Substrates and optical system having at least one optical waveguide, at least one nanometer-scale aperture and at least one lens array and methods of use thereof
AssigneePacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
InventorsCheng Frank Zhong, Paul Lundquist, Mathieu Foquet, Jonas Korlach, Hovig Bayandorian
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Abstract
This invention provides substrates for use in various applications, including single-molecule analytical reactions. Methods for propagating optical energy within a substrate are provided. Devices comprising waveguide substrates and dielectric omnidirectional reflectors are provided. Waveguide substrates with improved uniformity of optical energy intensity across one or more waveguides and enhanced waveguide illumination efficiency within an analytic detection region of the arrays are provided.
Claims21
An analytic device, comprising:
- a substrate comprising (a) at least one optical waveguide;
- (b) at least one nanometer-scale aperture that penetrates into a first side of the substrate and extends toward a core of the optical waveguide such that an analyte disposed therein is sufficiently proximal to the core to be illuminated by an evanescent field emanating from the core when optical energy is passed through the optical waveguide;
- (c) and at least one microlens array positioned between the optical waveguide and a second side of the substrate that is opposite the first side of the substrate, wherein a microlens within the microlens array directs photons emitted from the one nanometer-scale aperture toward the second side of the substrate;
- and
- a detector disposed proximal to the second side of the substrate to receive photons directed from the one nanometer-scale aperture.
An integrated optical device, comprising a multi-layer substrate, the multi-layer substrate comprising:
- a) a waveguide layer comprising a biosensing region wherein a plurality of nanometer-scale apertures comprise analyte regions disposed sufficiently proximal to a core of a waveguide to be illuminated by an evanescent field emanating from the core when optical energy is passed through the waveguide;
- b) a sensor array layer;
- and
- c) a lens array layer that collects optical energy signals from the biosensing region and directs, the optical energy signals so collected to the sensor array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.