Patent ID: 6251688
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus to monitor the binding affinity between a plurality of a certain molecule of a first type and a plurality of a certain molecule of a second type, said apparatus comprises:(a) A light source which generates and transmits a certain light signal;(b) Annularizing means by which a substantially uniformly distributed and cylindrical beam of light containing an initial first amount of light power and which is impingent upon said annularizing means becomes topologically transformed with minimal loss of said initial first amount of light power into an emergent second beam which is substantially uniformly distributed in power within an annular shell or region on the outside of the beam, the inside region being substantially devoid of light power;(c) An optical fiber waveguide which receives said transmitted light signal in which an evanescent field is generated and having said plurality of a certain molecule of a first type affixed to its lateral surface;(d) processing means, connected to said light source and to said waveguide for using said evanescent field to determine said binging affinity.