Resonant waveguide-granting devices and methods for using same

• US 10,359,573 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2013
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Wawro, Debra D., Tibuleac, Sorin, Magnusson, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyons, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US13/971,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20140056559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 356300, 356326, 356328
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7776 Index
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/648 using evanescent coupling or surface plasmon coupling for the excitation of fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7743 the reagent-coated grating coupling light in or out of the waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12107 Grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02061 Grating external to the fibre and in contact with the fibre, e.g. evanescently coupled, gratings applied to the fibre end mechanically induced in the fibre G02B6/02071, surface relief on the fibre G02B6/02066
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29317 Light guides of the optical fibre type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence

Abstract

Waveguide gratings, biosensors, and methods of using a waveguide grating, including as a biosensor.

Claims

1. A method of using a waveguide grating, comprising:

contacting a waveguide grating device with a medium, the waveguide grating device comprising;

at least one waveguide having an end, the end having an endface; and

a waveguide grating fabricated on the endface of the at least one waveguide, the waveguide grating having at least one waveguide layer and at least one grating layer;

where the contacting comprises contacting the waveguide grating with the medium;

directing light through the at least one waveguide such that the light contacts the waveguide grating, the waveguide grating being configured such that;

at least one attribute of the light is consequently modified; and

a guided-mode resonance peak or minimum occurs in light that is reflected from the waveguide grating or in light that is transmitted through the waveguide grating; and

determining at least one parameter of the medium using the modified attribute.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is directed from a laser.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is directed from a broadband source.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is directed from a light emitting diode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining involves the use of an optical spectrum analyzer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute comprises the spectral content of the light.

7. A method of using a waveguide grating as a biosensor, comprising:

contacting a guided-mode resonance waveguide grating with a medium, the guided-mode resonance waveguide grating having at least one waveguide layer, at least one grating layer, and biologically sensitive material;

directing light from a broadband source toward the guided-mode resonance waveguide grating such that the light contacts the waveguide grating, the guided-mode resonance waveguide grating being configured such that at least one attribute of the light is consequently modified; and

determining at least one parameter of the medium using the modified attribute.