Ultra Sensitive Tapered Fiber Optic Biosensor For Pathogens, Proteins, and DNA
First Claim
1. A tapered fiber capable of detecting an analyte in a liquid or vapor comprising:
- an optical fiber having first and second ends and a tapered region having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said fiber at one of said ends, said tapered region being located between said first and second ends.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A biconically tapered optical fiber serves as a biosensor at all optical wavelengths of interest ranging from UV to far IR at subfemtogram per mL sensitivity. The biconically tapered sensor detects biomaterials such as pathogenic species, proteins and DNA and others biological analytes. Although it uses the principles of evanescent fields, absorption, adsorption, fluorescence capture and retransmission through the fiber, the detection at the sub-nanogram per mL level is achieved primarily by adsorption or a surface activity due to a refractive index change. The geometry of the biconically tapered optical sensor affects its performance. The sensing modality is achieved in situ with a source connected at one end of a tapered fiber and a suitable detector at the other end. The tapered region is optionally immobilized with a recognition molecule such as an antibody to the target antigen or a complementary DNA strand. The sample is brought in contact with the tapered region either in batch mode or in a flow mode.
25 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A tapered fiber capable of detecting an analyte in a liquid or vapor comprising:
an optical fiber having first and second ends and a tapered region having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said fiber at one of said ends, said tapered region being located between said first and second ends. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 29, 30)
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19-28. -28. (canceled)
Specification