Patent ID: 6376258
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: B82Y,C12Q,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A bio-assay device configured to detect a molecular binding event between a ligand and an antiligand, the bio-assay device comprising:(i) a signal path operable to support the propagation of a test signal at one or more frequencies between 10 MHz and 1000 GHz, said signal path comprising: an electrically conductive transmission line, a ground element, and a dielectric layer interposed between said electrically conductive transmission line and said ground element; and (ii) a molecular binding region electromagnetically coupled to said signal path, said molecular binding region comprising said antiligand operable to bind said ligand; wherein said signal path and said molecular binding region form part of a resonant structure, wherein said resonant structure has a first resonant frequency fres1 in the absence of a molecular binding event between said ligand and said antiligand and a second resonant frequency fres2 in the presence of said molecular binding event, and wherein said molecular binding region is located between at least a portion of said electrically conductive transmission line and at least a portion of said ground element.