Patent ID: 6188812
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: G01N,G02B

Abstract:
An optical device for more efficiently exciting and collecting fluorescence emissions, comprising:an optical waveguide comprising a core, a core surface, at least one material covering said core surface, and a proximal and a distal end, said material removed from one or more regions of said waveguide along a length of said waveguide distal end;a low porosity, thin film surrounding and coating said distal end regions thereby creating a core/thin film boundary, said thin film having a refractive index greater than said core; anda source of illumination for generating a beam of light, at least a portion of said light beam directed into said waveguide at or near said proximal end, said light essentially totally internally reflected in said core, said light propagated through said core to said distal end wherein said propagating light traverses said core/thin film boundary to create an evanescent field at said core/thin film boundary.