Spatially scanned optical reader system and method for using same

• US 20060141611A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Gollier, Jacques, Peng, Jinlin, Frutos, Anthony G., Piech, Garrett A., Webb, Michael B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,604,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/554 detecting the surface plasmon resonance of nanostructured metals, e.g. localised surface plasmon resonance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7743 the reagent-coated grating coupling light in or out of the waveguide

Abstract

An optical reader system is described herein that uses a scanned optical beam to interrogate a biosensor to determine if a biomolecular binding event occurred on a surface of the biosensor. In one embodiment, the optical reader system includes a light source, a detector and a processor (e.g., computer, DSP). The light source outputs an optical beam which is scanned across a moving biosensor and while this is happening the detector collects the optical beam which is reflected from the biosensor. The computer processes the collected optical beam and records the resulting raw spectral or angle data which is a function of a position (and possibly time) on the biosensor. The processor can then analyze the raw data to create a spatial map of resonant wavelength (peak position) or resonant angle which indicates whether or not a biomolecular binding event occurred on the biosensor. Several other uses of the raw data are also described herein.

Claims

1. An optical reader system comprising:

a light source that outputs a first optical beam which is smaller than a biosensor and is scanned across the biosensor;

a detector that collects a second optical beam reflected from the biosensor while the first optical beam is being scanned across the biosensor;

a processor that processes the collected second optical beam to obtain raw spectral/angular data that is a function of a position on the biosensor; and

said biosensor remains stationary while a fiber/lens associated with the light source and the detector is moved such that the first optical beam can be scanned across the biosensor.

2. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the raw spectral/angular data is recorded and processed as a function of time and position on the biosensor by repetitively scanning the first optical beam across the biosensor and collecting the second optical beam reflected from the biosensor.

3. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein said lens ensures the first optical beam which is scanned across the biosensor is smaller than the biosensor.

6. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the first optical beam is scanned in a predefined line across the biosensor.

7. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the first optical beam is scanned across two-dimensions of the biosensor.

8. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the first optical beam is scanned in an arbitrary manner across the biosensor.

9. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the raw spectral/angular data is used to create a spatial map of one or more of the following:

resonant wavelength data;

resonant angle data;

reflected power;

reflectivity data;

peak width data;

local angle data; and

wavelength interrogation slope (WIS) data.

10. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the raw spectral/angular data is used to create a spatial map of reflected power and reflected wavelength/angle which is used to evaluate locations, quantities and sizes of defects on the biosensor.

11. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the raw spectral/angular data is used to create a spatial map of reflected power that is used to locate an edge of a grating in the biosensor so that the biosensor can be properly re-located after being removed and reinserted into a path of the first optical beam.

12. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the raw spectral/angular data is used to ameliorate undesirable effects on changes in measured wavelengths/angles that arise from drifts within components in an optical path.

13. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the biosensor has a reference region on which a target molecule cannot bind and a sample region on which the target molecule can bind wherein the raw spectral/angular data associated with the sample region is used to detect a biomolecular binding event and the raw spectral/angular data associated with the reference region is used to reference out spurious changes that can adversely affect the detection of the biomolecular binding event.

14. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein the light source and the detector and a plurality of the fibers/lenses interrogate at the same time a plurality of biosensors which are located in wells of a microplate.

15. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein said biosensor has reference regions on which target molecules cannot bind and sample regions on which the target molecules can bind formed in a predefined pattern thereon.

16. The optical reader system of claim 15, wherein the predefined pattern is a striped pattern or a checkerboard pattern.

20. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein said biosensor is a resonant waveguide grating biosensor.

21. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein said biosensor is a surface plasmon resonance biosensor.

22. The optical reader system of claim 1, wherein said biosensor includes at least one fiducial marking which enables one to determine a position of said biosensor.

4-5. -5. (canceled)

17-19. -19. (canceled)

23-44. -44. (canceled)

45. An optical reader system comprising:

a light source that outputs an optical beam which is scanned across a biosensor;

a detector that collects the scanned optical beam which is reflected from the biosensor;

a processor that records raw data from the collected optical beam which is used to determine whether or not a biomolecular event occurred on a surface of said biosensor; and

wherein the biosensor remains stationary while a single fiber/lens associated with the light source and the detector is moved such that the optical beam can be scanned across the biosensor.

46. A system comprising:

a biosensor; and

an optical reader system which includes;

a light source that outputs a first optical beam which is smaller than the biosensor and is scanned across the biosensor;

a detector that collects a second optical beam reflected from the biosensor while the first optical beam is being scanned across the biosensor; and

a processor that processes the collected second optical beam to obtain raw spectral/angular data that is a function of a position on the biosensor; and

said biosensor has at least one cut located within a diffraction grating formed therein which enables one to measure a position of said biosensor relative to said optical reader system.