Near-field transform spectroscopy
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsFrederic Zenhausern, Chia-Fu Chou
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Abstract
An exemplary system and method for detecting at least one analyte in a sample comprises inter alia a source of radiation (300), a near-field aperture array (315), a chromatographic field (330), a detector (350), and a data processor (370). Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve detection of any sub-diffraction-limited scale phenomena. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention representatively provide for improved S/N, increased sample throughput, refined spectral resolution and enhanced detection sensitivity.
Claims40
A method for detecting at least one component in a sample, the method comprising:
- providing at least one evanescent near-field region formed by at least an array of apertures and a source of radiation, said apertures comprising dimensions effectively below the diffraction limit of said source of radiation;
- providing at least one sample flow-path in effective proximity to said near-field region, said flow-path suitably adapted for moving at least one component of said sample substantially along said at least an array of apertures;
- providing a detector in effective proximity to said sample flow-path;
- detecting the at least one component in the sample;
- and
- providing a processor for processing near-field, time-domain signal input from said detector to produce frequency-domain output by operation of a Fourier transformation (FT).
A system for detecting at least one component in a sample, the system comprising:
- at least one evanescent near-field region formed by at least an array of apertures and a source of radiation, said apertures comprising dimensions effectively below the diffraction limit of said source of radiation;
- at least one sample flow-path in effective proximity to said near field region said flow-path suitably adapted for moving at least one component of said sample substantially along said at least one array of apertures;
- a detector in effective proximity to said sample flow-path;
- and
- a processor for processing near-field, time domain signal input from said detector to produce frequency-domain output by operation of Fourier transformation (FT).
A method for detecting least one component in a sample, the method comprising:
- providing a source of radiation;
- providing an aperture field, said aperture field comprising at least an array of apertures, said apertures comprising dimensions effectively below the diffraction limit of said radiation;
- providing at least one flow-path in effective proximity to said aperture field, said flow-path suitably adapted for moving at least one component of said sample substantially along said aperture field;
- providing a detector in effective proximity to said sample flow-path;
- detecting the at least one component in the sample;
- and
- providing a processor for processing near-field, time-domain signal input from said detector to produce frequency-domain output by operation of a Fourier transformation (FT).
A system for detecting at least one component in a sample, the system comprising:
- a source of radiation;
- an aperture field, said aperture field comprising at least an array of apertures, said apertures comprising dimensions effectively below the diffraction limit of said radiation;
- at least one flow-path in effective proximity to said aperture field, said flow-path suitably adapted for moving at least one component of said sample substantially along said aperture field;
- a detector in effective proximity to said sample flow-path;
- and
- a processor for processing near-field, time-domain signal input from said detector to produce frequency-domain output by operation of a Fourier transformation (FT).
A method for detecting at least one component in a sample, the method comprising:
- exposing a first side of an aperture field to radiation, said aperture field defined by at least an array of apertures, said apertures having dimensions effectively below the diffraction limit of said radiation;
- flowing said sample through a flow-path, said sample flow-path oriented substantially along said aperture field, said sample flow-path in effective near-field proximity to a second side of said aperture field, said sample flow-path in effective proximity to a detector;
- interrogating at least one property of said sample;
- and
- processing near-field, time-domain signal input obtained from said detector to produce frequency-domain output by operation of a Fourier transformation (FT).
A near-field system for detecting a biomolecule in a multi-component sample, said system comprising:
- a source of electromagnetic radiation;
- an array of near-field apertures;
- a microchannel sample flow-path;
- a detector for collecting a near-field signal generated by the motion of said biomolecule;
- and
- a processor for processing near-field, time-domain signal input to produce frequency-domain output by operation of a Fourier transformation (FT).
A near-field method for detecting a biomolecule in a multi-component sample, said method comprising:
- providing a source of electromagnetic radiation;
- providing an array of near-field apertures;
- providing a microchannel sample flow-path;
- providing a detector for collecting a near-field signal generated by the motion of said biomolecule;
- detecting the biomolecule in the multi-component sample;
- and
- providing a processor for processing near-field, time-domain signal input to produce frequency-domain output by operation of a Fourier transformation (FT).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.