Sensor platform, apparatus incorporating the platform and process using the platform

Apparatus for analysing samples comprising a platform including an optically transparent substrate having a refractive index (n1), a thin, optically transparent layer, formed on one surface of the substrate, said layer having a refractive index (n2) which is greater than (n1), said platform incorporating therein one or multiple corrugated structures comprising periodic grooves which define one or multiple sensing regions, said grooves being configured such that either

• a) coherent light incident on said platform is diffracted into individual beams or diffraction orders which interfere resulting in reduction of the transmitted beam and an abnormal high reflection of the incident light thereby generating an enhanced evanescent field at the surface of the one or multiple sensing regions;
• or
• b) coherent and linearly polarized light incident on said platform is diffracted into individual beams or diffraction orders which interfere resulting in almost total extinction of the transmitted beam and an abnormal high reflection of the incident light thereby generating an enhanced evanescent field at the surface of the one or multiple sensing regions,
• wherein the enhanced evanescent field interacts with luminescent material on or in the vicinity of one or more of the sensing regions so as to produce a detectable luminescent signal;
• said apparatus further including means for generating a light beam and for directing the beam so that it is incident upon the platform on the side of the substrate having the optically transparent layer disposed thereon at an angle which causes evanescent resonance to occur in at least one sensing region of the platform to thereby create an enhanced resonant field in the at least one sensing region of the platform, and means for detecting a characteristic of an affinity reaction occurring on or in the vicinity of, or a characteristic of a material disposed on or in the vicinity of, the at least one sensing region of the platform, wherein the light generating means is adapted to generate light having a linear polarisation component which gives rise to TM excitation.

Apparatus for analysing samples comprising a platform including an optically transparent substrate having a refractive index (n1), a thin, optically transparent layer, formed on one surface of the substrate, said layer having a refractive index (n2) which is greater than (n1), said platform incorporating therein one or multiple corrugated structures comprising periodic grooves which define one or multiple sensing regions, said grooves being configured such that either

• a) coherent light incident on said platform is diffracted into individual beams or diffraction orders which interfere resulting in reduction of the transmitted beam and an abnormal high reflection of the incident light thereby generating an enhanced evanescent field at the surface of the one or multiple sensing regions;
• or
• b) coherent and linearly polarized light incident on said platform is diffracted into individual beams or diffraction orders which interfere resulting in almost total extinction of the transmitted beam and an abnormal high reflection of the incident light thereby generating an enhanced evanescent field at the surface of the one or multiple sensing regions,
• wherein the enhanced evanescent field interacts with luminescent material on or in the vicinity of one or more of the sensing regions so as to produce a detectable luminescent signal;
• said apparatus further including means for generating a light beam and for directing the beam so that it is incident upon the platform
• on the side of the substrate having the optically transparent layer disposed thereon at an angle which causes evanescent resonance to occur in at least one sensing region of the platform to thereby create an enhanced resonant field in the at least one sensing region of the platform, and means for detecting a characteristic of an affinity reaction occurring on or in the vicinity of, or a characteristic of a material disposed on or in the vicinity of, the at least one sensing region of the platform, wherein the light beam incident upon the platform has a polarization that is substantially perpendicular to the grooves in the at least one sensing region so as to give rise to TM excitation in the at least one sensing region.

Apparatus for analysing samples comprising a platform including an optically transparent substrate having a refractive index (n1), a thin, optically transparent layer, formed on one surface of the substrate, said layer having a refractive index (n2) which is greater than (n1), said platform incorporating therein one or multiple corrugated structures comprising periodic grooves which define one or multiple sensing regions, said grooves being configured such that either

• a) coherent light incident on said platform is diffracted into individual beams or diffraction orders which interfere resulting in reduction of the transmitted beam and an abnormal high reflection of the incident light thereby generating an enhanced evanescent field at the surface of the one or multiple sensing regions;
• or
• b) coherent and linearly polarized light incident on said platform is diffracted into individual beams or diffraction orders which interfere resulting in almost total extinction of the transmitted beam and an abnormal high reflection of the incident light thereby generating an enhanced evanescent field at the surface of the one or multiple sensing regions,
• wherein the enhanced evanescent field interacts with luminescent material on or in the vicinity of one or more of the sensing regions so as to produce a detectable luminescent signal;
• said apparatus further including means for generating a light beam and for directing the beam so that it is incident upon the platform on the side of the substrate having the optically transparent layer disposed thereon at an angle which causes evanescent resonance to occur in at least one sensing region of the platform to thereby create an enhanced resonant field in the at least one sensing region of the platform, and means for detecting a characteristic of an affinity reaction occurring on or in the vicinity of, or a characteristic of a material disposed on or in the vicinity of, the at least one sensing region of the platform, wherein the light beam incident upon the platform has a polarization that is substantially parallel to the grooves in the at least one sensing region so as to give rise to TE excitation in the at least one sensing region.

A platform for use in sample analysis, said platform having one or more sensing areas or regions, each for receiving a capture element or elements which when the platform is irradiated with coherent light can interact to provide an indication of an affinity reaction, wherein each capture element includes two or more types of capture molecule, said platform further comprising an optically transparent substrate having a refractive index (n1), a thin, optically transparent layer, formed on one surface of the substrate, said layer having a refractive index (n2) which is greater than (n1), said platform incorporating therein one or multiple corrugated structures comprising periodic grooves which define the one or multiple sensing areas or regions, said grooves being so profiled, dimensioned and oriented that coherent light incident on said platform is diffracted into individual beams or diffraction orders which interfere resulting in reduction of the transmitted beam and an abnormal high reflection of the incident light thereby generating an enhanced evanescent field at a surface of the one or more sensing areas,

• the platform further including means for generating a light beam and for directing the beam so that it is incident upon the platform on the side of the substrate that does not have the optically transparent layer disposed thereon at an angle which causes evanescent resonance to occur in at least one sensing area of the platform to thereby create an enhanced resonant field in the at least one sensing area of the platform, and means for detecting a characteristic of an affinity reaction occurring on or in the vicinity of, or a characteristic of a material disposed on or in the vicinity of, the at least one sensing area of the platform.

A platform for use in sample analysis, said platform having one or more sensing areas or regions, each for receiving a capture element or elements which when the platform is irradiated with coherent light can interact to provide an indication of an affinity reaction, wherein each capture element includes two or more types of capture molecule, said platform further comprising an optically transparent substrate having a refractive index (n1), a thin, optically transparent layer, formed on one surface of the substrate, said layer having a refractive index (n2) which is greater than (n1), said platform incorporating therein one or multiple corrugated structures comprising periodic grooves which define the one or multiple sensing areas or regions, said grooves being so profiled, dimensioned and oriented that coherent and linearly polarised light incident on said platform is diffracted into individual beams or diffraction orders which interfere resulting in a substantially total extinction of the transmitted beam and an abnormal high reflection of the incident light thereby generating an enhanced evanescent field at a surface of the one or more sensing areas,

• the platform further including means for generating a light beam and for directing the beam so that it is incident upon the platform on the side of the substrate that does not have the optically transparent layer disposed thereon at an angle which causes evanescent resonance to occur in at least one sensing area of the platform to thereby create an enhanced resonant field in the at least one sensing area of the platform, and means for detecting a characteristic of an affinity reaction occurring on or in the vicinity of, or a characteristic of a material disposed on or in the vicinity of, the at least one sensing area of the platform.