WAVEGUIDE-BASED DETECTION SYSTEM WITH SCANNING LIGHT SOURCE

• US 20100302544A1
• Filed: 04/28/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reuven Duer
• Original Assignee: iNDx Lifecare, Inc.
• Inventors: Duer, Reuven
• Granted Patent: US 8,675,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/432
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4226 Positioning means for moving the elements into alignment, e.g. alignment screws, deformation of the mount

Abstract

The invention provides methods and devices for generating optical pulses in one or more waveguides using a spatially scanning light source. A detection system, methods of use thereof and kits for detecting a biologically active analyte molecule are also provided. The system includes a scanning light source, a substrate comprising a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of optical sensing sites in optical communication with one or more waveguide of the substrate, a detector that is coupled to and in optical communication with the substrate, and means for spatially translating a light beam emitted from said scanning light source such that the light beam is coupled to and in optical communication with the waveguides of the substrate at some point along its scanning path. The use of a scanning light sources allows the coupling of light into the waveguides of the substrate in a simple and cost-effective manner.

Claims

1. A method for generating an optical pulse in an optical waveguide, comprising:

providing an optical waveguide having an internal portion configured to carry an optical signal and a first end in contact with said internal portion;

providing a light beam;

spatially translating the light beam relative to the optical waveguide effective that said light beam transiently contacts the first end of the optical waveguide,

whereby an optical pulse is generated in the waveguide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said light beam has an optical mode,

wherein said optical waveguide has an optical mode, and

wherein while said light beam transiently contacts said optical waveguide, said light beam optical mode transiently overlaps said optical waveguide optical mode effective that light from said light beam passes into and within said optical waveguide.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a light source capable of emitting a light beam.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said light beam is emitted from said light source.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the light source is movable, and wherein said spatial translation of said light beam is effected by movement of said light source.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said light source is operably connected to an actuator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said actuator is selected from a piezoelectric based motor, step motor, an electrical motor, a magnetic actuator, a “

memory metal”

actuator, a solenoid, and a hydraulic actuator.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the light source is mounted on the outer edge of a rotating disk, effective that a light beam emitted from said light source transiently contacts an optical waveguide disposed near said rotating disk.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the emitted light beams of the light source are spatially translated by a lens, prism or mirror.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising

providing means for spatially translating the light beam along a scanning path;

providing a plurality of optical waveguides, each having an internal portion configured to carry an optical signal and an end face in contact with said internal portion;

wherein said plurality of optical waveguides are disposed along the scanning path of said light beam;

spatially translating the light beam effective that said light beam transiently contacts the end face of each of said plurality of optical waveguides in sequence as the light beam is spatially translated,

whereby an optical pulse is generated in each of the plurality of optical waveguides.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising

providing a plurality of light sources, each of which emits a light beam having a different wavelength, wherein said light sources are operably connected effective that said light beams may be spatially translated by a common means;

providing means for spatially translating said light sources; and

spatially translating said plurality of light sources effective that each of said emitted light beams sequentially makes transient contact with the end face of the optical waveguide,

whereby each light beam generates an optical pulse in the optical waveguide, thereby generating a multi-wavelength train of optical pulses in an optical waveguide.

12. An apparatus for optical pulse generation in an optical waveguide, comprising

A light source for emitting a light beam,

An optical waveguide having a first end, and

means for spatially translating a light beam from said light source such that the optical mode of the light source transiently contacts said first end of the optical waveguide effective to provide an optical pulse in the waveguide.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means comprises a mechanism selected from a rotating disk, a motor, a solenoid, a hydraulic mechanism, a piezo-electric mechanism, and a “

memory-metal”

mechanism.

14. An optical detection system comprising the apparatus of claim 12.

15. A method for detection of a biological marker, a chemical or biological warfare agent, or a viral or bacterial infectious disease using the optical detection system of claim 14.

16. A detection system for detecting a biologically active analyte molecule comprising:

a scanning light source;

a substrate comprising a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of optical sensing sites in optical communication with one or more waveguide of the substrate;

a detector that is coupled to and in optical communication with the substrate; and

means for spatially translating a light beam emitted from said scanning light source relative to the substrate such that the light beam is coupled to and in optical communication with the waveguides of the substrate at some point along its scanning path.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of substantially parallel excitation waveguides, and a plurality of substantially parallel collection waveguides, the excitation waveguides and collection waveguides crossing to form a two-dimensional array of intersection regions where an excitation waveguide and a collection waveguide cross and provide optical communication with the intersection region at each crossing;

and a plurality of optical sensing sites each in optical communication with an intersection region;

wherein the scanning light source is at some point along its scanning path coupled to and in optical communication with one or more of the excitation waveguides at a first edge of the substrate; and

wherein the detector is coupled to and in optical communication with one or more of the collection waveguides at a second edge of the substrate.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of in-coupling waveguides and a plurality of out-coupling waveguides, and a plurality of optical sensing sites each in optical communication with an in-coupling and an out-coupling waveguide, and wherein the scanning light source is at some point along its scanning path coupled to and in optical communication with one or more of the in-coupling waveguides at a first edge of the substrate, and wherein the detector is coupled to and in optical communication with one or more of the out-coupling waveguides of the substrate.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the scanning light source further comprises a detector, and wherein at the point at which the light source is coupled to and in optical communication with one or more of the plurality of waveguides in optical communication with the optical sensing site, the detector is also coupled to and in optical communication with said one or more waveguides.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of in-coupling waveguides and a plurality of out-coupling waveguides, and wherein at the point at which the light source is coupled to and in optical communication with one or more of the in-coupling waveguides, the detector is coupled to and in optical communication with one or more of the out-coupling waveguides.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the entire scanning light source or any part of it is movable, and wherein said spatial translation of said light beam is effected by movement of said entire scanning light source or any part of it.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the substrate is movable, and wherein said spatial translation of said light beam is effected by movement of said substrate.

23. A detection method comprising:

delivering a sample suspected of containing a biologically active analyte molecule to be detected to an optical sensing site on the substrate of a detection system;

spatially translating a scanning light source to a point at which the light source is coupled to and in optical communication with one or more of a plurality of waveguides of the substrate, wherein the waveguides are in optical communication with the optical sensing site, thereby generating a first light wave within said one or more waveguides, wherein the first light wave is transducable by a sensor associated with the optical sensing site to a second light wave; and

detecting a measurable change in the second light wave using a detector in optical communication with the substrate, wherein a measurable change in the second light wave occurs when the sensor interacts with the biologically active analyte molecule.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of substantially parallel excitation waveguides in optical communication with the optical sensing site, wherein the first light wave is transducable by a sensor associated with the optical sensing site to a second light wave carried in one or more of a plurality of substantially parallel collection waveguides in optical communication with the optical sensing site and crossing the excitation waveguides;

and

wherein a measurable change in the second light wave is detected using a detector in optical communication with the collection waveguides, wherein a measurable change in the second light wave occurs when the sensor interacts with the biologically active analyte molecule.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the scanning light source further comprises a detector, and wherein at the point at which the light source is coupled to and in optical communication with one or more waveguides in optical communication with the optical sensing site, the detector is also coupled to and in optical communication with said one or more waveguides.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of in-coupling waveguides and a plurality of out-coupling waveguides in optical communication with the optical sensing site, and wherein at the point at which the light source is coupled to and in optical communication with one or more of the in-coupling waveguides, the detector is coupled to and in optical communication with one or more out-coupling waveguides.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the biologically active analyte is selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid, a protein, an antigen, an antibody, a microorganism, a gas, a chemical agent and a pollutant.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the sensor is adapted to support an immunoassay and wherein the sensor interacting with the biologically active analyte comprises an outcome of an immunoassay.