactant binding said target reactant when said target and immobilized reactants are brought into contact with one another, wherein said predetermined pattern causes a holographic image to be generated at a predetermined image location when said immobilized reactant is bound to said target reactant and said bound reactants are exposed to coherent light;
- illuminating said support structure with a coherent light source;
- and
- measuring the intensity of light at said image location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.