Cavity ring-down detection of surface plasmon resonance in an optical fiber resonator
First Claim
1. A fiber-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detector formed in an optical fiber section, the SPR detector comprising:
- a tapered fiber portion of the optical fiber section having an outer surface; and
a conductive layer capable of supporting a surface plasmon formed on the outer surface of the tapered fiber portion, the surface plasmon being responsive to environmental changes adjacent the tapered fiber portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for use with a coherent optical source to detect environmental changes. The apparatus comprises: an optical cavity, including an input coupling port, and an optical fiber section; a detector optically coupled to the optical cavity to monitor radiation in the optical cavity; and a processor electrically coupled to the detector for analyzing the environmental changes adjacent the detection portion of the optical cavity based on a rate of decay of the radiation in the optical cavity monitored by the detector. The optical fiber section of the optical cavity includes a detection portion coated with a conductive layer capable of supporting a surface plasmon to provide cavity loss. The surface plasmon is responsive to the environmental changes adjacent the detection portion. The coherent optical source is optically coupled to the input coupling port of the optical cavity to provide the radiation in the optical cavity.
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Citations
87 Claims
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1. A fiber-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detector formed in an optical fiber section, the SPR detector comprising:
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a tapered fiber portion of the optical fiber section having an outer surface; and
a conductive layer capable of supporting a surface plasmon formed on the outer surface of the tapered fiber portion, the surface plasmon being responsive to environmental changes adjacent the tapered fiber portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for use with a coherent optical source to detect environmental changes, the apparatus comprising:
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an optical cavity, comprising an input coupling port, and an optical fiber section, the optical fiber section comprises a detection portion coated with a conductive layer capable of supporting a surface plasmon to provide cavity loss, the surface plasmon responsive to the environmental changes adjacent the detection portion;
the coherent optical source optically coupled to the input coupling port of the optical cavity to provide radiation to the optical cavity;
a detector optically coupled to the optical cavity to monitor the radiation in the optical cavity; and
a processor electrically coupled to the detector for analyzing the environmental changes adjacent the detection portion of the optical cavity based on a rate of decay of the radiation in the optical cavity monitored by the detector. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. An apparatus to detect binding events for use with a coherent source that emits radiation, the apparatus comprising:
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a passive, closed fiber optic ring;
a sensor having a predetermined shape, a conductive coating, and being in line with the passive, closed fiber optic ring, the conductive coating capable of supporting a surface plasmon driven by a propagating field in the passive, closed fiber optic ring and responsive to a level of the binding events at a surface of the conductive coating;
coupling means for i) optically coupling at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the coherent source into the passive, closed fiber optic ring to generate the propagating field in the passive, closed fiber optic ring and ii) transmitting a detection portion of the propagating field from the passive, closed fiber optic ring;
a detector for detecting a power level of the detection portion of the propagating field transmitted by the coupling means and generating a signal responsive thereto; and
a processor electrically coupled to the detector for determining the level of the binding events on the surface of the conductive coating of the sensor based on a rate of decay of the power level of the detection portion of the propagating field detected by the detector. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. An improved method of detecting environmental changes in a fluid using a surface plasmon cavity ring-down detection (SPCRD) system that comprises a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor optically coupled within an optical cavity, the SPR sensor formed of a metal-coated tapered optical fiber section, the method comprising:
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coupling coherent optical radiation into the optical cavity of the SPCRD system, the coherent optical radiation comprising a predetermined wavelength;
monitoring a power level of the coherent optical radiation in the optical cavity;
determining a baseline cavity loss of the optical cavity based on the monitored power level;
exposing the SPR sensor to the fluid;
determining a detection cavity loss of the optical cavity based on the monitored power level following exposure of the SPR sensor to the fluid; and
detecting environmental changes in the fluid based on differences between the baseline cavity loss and the detection cavity loss of the optical cavity. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87)
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Specification