Optical detection device based on semi-conductor laser array

• US 6,469,785 B1
• Filed: 03/16/1998
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zeptosens AG (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Zeptosens AG (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Söchtig, Jürgen, Kunz, Rino Ernst, Gulden, Karlheinz, Duveneck, Gert Ludwig
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hoa Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/039,701
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 356/246, 356/244, 356/344, 356/317, 356/326, 356/318, 356/328, 356/417, 356/128, 250/458.1, 204/451, 204/452, 204/455, 204/470, 204/601, 204/603, 204/605, 204/619, 204/612, 204/620, 372/45, 372/46, 372/43, 372/96, 385/12, 385/37, 422/82.11, 422/82.05
• US Class Current: 356/244
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00707 separated from the reactor apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/648 using evanescent coupling or surface plasmon coupling for the excitation of fluorescence
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical detection device for chemical analyses, comprising at least one light source, at least one photoelectric detection unit and at least one measuring cell, one or more optical paths coupled to the at least one measuring cell being formed between the light source(s) and the photoelectric detection unit(s). In the course of the miniaturization of such detection devices in arrays for the simultaneous detection of a plurality of analytes, according to the prior art edge-emitting semiconductor lasers that had been separated and applied to a substrate were used. Instead of the latter, the invention provides for surface-emitting semiconductor lasers to be used as light sources, which have the advantage of comparatively simple manufacture and of requiring substantially less space. The process of separating the lasers from the mother substrate and affixing them to a foreign substrate, which was necessary hitherto, is eliminated in the detection device according to the invention.

Claims

1. An optical detection device, comprising:

a substrate;

at least one light source comprising a single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor laser and being operable to emit detection light, said at least one light source being located on said substrate;

at least one photoelectric detection unit operable to detect a light intensity and to convert the light intensity into a corresponding electrical signal, said at least one photoelectric detection unit being located on said substrate;

at least one measuring cell operable to hold a sample to be examined;

at least one optical path comprising a planar waveguide and being coupled to said at least one measuring cell and formed between said at least one light source and said at least one photoelectric detection unit, wherein said at least one planar waveguide allows the detection light to pass through and excite an evanescent field; and

at least one specific binding partner operable to act as a recognition element for at least one analyte, said at least one specific binding partner being immobilized on said at least one planar waveguide and forming at least one interaction region.

2. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source comprises a plurality of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers provided on a common substrate.

3. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor laser is operable to emit visible light for use in fluorescence spectroscopy.

4. An optical detection device according to claim 3, wherein said at least one single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor laser comprises a plurality of regions and at least one region of said plurality of regions forms a Bragg mirror and said at least one region comprises a plurality of layers, wherein adjacent layers of said plurality of layers have stoichiometric compositions that change in a continuous manner.

5. An optical detection device according to claim 4 wherein the continuous change of the stoichiometric compositions of said adjacent layers is linear.

6. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor laser is formed on a substrate and is defined by mesa etching.

7. An optical detection device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one mesa etched single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor laser comprises an upper surface containing an emission window and flanks, said emission window oriented perpendicularly to said substrate, and said flanks and said upper surface, except for said emission window, are covered by a metal layer.

8. An optical detection device according to claim 7, wherein said at least one mesa etched single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor laser further comprises an electrical contacting layer, wherein said metal layer is identical with said electrical contacting layer.

9. An optical detection device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one monitoring detection device, each of said at least one monitoring detection device corresponding to one of said at least one light source and being operable to monitor an actual detection light intensity of the detection light emitted by said corresponding one of said at least one light source.

10. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source, said at least one photoelectric detection unit, and said at least one optical path are formed on first, second, and third substrates, respectively, wherein said first, second, and third substrates are substantially planar.

11. An optical detection device according to claim 10, wherein said first, second, and third substrates are stacked on top of each other.

12. An optical detection device according to claim 11, wherein said first, second, and third substrates each have registration structures for mutual alignment.

13. An optical detection device according to claim 12, wherein said registration structures are produced using auto-aligning processes.

14. An optical detection:

device according to claim 10, further comprising;

coupling-in elements located on said third substrate operable to bend the detection light emitted by said at least one light source into a direction that is substantially parallel to a surface of said third substrate towards said at least one measuring cell, for interaction of immobilized specific binding partners for an analyte, forming at least one interaction region in said at least one measuring cell; and

coupling-out elements located on said third substrate operable to bend the light towards said at least one photoelectric detection unit formed on said second substrate after passing said at least one measuring cell, and after interaction of said immobilized specific binding partners with a sample to be examined.

15. An optical detection device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a fourth substrate arranged between said second and third substrates;

first optical elements provided on said fourth substrate operable to collimate and bend the detection light emitted from said at least one light source; and

second optical elements provided on said fourth substrate operable to collimate and bend light emerging after interacting with the at least one sample, in said at least one interaction region, onto said at least one photoelectric detection unit.

16. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is an array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers and said at least one photoelectric detection unit is an array of photoelectric detection units, said array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers having a density greater than a density of said at least one interaction region.

17. An optical detection device according to claim 16, further comprising means for matching a density of the light beams emitted by said array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers to the density of said at least one interaction region.

18. An optical detection device according to claim 17, wherein said means for matching comprise an array of optical fibers, each of said optical fibers having input and output ends and cooperating with a respective one of said array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers, said output ends being spread out in comparison with said input ends in accordance with the density of said at least one interaction region.

19. An optical detection device according to claim 17, further comprising an array of coupling-in elements, each of said coupling-in elements being associated with a respective one of said array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers, wherein said means for matching comprise an array of first optical elements, each of said first optical elements being associated with a respective one of said array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers and being operable to bend the light beam emitted by said respective one of said array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of said respective one of said array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers into a direction such that the light beam impinges on a corresponding coupling-in element of said array of coupling-in elements to be coupled into said at least one optical path.

20. An optical detection device according to claim 19, further comprising second optical elements operable to return the light beams of said array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers that have been bent by said array of first optical elements into a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of said respective one of said array of single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor lasers.

21. An optical detection device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one light source and said at least one photoelectric detection unit are provided on a common substrate.

22. An optical detection device according to claim 21, wherein said at least one light source and said at least one photoelectric detection unit are arranged on said common substrate in the form of intermeshing, mutually corresponding arrays.

23. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one planar waveguide is structured to guide from one to three modes.

24. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one planar waveguide is made from a material having a high refractive index.

25. An optical detection device according to claim 24 wherein said material comprises at least one of titanium dioxide and tantalum pentoxide.

26. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one specific binding partner forms a sensor layer provided on said at least one planar waveguide and is operable to be selectively sensitive to at least one analyte to be examined in the at least one sample.

27. An optical detection device according to claim 26, wherein said at least one specific binding partner comprises a plurality of binding partners physically separated from each other.

28. An optical detection device according to claim 26, wherein said at least one specific binding partner comprises a plurality of specific binding partners, and wherein not more than one of said plurality of specific binding partners is arranged on a surface of said at least one planar waveguide.

29. An optical detection device according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesion-promoting layer, wherein said adhesion-promotion layer is located between said at least one planar waveguide and'"'"'said at least one specific binding partner.

30. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one specific binding partner comprises a plurality of specific binding partners covalently bonded to gold colloids, wherein said gold colloids are smaller than 10 nm.

31. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is coupled directly to said at least one optical path.

32. An optical detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein said housing is located between said substrate and said at least one optical path.

33. An optical detection device, comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of light sources comprising at least one linear arrangement of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers produced on a common substrate and each being operable to emit a detection light, said plurality of light sources being located on said substrate;

a corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units, each associated with a corresponding light source of said plurality of light sources, and each operable to detect a light intensity and to convert the light intensity into a corresponding electrical signal, said corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units being located on said substrate;

at least one measuring cell operable to hold a sample to be examined;

a plurality of optical paths, each comprising a planar waveguide and being coupled to said at least one measuring cell, and each being formed between said plurality of light sources and said corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units, wherein said plurality of planar waveguides allow the detection lights to pass through and excite an evanescent field; and

at least one specific binding partner operable to act as a recognition element for at least one analyte, said at least one specific binding partner being immobilized on at least one of said plurality of planar waveguides and forming at least one interaction region.

34. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein each of said plurality of light sources is associated with one of said corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units and one of said plurality of optical paths.

35. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein each of said plurality of light sources is associated with exactly one of said plurality of said photoelectric detection units and exactly one of said plurality of optical paths.

36. An optical detection device according to claim 33, further comprising a plurality of monitoring detection devices, each of said plurality of monitoring detection devices corresponding to one of said plurality of light sources and being operable to monitor an actual detection light intensity of the detection light emitted by said one of said corresponding plurality of light sources.

37. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of light sources, said plurality of photoelectric detection units, and said plurality of optical paths are formed on first, second, and third substrates, respectively, wherein said first, second, and third substrates are substantially planar.

38. An optical detection device according to claim 37, wherein said first, second, and third substrates are stacked on top of each other.

39. An optical detection device according to claim 38 wherein said first, second, and third substrates each have registration structures for mutual alignment.

40. An optical detection device according to claim 39, wherein said registration structures are produced using auto-aligning processes.

41. An optical detection device according to claim 37, further comprising:

coupling-in elements located on said third substrate operable to bend the detection light emitted by said plurality of light sources into a direction that is substantially parallel to a surface of said third substrate towards said at least one measuring cell, for interaction of immobilized specific binding partners for an analyte, forming at least one interaction region in said at least one measuring cell; and

coupling-out elements located on said third substrate operable to bend the light towards said plurality of photoelectric detection units formed on said second substrate after passing said at least one measuring cell and after interaction of said immobilized specific binding partners with a sample to be examined.

42. An optical detection device according to claim 41 further comprising:

a fourth substrate arranged between said second and third substrates;

first optical elements provided on said fourth substrate operable to collimate and bend the detection lights emitted from said plurality of light sources; and

second optical elements provided on said fourth substrate operable to collimate and bend light emerging after interacting with the at least one sample, in said at least one interaction region, onto said plurality of photoelectric detection units.

43. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein said at least one linear arrangement of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers is an array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers and said plurality of photoelectric detection units is an array of photoelectric detection units, said array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers having a density greater than a density of said at least one interaction region.

44. An optical detection device according to claim 43, further comprising means for matching the density of the light beams emitted by said array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers to the density of said at least one interaction region.

45. An optical detection device according to claim 44, wherein said means for matching comprise an array of optical fibers, each of said optical fibers having input and output ends and cooperating with a respective one of said array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers, said output ends being spread out in comparison with said input ends in accordance with the density of said at least one interaction region.

46. An optical detection device according to claim 44, further comprising an array of coupling-in elements, each of said coupling-in elements being associated with a respective one of said array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers, wherein said means for matching comprise an array of first optical elements, each of said first optical elements being associated with a respective one of said array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers and being operable to bend the light beam emitted by said respective one of said array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of said respective one of said array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers into a direction such that the light beam impinges on a corresponding coupling-in element of said array of coupling-in elements to be coupled into said plurality of optical paths.

47. An optical detection device according to claim 46, further comprising second optical elements operable to return the light beams of said array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers that have been bent by said array of first optical elements into a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of said respective one of said array of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers.

48. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of light sources and said plurality of photoelectric detection units are provided on a common substrate.

49. An optical detection device according to claim 48, wherein said plurality of light sources and said plurality of photoelectric detection units are arranged on said common substrate in the form of intermeshing, mutually corresponding arrays.

50. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein each of said plurality of planar waveguides is structured to guide from one to three modes.

51. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of planar waveguides are made from a material having a high refractive index.

52. An optical detection device according to claim 51, wherein said material comprises at least one of titanium dioxide and tantalum pentoxide.

53. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein said at least one specific binding partner forms a sensor layer provided on said plurality of planar waveguides and is operable to be selectively sensitive to at least one analyte to be examined in the at least one sample.

54. An optical detection device according to claim 53, wherein said at least one specific binding partner comprises a plurality of binding partners physically separated from each other.

55. An optical detection device according to claim 53, wherein said at least one specific binding partner comprises a plurality of specific binding partners, and wherein not more than of the said plurality of specific binding partners is arranged on a surface of each of said plurality of planar waveguides.

56. An optical detection device according to claim 33, further comprising an adhesion-promoting layer, wherein said adhesion-promotion layer is located between said plurality of planar waveguides and said at least one specific binding partner.

57. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein said at least one specific binding partner comprises a plurality of specific binding partners covalently bonded to gold colloids, wherein said gold colloids are smaller than 10 nm.

58. An optical detection device according to claim 33, wherein said substrate is coupled directly to said plurality of optical paths.

59. An optical detection device according to claim 33, further comprising a housing, wherein said housing is located between said substrate and said plurality of optical paths.

60. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescences comprising:

providing at least one light source for emitting detection light, the at least one light source being located on a substrate;

providing at least one photoelectric detection unit for detecting a light intensity and converting the light intensity into a corresponding electrical signal, the at least one photoelectric detection unit being located on the substrate;

providing at least one measuring cell for holding a sample to be examined;

using at least one optical path to couple the at least one measuring cell being formed between the at least one light source and the at least one photoelectric detection unit to the at least one light source and the at least one photoelectric detection unit, wherein the at least one light source is a single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor laser and wherein the at least one optical path comprises a planar waveguide which is coupled to the at least one measuring cell;

providing a sensor layer comprising at least one specific binding partner operable to act as a recognition element for at least one analyte on the at least one planar waveguide, the sensor layer being coupled to the at least one measuring cell and which is selectively sensitive to at least one analyte to be examined in the at least one sample;

bringing the at least one sample into contact with the at least one planar waveguide;

coupling excitation light into the at least one planar waveguide, causing the light to pass through the at least one planar waveguide, and thus, exciting in parallel in an evanescent field, at least one luminescent substance in the at least one sample, wherein the at least one luminescent substance is bound to an immobilized specific binding partner acting as a recognition element for the at least one analyte or to another specific binding partner bound to the immobilized specific binding partner on the at least one planar waveguide; and

measuring the one or more luminescences produced thereby using photoelectric detection elements.

61. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescence as claimed in claim 60, wherein the at least one luminescent substance comprises luminescent dyes from the group consisting of rhodamines, fluorescein derivatives, coumarin derivatives, distyryl biphenyls, stilbene derivatives, phthalo cyanines, naphthalocyanines, polypyridyl/ruthenium complexes, such as tris (2, 2′

-bipyridyl) ruthenium chloride, tris (1, 10-phenanthroline) ruthenium chloride tris (4, 7-diphenyl-1, 10-phenanthroline) ruthenium chloride and polypyridyl/phenazine/ruthenium complexes, platinum/porphyrin complexes, europium and terbium complexes and cyanine dyes.

62. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescence as claimed in claim 60, wherein the at least one sample comprises at least one of egg yolk, blood, serum, plasma, and urine.

63. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescence as claimed in claim 60, wherein the at least one sample comprises at least one of surface water, a soil extract, a plant extract, a liquor from biological processes and a liquor from synthesis processes.

64. A method according to claim 60, wherein the substrate is coupled directly to the at least one optical path.

65. A method according to claim 60, wherein a housing is located between the substrate and the at least one optical path.

66. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescence, comprising:

providing a plurality of light sources for emitting detection light, the plurality of light sources being located on a substrate;

providing a corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units, each associated with a corresponding light source, for detecting a light intensity and converting the light intensity into a corresponding electrical signal, the corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units being located on the substrate;

providing at least one measuring cell for holding a sample to be examined;

using a plurality of optical paths each to couple the at least one measuring cell being formed between the light sources and the corresponding photoelectric detection units to the light sources and the corresponding photoelectric detection units and wherein the plurality of light sources comprises at least one linear arrangement of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers produced on a common substrate and wherein each of the plurality of optical paths comprises a planar waveguide which is coupled to the at least one measuring cell;

providing a sensor layer comprising at least one specific binding partner operable to act as a recognition element for at least one analyte on at least one of the plurality of planar waveguides, the sensor layer being coupled to the at least one measuring cell and being selectively sensitive to at least one analyte to be examined in the at least one sample;

bringing the at least one sample into contact with the plurality of planar waveguides;

coupling excitation light into the plurality of planar waveguides, causing the light to pass through the plurality of planar waveguides, and thus, exciting in parallel in an evanescent field, at least one luminescent substance in the at least one sample wherein, wherein the at least one luminescent substance is bound to an immobilized specific binding partner acting as a recognition element for the at least one analyte or to another specific binding partner bound to the immobilized specific binding partner on at least one of the plurality of planar waveguides; and

measuring the one or more luminescences produced thereby using photoelectric detection elements.

67. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescence as claimed in claim 66, wherein the at least one luminescent substance comprises luminescent dyes from the group consisting of rhodamines, fluorescein derivatives, coumarin derivatives, distyryl biphenyls, stilbene derivatives, phthalo cyanines, naphthalocyanines, polypyridyl/ruthenium complexes, such as tris (2, 2′

-bipyridyl) ruthenium chloride, tris (1, 10-phenanthroline) ruthenium chloride tris (4, 7-diphenyl-1, 10-phenanthroline) ruthenium chloride and polypyridyl/phenazine/ruthenium complexes, platinum/porphyrin complexes, europium and terbium complexes and cyanine dyes.

68. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescence as claimed in claim 66, wherein the at least one sample comprises at least one of egg yolk, blood, serum, plasma, and urine.

69. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescence as claimed in claim 66, wherein the at least one sample comprises at least one of surface water, a soil extract, a plant extract, a liquor from biological processes and a liquor from synthesis processes.

70. A method according to claim 66, wherein the substrate is coupled directly to the plurality of optical paths.

71. A method according to claim 66, wherein a housing is located between the substrate and the plurality of optical paths.

72. An optical detection device, comprising:

at least one light source comprising a single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor laser and being operable to emit detection light, said at least one light source being located on a first substrate;

at least one photoelectric detection unit operable to detect a light intensity and to convert the light intensity into a corresponding electrical signal, said at least one photoelectric detection unit being located on a second substrate;

at least one measuring cell operable to hold a sample to be examined;

at least one optical path comprising a planar waveguide and being coupled to said at least one measuring cell and formed between said at least one light source and said at least one photoelectric detection unit, wherein said at least one planar waveguide allows the detection light to pass through and excite an evanescent field; and

at least one specific binding partner operable to act as a recognition element for at least one analyte, said at least one specific binding partner being immobilized on said at least one planar waveguide and forming at least one interaction region,

wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are located on a same side of said at least one optical path.

73. An optical detection device according to claim 72, wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are coupled directly to said at least one optical path.

74. An optical detection device according to claim 72, further comprising a housing, wherein said housing is located between said first and second substrates and said at least one optical path.

75. An optical detection device, comprising:

a plurality of light sources comprising at least one linear arrangement of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers produced on a common substrate and each being operable to emit a detection light, said plurality of light sources being located on a first substrate;

a corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units, each associated with a corresponding light source of said plurality of light sources, and each operable to detect a light intensity and to convert the light intensity into a corresponding electrical signal, said corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units being located on a second substrate;

at least one measuring cell operable to hold a sample to be examined;

a plurality of optical paths, each comprising a planar waveguide and being coupled to said at least one measuring cell, and each being formed between said plurality of light sources and said corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units, wherein said plurality of planar waveguides allow the detection lights to pass through and excite an evanescent field; and

at least one specific binding partner operable to act as a recognition element for at least one analyte, said at least one specific binding partner being immobilized on at least one of said plurality of planar waveguides and forming at least one interaction region,

wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are located on a same side of said plurality of optical paths.

76. An optical detection device according to claim 75, wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are coupled directly to said plurality of optical paths.

77. An optical detection device according to claim 75, further comprising a housing, wherein said housing is located between said first and second substrates and said plurality of optical paths.

78. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescences comprising:

providing at least one light source for emitting detection light, the at least one light source being located on a first substrate;

providing at least one photoelectric detection unit for detecting a light intensity and converting the light intensity into a corresponding electrical signal, the at least one photoelectric detection unit being located on a second substrate;

providing at least one measuring cell for holding a sample to be examined;

using at least one optical path to couple the at least one measuring cell being formed between the at least one light source and the at least one photoelectric detection unit to the at least one light source and the at least one photoelectric detection unit, the at least one light source being a single wavelength surface-emitting semiconductor laser, wherein the at least one optical path comprises a planar waveguide which is coupled to the at least one measuring cell, and wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are located on a same side of the at least one optical path;

providing a sensor layer comprising at least one specific binding partner operable to act as a recognition element for at least one analyte on the at least one planar waveguide, the sensor layer being coupled to the at least one measuring cell and which is selectively sensitive to at least one analyte to be examined in the at least one sample;

bringing the at least one sample into contact with the at least one planar waveguide,

coupling excitation light into the at least one planar waveguide, causing the light to pass through the at least one planar waveguide, and thus, exciting in parallel in an evanescent field, at least one luminescent substance in the at least one sample, wherein the at least one luminescent substance is bound to an immobilized specific binding partner acting as a recognition element for the at least one analyte or to another specific binding partner bound to the immobilized specific binding partner on the at least one planar waveguide; and

measuring the one or more luminescences produced thereby using photoelectric detection elements.

79. A method according to claim 78, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are coupled directly to the at least one optical path.

80. A method according to claim 78, wherein a housing is located between the first and second substrates and the at least one optical path.

81. A method for the parallel determination of one or more luminescence, comprising:

providing a plurality of light sources for emitting detection light, the plurality of light sources being located on a first substrate;

providing a corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units, each associated with a corresponding light source, for detecting a light intensity and converting the light intensity into a corresponding electrical signal, the corresponding plurality of photoelectric detection units being located on a second substrate;

providing at least one measuring cell for holding a sample to be examined;

using a plurality of optical paths each to couple the at least one measuring cell being formed between the light sources and the corresponding photoelectric detection units to the light sources and the corresponding photoelectric detection units, the plurality of light sources comprising at least one linear arrangement of single wavelength edge-emitting semiconductor lasers produced on a common substrate, wherein each of the plurality of optical paths comprises a planar waveguide which is coupled to the at least one measuring cell, and wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are located on a same side of the plurality of optical paths;

providing a sensor layer comprising at least one specific binding partner operable to act as a recognition element for at least one analyte on at least one of the plurality of planar waveguides, the sensor layer being coupled to the at least one measuring cell and being selectively sensitive to at least one analyte to be examined in the at least one sample;

bringing the at least one sample into contact with the plurality of planar waveguides;

coupling excitation light into the plurality of planar waveguides, causing the light to pass through the plurality of planar waveguides, and thus, exciting in parallel in an evanescent field, at least one luminescent substance in the at least one sample wherein, wherein the at least one luminescent substance is bound to an immobilized specific binding partner acting as a recognition element for the at least one analyte or to another specific binding partner bound to the immobilized specific binding partner on at least one of the plurality of planar waveguides; and

measuring the one or more luminescences produced thereby using photoelectric detection elements.

82. A method according to claim 81, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are coupled directly to the plurality of optical paths.

83. An optical detection device according to claim 81, wherein a housing is located between the first and second substrates and the plurality of optical paths.