Diffraction grating-based encoded micro-particles for multiplexed experiments

• US 20040075907A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Inventors: Putnam, Martin A., Moon, John
• Application Number:
  US10/645,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075907A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/566
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/005 Beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0056 Raised or sunken areas
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1468 with spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2270/24 Having particular size, e.g. microscopic
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06234 miniature-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/0629 Holographic, diffractive or retroreflective recording
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1094 the record carrier being at least partially of the hologram type

Abstract

Microparticles 8 includes an optical substrate 10 having at least one diffraction grating 12 disposed therein. The grating 12 having a plurality of colocated pitches A which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light 24. The incident light 24 may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate 10 with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, in which case the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively. The code may be digital binary or may be other numerical bases. The micro-particles 8 can provide a large number of unique codes, e.g., greater than 67 million codes, and can withstand harsh environments. The micro-particles 8 are functionalized by coating them with a material/substance of interest, which are then used to perform multiplexed experiments involving chemical processes, e.g., DNA testing and combinatorial chemistry.

Claims

1. An optical identification element attached to a chemical, comprising:

an optical substrate;

at least a portion of said substrate having at least one diffraction grating disposed therein, said grating having at least one refractive index pitch superimposed at a common location;

the grating providing an output optical signal when illuminated by an incident light signal;

said optical output signal being indicative of a code in said substrate; and

the chemical being attached to said substrate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate is made of a glass material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said code comprises a plurality of bits.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the number of pitches is indicative of the number of said bits in said code.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate has a length that is less than about 500 microns.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate has a cylindrical shape.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said grating is a blazed grating.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said code comprises a plurality of bits, each bit having a plurality of states.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate has a reflective coating disposed thereon.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate is has a magnetic or electric charge polarization.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate has a grating region where said grating and a non-grating region where said grating is not located;

and

wherein said substrate has a plurality of grating regions.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate has geometry having holes therein.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate is has a geometry having protruding sections.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said substrate is has an end cross sectional geometry selected from the group:

circular, square, rectangular, elliptical, clam-shell, D-shaped, and polygon

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said substrate is has a side view geometry selected from the group:

circular, square, rectangular, elliptical, clam-shell, D-shaped, and polygon.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said substrate is has a 3-D shape selected from the group:

sphere, a cube, a pyramid.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said code comprises at least a predetermined number of bits, said number being:

3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 28, 30, 40, 50, or 100.

18. A microparticle attached to a chemical comprising:

an optical substrate;

at least a portion of said substrate having at least one diffraction grating disposed therein, said grating having at least one refractive index pitch superimposed at a common location;

the grating providing an output optical signal when illuminated by an incident light signal;

said optical output signal being indicative of a code in said substrate; and

the chemical being attached to said substrate.

19. A method of performing a multiplexed experiment, comprising:

obtaining an optical substrate at least a portion of which having a diffraction grating with one or more refractive index pitches superimposed at a common location;

attaching a chemical to said substrate;

illuminating said substrate with incident light, said substrate providing an output light signal; and

reading said output light signal and detecting a code therefrom.