Abstract:
A multi-wavelength reference microplate for a label-independent optical reader is disclosed. The microplate includes a support plate that supports a plurality of reference wells. At least one of the reference wells is configured as a multi-wavelength reference well having disposed therein two or more resonant waveguide grating sections that respectively reflect two or more different reference resonant wavelengths within the light source wavelength band. Methods for making and using the microplates are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A Mach-Zehnder filter is provided with a strongly aperiodic transfer function including a broad, sharply defined passband. The filter can be used in conjunction with optical amplifiers.
Abstract:
A system and a method for scan interrogation of, for example, a label-independent-detection (LID) biosensor, such as for monitoring a surface change or an event on a biosensor for use, for example, in microplate image analysis. The label-independent-detection biosensor may be reasonant waveguide (RWG) optical biosensor or a biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The method includes scanning a region of the biosensor including a signal area (210) and a region including a reference area (200). By searching for and selecting the most uniform sub-region (230) in these scanned areas, defects (250) can be avoided and the accuracy of the measurement is improved.
Abstract:
A method for side writing Bragg gratings, having minimal birefringence, in a waveguide structure (2) is disclosed. The method employs the orientation of the polarization direction (10) of the writing light beam (8) relative to the long axis (7) of the waveguide structure (2) together with the orientation of the intrinsic birefringence slow axis (9) to effectively minimize birefringence in the subject grating.
Abstract:
A multi-grating resonant waveguide (RWG) biosensor for an optical reader system having a spatial resolution limit is disclosed. The multi-grating RWG biosensor includes one or more signal-grating regions and one or more reference-grating regions. The multi-grating RWG biosensor can also include a non-resonance region that spatially separates the one or more signal-grating regions, that spatially separates the one or more reference-grating regions, and that spatially separates the one or more reference-grating regions from the one or more signal-grating regions. The non-resonance region can have a minimum width greater than the optical reader system spatial resolution limit. The RWG biosensor can have an asymmetric split-grating configuration. Methods of measuring a signal resonant wavelength of a multi-grating RWG biosensor using an optical reader having a spatial resolution limit are also disclosed.
Abstract:
An optical interrogation system and a method are described herein that enable the interrogation of one or more biosensors which can be located within the wells of a microplate. In one embodiment, the optical interrogation system has a tunable laser, N-fiber launches, N-lenses and N-detectors that are set-up to interrogate N-biosensors. In another embodiment, the optical interrogation system has a tunable laser, N-fiber launches, N+1 lenses and N-detectors that are set-up to interrogate N-biosensors.