Optical assay technique
US4931384A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 17, 1984 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 17, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S436/81
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An assay technique for qualitative and quantitative detection of a chemcial, biochemical or biological detection of a chemical, biochemical or biological species in sample. The technique comprises (a) coating at least a predetermined part of a pre-formed surface on a substrate with a thin film of a material capable of binding the species to be assayed, the pre-formed surface being optically active with respect to radiation at least over a predetermined band of wavelengths; (b) contacting the coated surface with sample; and (c) observing the optical properties of said pre-formed surface in order to determine a qualitative and quantitative change in optical properties as a result of the binding of the species onto said thin film of material. The optical properties of the pre-formed surface may be observed before and after step (b) in order to determine any change in optical properties, or they may be monitored during step (b). The pre-formed surface is preferably a grating. An article for use in the above technique is also disclosed, and comprises a substrate carrying said pre-formed surface which in turn is coated with the respective material for the species to be assayed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.