US 6,721,053 B1 · System for high resolution chemical and biological sensing

Abstract

An MEOMS sensing chip for optically detecting and measuring substances in fluid samples is disclosed. The MEOMS sensing chip includes a system for optically sensing substances in the fluid samples and a system for delivering the fluid samples to the sensing system. The sensing system includes a two-branch channel waveguide and a plurality of ring waveguides, each branch in the two-branch waveguide being used for evanescently coupling light energy into one of the ring waveguides. The delivering system includes a plurality of micro-channels and a plurality of micro-wells, the micro-channels being used for transporting the fluid samples to the micro-wells. Each micro-well is aligned with a respective ring waveguide and is used for exposing the fluid sample contained therein to the respective ring waveguide. Characteristics related to the evanescent coupling of the light energy into the ring waveguides, e.g., resonant frequencies of the ring waveguides, are used for detecting substances in the fluid samples.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A device for optically sensing substances in fluid samples, comprising:

a first channel waveguide for coupling light energy into a first ring waveguide, the first ring waveguide having a test sample applied to a surface thereof;
a chemically sensitive layer interfaced with the first ring waveguide, the test sample reacting with the chemically sensitive layer to change a refractive index of the chemically sensitive layer, wherein the light energy propagating around the first ring waveguide produces an evanescent wave field which causes a change in resonant frequency of the first ring waveguide;
a second channel waveguide for coupling light energy in to a second ring waveguide, the second ring waveguide having a reference sample applied to a surface thereof;
a laser for injecting light into the first and the second channel waveguides;
and
at least one detector for measuring the intensities of light coupled out of the first and the second channel waveguides,
wherein the intensity measurements are used for sensing substances in the test sample relative to the reference sample.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for high resolution chemical and biological sensing

Life of this patent

System for high resolution chemical and biological sensing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11