Patent ID: 8488120
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A detection device for detecting interaction between a first label-free entity and a second label-free entity, comprising: an optical interface comprising a surface with said first label free entity; a light source for generating a first light beam comprising a first polarization component and a second polarization component, wherein said first light beam is applied to said optical interface, and wherein a phase shift between said first polarization component and said second polarization component occurs upon interaction between said first label-free entity and said second label free entity; at least one optical retarder for providing a circular polarization in said first light beam downstream of said optical interface; a polarizing beam splitter downstream of said optical interface, wherein said polarizing beam splitter is for splitting said first light beam into a second light beam and a third light beam after said first light beam is reflected from said optical interface; a detector module downstream of said polarizing beam splitter, wherein said detector module accepts said second light beam and said third light beam and detects the intensity of said second light beam and said third light beam; and a signal processing unit for receiving intensity measurements of said second light beam and third light beam from said detector module and programmed for calculating said phase shift based on the difference between said second light beam intensity and said third light beam intensity.