AN OPTICAL FIBRE FOR USE IN A SYSTEM FOR DETECTION OF ONE OR MORE COMPOUNDS IN A FLUID

• US 20180143133A1
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
• Original Assignee: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
• Inventors: Viegas, Diana, Queirs, Raquel, Nieder, Jana, Frnandez, Maria Teresa, Espia, Begoa, Freitas, Paolo, Montelius, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 10,451,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7716 in cladding
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/553 and using surface plasmons fluorescence excitation G01N21/648; enhanced Raman G01N21/658
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/554 detecting the surface plasmon resonance of nanostructured metals, e.g. localised surface plasmon resonance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/658 enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/088 Using a sensor fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0886 and using OTDR

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical fibre for use in a system for detection of one or more compounds in a fluid. The optical fibre (100, 101, 202) comprising at least two binding portions (102, 104, 118, 210, 211, 212) separated from each other along the longitudinal direction (106) of the optical fibre (100, 101, 202), wherein each of the at least two binding portions (102, 104, 118, 210, 211, 212) comprises a plasmonic structure (120) and/or a SERS structure (121), and a binding material (126) for binding of one or more compounds, wherein at least two binding portions (102, 104, 118, 210, 211, 212) are arranged for binding the same compound or compounds, wherein the optical fibre (100, 101, 202) is arranged for receiving light and transmitting light to each of the at least two binding portions, wherein each of the at least two binding portions (102, 104, 118, 210, 211, 212) is arranged such that light transmitted through that binding portion (102, 104, 118, 210, 211, 212) without bound compound is different compared to light transmitted through that binding portion (102, 104, 118, 210, 211, 212) with bound compound, or light reflected back from that binding portion (102, 104, 118, 210, 211, 212) without bound compound is different compared to light reflected back from that binding portion (102, 104, 118, 210, 211, 212) with bound compound. The present invention further relates to a system (200) for detection of one or more compounds in a fluid (103) and an optical fibre (100, 101, 202) for use in such a system (200) and a method (400) using the system (200).

Claims

1. An optical fibre for use in a system for detection of one or more compounds in a fluid, the optical fibre comprising

at least two binding portions separated from each other along the longitudinal direction of the optical fibre,

wherein each of the at least two binding portions comprises a plasmonic structure and/or a SERS structure, and a binding material for binding of one or more compounds,

wherein at least two binding portions are arranged for binding the same compound or compounds,

wherein the optical fibre is arranged for receiving light and transmitting light to each of the at least two binding portions, wherein each of the at least two binding portions is arranged such that

light transmitted through that binding portion without bound compound is different compared to light transmitted through that binding portion with bound compound, or

light reflected back from that binding portion without bound compound is different compared to light reflected back from that binding portion with bound compound.

2. The optical fibre according to claim 1, wherein at least two binding portions are arranged for binding different compounds.

3. The optical fibre according to claim 1, wherein the binding material is arranged on the plasmonic structure and/or the SERS structure.

4. The optical fibre according to claim 1, wherein the binding material comprises functionalising groups or molecular imprints.

5. A system for detection of one or more compounds in a fluid, the system comprising

an optical fibre according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibre further comprises a light entrance,

a light source arranged for transmitting light through the light entrance into the optical fibre and thereby to each of the at least two binding portions, and

a detector arranged for detecting

light transmitted through the at least two binding portions, or

light reflected back from the at least two binding portions.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the light source is a pulsed light source.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the light source is a broad band light source.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the detector is a time resolving detector.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the detector comprises a wavelength dispersing element.

10. The system according to the claim 5, wherein the system further comprises a transceiver, for transceiving data to, from, or within the system.

11. Method for analysis of a fluid at a plurality of locations using the system of claim 5,

wherein at least a portion of the optical fibre is placed in the fluid such that the at least two binding portions are arranged at different locations within the fluid, wherein the at least two binding portions are arranged for binding the same compound or compounds, the method comprising;

transmitting light through the optical fibre and thereby to each of the at least two binding portions,

detecting light transmitted through the at least two binding portions, or

light reflected back from the at least two binding portions,

determining if one or more compounds are bound to the least two binding portions respectively.

12. Method according to claim 11, the method further comprising

comparing data resulting from the determining pertaining to one of the at least two binding portions, with data resulting from the determining pertaining to another one of the at least two binding portions.