Patent ID: 7982871
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. Sensor for identifying at least one particle by means of Raman spectroscopy, comprising an optical trapping system for the at least one particle, including a laser-beam source, acting further as a Raman excitation source for the at least one particle, and a Raman-spectrometer for measuring the spectrally modified light scattered by the at least one particle and for identifying same, wherein the optical trapping system comprises a photonic crystal directly linked with the laser beam source, which photonic crystal has multiple cavities at predetermined positions, and wherein the laser beam source in use resonantly excites one or more predetermined electromagnetic modes of the cavities at said positions for trapping and Raman-exciting the at least one particle, wherein the photonic crystal, the laser-beam source and the Raman-spectrometer are housed in a unitary device having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid carrying during operation the at least one particle through the device, wherein a fluid-channel connects the inlet and the outlet, and wherein said fluid channel has boundary walls formed by the Raman-spectrometer and the photonic crystal.