Integrated electrical and optical sensor for biomolecule analysis with single molecule sensitivity

US7444053B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Regents of the University of California · US
• BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Holger Schmidt · Wuppertal, DE
• Aaron Hawkins · Charlotte, US
• David W. Deamer · Santa Cruz, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 14, 2006
• Grant date: Oct 28, 2008
• Expiry date: Oct 6, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2021/6484
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical waveguide is constructed so as to comprise a non-solid core layer surrounded by a solid-state material, wherein light can be transmitted with low loss through the non-solid core layer, and an electrical component is in fluid communication with the non-solid core layer. The electrical component controls movement of sample material through the non-solid core. The optical wave guide provides light confinement with structured dielectric materials. A presently preferred implementation of the invention employs anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROWs or ARROW). Liquid-core waveguides may also be implemented using other dielectric confinement methods where the layers are periodic, such as Bragg mirrors, holey photonic crystal fiber, and omniguides.