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 disposed over at least part of a first surface of said block;
a layer of sensitive material disposed over the metallic material;
means for introducing onto the sensitive layer so as to react therewith a sample to be analyzed;
electromagnetic radiation producing means for producing a beam of electromagnetic radiation;
reflective optic means for directing the beam into said transparent block in such a way as to be internally reflected off said at least part of the first surface of said block at an angle of incidence which will cause surface plasmon resonance to occur, said reflective optic means including a reflective element having a generally concave reflecting surface that from a given position will reflect beams of radiation impinging the reflecting surface at different locations thereon toward the same point on said at least one surface but at different respective angles of incidence; and
detector means positioned in the sensor for receiving the internally reflected beam and for detecting the characteristics of the surface plasmon resonance that are dependent upon the reaction between the sample and the sensitive layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detector includes a laser source for generating radiation which is reflected off a concave reflector to a point or line of incidence on the interface between a glass slide and a metal layer. A single pencil beam from the laser is scanned by a moving mirror across a small arc, covering those angles of incidence within which surface plasmon resonance occurs. A sensitive, for example antibody, layer overlies the metal layer to form a combined layer, and a sample to be tested is passed across the antibody layer. Any binding which occurs with the antibody layer results in the refractive index of the layer changing, and this change may be detected by monitoring the strength of the beam internally reflected at the point or line. A light detector enables the beam to be measured.
128 Citations
13 Claims
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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 disposed over at least part of a first surface of said block;
a layer of sensitive material disposed over the metallic material;
means for introducing onto the sensitive layer so as to react therewith a sample to be analyzed;
electromagnetic radiation producing means for producing a beam of electromagnetic radiation;
reflective optic means for directing the beam into said transparent block in such a way as to be internally reflected off said at least part of the first surface of said block at an angle of incidence which will cause surface plasmon resonance to occur, said reflective optic means including a reflective element having a generally concave reflecting surface that from a given position will reflect beams of radiation impinging the reflecting surface at different locations thereon toward the same point on said at least one surface but at different respective angles of incidence; and
detector means positioned in the sensor for receiving the internally reflected beam and for detecting the characteristics of the surface plasmon resonance that are dependent upon the reaction between the sample and the sensitive layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a block of material transparent to electromagnetic radiation;
Specification