Biological sensors
First Claim
1. A sensor for use in biological, biochemical or chemical testing, said sensor comprising a block of material transparent to electromagnetic radiation, a layer of metallic material applied to at least part of a first surface of said block, a layer of sensitive material applied to the metallic layer, means for introducing onto the sensitive layer so as to react therewith a sample to be analyzed, a source of electromagnetic radiation, said radiation being directed into said transparent block in such a way as to be internally reflected off said part of said surface, means for converging said radiation onto said part of said surface in such a way that the incoming beam is a convergent fan-shaped beam and spans a range of angles of incidence including that which causes surface plasmon resonance to occur, the characteristics of which resonance are dependent upon the reaction between the sample and the sensitive layer, and detector means positioned to receive the internally reflected beam for detecting the characteristics of the resonance that are dependent upon the reaction between the sample and the sensitive layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor uses the principle of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to monitor the progress of the reaction between a sample and a sensitive layer (for example an antibody layer). The layer is applied to the rear surface of a metallic film formed on the surface of an optically transmissive component in the form of a hemicylindrical lens and slide. Collimated light from a source is applied via a lens which focuses the incoming beam to a focus at a point to form a fan-shaped spread of light incident at the point. The light is internally reflected at the point, and emerges from the component to be applied to a dectector array which latter is electronically scanned. The angle of incidence of the light at the point is such as to span that angle which gives rise to surface plasmon resonance, together with a range of angles thereabout so that the progress of the resonant condition, as the reaction between the sample and the sensitive layer proceeds, can be monitored.
153 Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A sensor for use in biological, biochemical or chemical testing, said sensor comprising a block of material transparent to electromagnetic radiation, a layer of metallic material applied to at least part of a first surface of said block, a layer of sensitive material applied to the metallic layer, means for introducing onto the sensitive layer so as to react therewith a sample to be analyzed, a source of electromagnetic radiation, said radiation being directed into said transparent block in such a way as to be internally reflected off said part of said surface, means for converging said radiation onto said part of said surface in such a way that the incoming beam is a convergent fan-shaped beam and spans a range of angles of incidence including that which causes surface plasmon resonance to occur, the characteristics of which resonance are dependent upon the reaction between the sample and the sensitive layer, and detector means positioned to receive the internally reflected beam for detecting the characteristics of the resonance that are dependent upon the reaction between the sample and the sensitive layer.
Specification