Sensors employing interference of electromagnetic waves passing through waveguides having functionalized surfaces

US5465151A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The State of Oregon Acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of the University of Oregon · US

Inventors

• Martin N. Wybourne · Eugene, US
• John F. W. Keana · Eugene, US
• Sui Xiong Cai · San Diego, US
• Mingdi Yan · Lowell, US
• Jong-Ching Wu · Eugene, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 5, 1993
• Grant date: Nov 7, 1995
• Expiry date: Feb 5, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2201/0873
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Chemical and biosensors are disclosed. An optical waveguide is used to conduct electromagnetic radiation by total internal reflection in parallel through a reference waveguide portion and at least one analyte waveguide portion. The electromagnetic radiation is then converged into an exit beam. The external surface of at least the analyte portion is covalently modified, or functionalized, relative to the reference portion. Resulting interaction of the functionalized surface with molecules comprising an analyte causes a phase change in the electromagnetic radiation passing through the analyte portion relative to the reference portion sufficient to generate a corresponding and measurable interference pattern in the exit beam. A waveguide surface is functionalized by exposure to a reagent, having molecules each comprising a nitrenogenic group and a functionalizing group, in the presence of energized charged particles such as electrons and ions, photons, or heat, which transform the nitrenogenic reagent to a nitrene intermediate. The resulting reaction causes the functionalizing groups to covalently bond to the surface. The functionalizing groups can then participate in downstream chemi…