摘要:
A number of fluidic-photonic devices for allowing optical detection, systems employing such devices, and related methods of operation and fabrication of such devices are disclosed herein. In at least some embodiments, the devices can serve as flow cytometry devices and/or employ microfiuidic channels. Also, in at least some embodiments, the devices are fluidic-photonic integrated circuit (FPIC) devices that employ both fiuidic channels and one or more waveguides capable of receiving and/or delivering light, and that can be fabricated using polymeric materials. The fluidic-photonic devices in at least some embodiments are capable of functionality such as on-chip excitation, time-of-flight measurement, and can experience enhanced fluorescence detection sensitivity. In at least some embodiments, the devices employ detection waveguides that are joined by way of a waveguide demultiplexer. In additional embodiments, a variety of techniques can be used to process information received via the waveguides, including an iterative cross-correlation process.
摘要:
The matching of refractive index of a nanoporous membrane with an analyte solution used with the membrane for use in a sensor is described. Scattering of the excitation and/or emitted light is reduced by matching the refractive indices. This improves efficiency when the porous translucent membrane is used in flow-through or flow-over sensors such as biosensors.
摘要:
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for acquiring multiple spectra from a sample, for example, a microfluidic sample. In some aspects of the invention, spectra from a series of locations within a sample are recorded and analyzed, and optionally correlated with an image of the sample. The spectra can be obtained by passing a plurality of light beams through a sample, e.g., using an array of microlenses, diffracting the light beams passing through the sample with a transmission grating, before or after passing the light through the sample, and detecting the resulting light, e.g., as an image. The light beams may pass through the sample before or after passing through the transmission grating. The image can appear as an array of discrete spectra, where each spectrum is associated with a region of the sample where a light beam passed through the sample. The spectra can be analyzed to determine information about the region where the light beam passed through the sample. In some cases, the array of microlenses may be movable and/or replaceable with a second array of microlenses. Also, in some instances, the transmission grating may be movable and/or replaceable with a second transmission grating.
摘要:
A new class of photonic devices called active optical antennas, which consist of metallic structures directly integrated on to the facet of a semiconductor lasers, and of instruments based on such antennas are disclosed. The structures consist of metallic elements which function as antennas at optical wavelengths by spatially concentrating laser radiation of wavelength in the range from the UV to the mid-infrared into spots (with sizes in the range 10-100 nm) in the so called near field zone, that is at subwavelength distances from the facet. Various antenna designs are considered depending on the laser under consideration and applications. This invention has wide ranging applications such as new microscopes for high-resolution spatially resolved imaging and spectroscopy, new probes for biology, laser assisted processing and repair of devices, circuits and masks, as well new optical tweezers and phased array devices. Microscopes and other systems based on this invention are discussed. Further, a number of inventions relating to optical antennas and of instruments based on such antennas are disclosed. An important technology consisting of optical antennas fabricated at the ends of optical fibers is disclosed. A technique for imaging the field distributions on active optical antennas is disclosed. New designs of optical antennas are disclosed. Applications of optical antennas in microfluidic systems are disclosed.
摘要:
A system and method for quantifying opaque inhomogeneities within a fluid sample. The system uses an optical lens system (10, 200) to focus a light beam (13, 100) onto a stage (14, 104) where the sample (120) is introduced. The light beam (13, 100) is directed onto the sample in a pattern such that the intensity of transmitted light is measured as a function of path length. A photo detector (16) measures the transmitted light through the sample. Fluctuations in transmitted light intensity are then correlated with detection of opaque inclusions in the sample. The system also includes an automated program which utilizes these optical concentration measurements to determine the fouling potential of visbroken tars and optionally the peptization value (PV), and regulates the introduction of chemical inhibitors into a visbreaker unit to improve the yield or quality of light streams and/ or the economic value of product.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for performing refractive index, birefringence and optical activity measurements of a material such as a solid, liquid, gas or thin film is disclosed. The method and apparatus can also be used to measure the properties of a reflecting surface. The disclosed apparatus has an optical ring-resonator in the form of a fiber-loop resonator, or a race-track resonator, or any waveguide-ring or other structure with a closed optical path that constitutes a cavity. A sample is introduced into the optical path of the resonator such that the light in the resonator is transmitted through the sample and relative and/or absolute shifts of the resonance frequencies or changes of the characteristics of the transmission spectrum are observed. A change in the transfer characteristics of the resonant ring, such as a shift of the resonance frequency, is related to a sample's refractive index (refractive indices) and/or change thereof. In the case of birefringence measurements, rings that have modes with two (quasi)-orthogonal (linear or circular) polarization states are used to observe the relative shifts of the resonance frequencies. A reflecting surface may be introduced in a ring resonator. The reflecting surface can be raster-scanned for the purpose of height-profiling surface features. A surface plasmon resonance may be excited and phase changes of resonant light due to binding of analytes to the reflecting surface can be determined in the frequency domain.
摘要:
The invention relates to a testing system comprising a fluid container (10) and an optical system (30) for the investigation of fluid samples. The fluid container (10) is provided with microchannels (13, 14) that contain and guide sample fluid. Active elements (1), particularly consisting of a hydrogel mixed with a light absorbing dye, are disposed in said microchannels. The active elements can be transferred from a non-activated state to an activated state with a different shape by a laser beam (35). This can be used to design micro valves and/or pumps. The laser beam (35) is preferably generated by an optical system (30) that is derived from the reading/writing unit of a Compact Disc player.
摘要:
L'invention concerne un procédé d'analyse optique d'une goutte (2) d'un milieu liquide comportant : la mise en contact d'une goutte de liquide avec une surface hydrophobe (8) ; la déformation de la goutte sur cette surface par électromouillage, afin de la positionner et la déformer sur le trajet d'un faisceau optique (50).
摘要:
System and method for fluorescent light detection from biological samples to enhance the numerical aperture and/or reduce the cross-talk of the fluorescent light. The numerical aperture is enhanced by changing the material of construction of a numeral aperture (NA) enhancing element, such as a truncated sphere, in the fluorescent light detection system, such that NA enhancing optial element (40) is constructed of a different material than the housing (560) containing the sample. To eliminate the spherical aberration, the housing is positioned in a source plane that is offset from the theoretical aplanatic source plane. Cross-talk is reduced by using a mask (440).