LUMINESCENCE SENSORS USING SUB-WAVELENGTH APERTURES OR SLITS
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Abstract
The present invention provide a qualitative or quantitative luminescence sensor, for example a bio sensor or chemical sensor, using sub-wavelength aperture or slit structures, i.e. using apertures or slit structures having a smallest dimension smaller than the wavelength of the excitation radiation in the medium that fills the aperture or slit structure. The invention furthermore provides a method for the detection of luminescence radiation generated by one or more luminophores present in aperture or slit structure in such a luminescence sensor.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. A luminescence sensor comprising:
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a region for containing a medium (12) which comprises a plurality of luminescent particles, a sensor, an excitation radiation source for producing an excitation radiation (26) and a detector being located respectively at opposite sides of the sensor for detecting luminescence radiation that may be generated by at least one of the luminescent particles, the sensor comprising a substrate (10), having at least one aperture or slit (11) which is in communication with said region so that at least one luminescent particle of the medium can enter in said aperture or slit, and which has a smallest dimension below the diffraction limit in the medium for producing, when illuminated by said excitation radiation, an evanescent excitation volume which is able to excite in the aperture or slit (11) the at least one luminescent particles which has entered. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification