US 9,285,304 B2 · Optical waveguide comprising a nano-channel and optofluidic sensor using such an optical waveguide

Abstract

An optical waveguide including a first substrate incorporating a first optical guiding structure exposed at a surface of the first substrate, a second substrate incorporating a second optical guiding structure exposed at a surface of the second substrate, the two substrates being assembled superimposed by their surfaces such that the two optical guiding structures are facing each other and extend in a same direction. A channel is fitted between the first and the second guiding structure, directed along the direction, the channel having a cross-section with a large dimension substantially parallel to the surface of the first substrate and to the surface of the second substrate, enabling light to interact on a given distance with the fluid. Such a waveguide can, for example, find application to fluid analysis.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An optical waveguide comprising:

a first substrate incorporating a first optical guiding structure being flushed with a surface of the first substrate;
a second substrate incorporating a second optical guiding structure being flushed with a surface of the second substrate;
the first and second substrates being assembled superimposed by theirs surfaces such that the first and second optical guiding structures face each other and extend in a same direction;
a channel being fitted between the first and the second guiding structures, directed along the direction, the channel having a cross-section a large dimension of which is substantially parallel to the surface of the first substrate and to the surface of the second substrate, the channel configured to accommodate a fluid.

1 more element

A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide with a channel comprising:

forming, in a first substrate, a first optical guiding structure being flushed with a surface of the first substrate and forming, in a second substrate, a second optical guiding structure being flushed with a surface of the second substrate;
forming a channel overlapping the first substrate, the second substrate or the first and the second substrates, the channel configured to accommodate a fluid;
turning around one of the substrate from the first substrate and the second substrate;
aligning and assembling the first substrate to the second substrate by their surfaces such that first and second optical guiding structures are superimposed facing each other and extend in a same direction and the channel is fitted between the first optical guiding structure and the second optical guiding structure and directed along the direction, the channel having a cross-section a large dimension of which is substantially parallel to the surface of the first substrate and to the surface of the second substrate.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/647,580Filed 26 Nov 2013

Priority

FR 12 6128527 Nov 2012

Published

US 2015/0300943 A122 Oct 2015

Granted

15 Mar 2016

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

G01N 21/0303
Cuvette constructions: optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment
B01L 3/502715
By integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g.…
G01N 21/31
Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands:…
G02B 6/1223
Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths: high refractive index type, i.e. high-contrast waveguides

Optical waveguide comprising a nano-channel and optofluidic sensor using such an optical waveguide

Life of this patent

Optical waveguide comprising a nano-channel and optofluidic sensor using such an optical waveguide

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16