Patent DE-102007033124-A1 (DE)
Title: Device for optical detection of substances in fluid or gaseous medium, comprises a carrier with molecules for the recognition of the substances to be detected that are immobilized on a surface of the carrier or in the carrier
Inventor: BRANDENBURG ALBRECHT
IPC: G01N33/68
Filed: 2007-07-16
Abstract: The device for optical detection of substances in fluid or gaseous medium, comprises a carrier with molecules for the recognition of the substances to be detected that are immobilized on a surface (1) of the carrier or in the carrier on which the substances are selectively bindable. The light waves are superimposed into the carrier and are guided through the carrier. The carrier is a foil element out of transparent material in which a coupling structure for coupling of light waves is integrally formed and the coupled light waves are guidable. The device for optical detection of substances in fluid or gaseous medium, comprises a carrier with molecules for the recognition of the substances to be detected that are immobilized on a surface (1) of the carrier or in the carrier on which the substances are selectively bindable. The light waves are superimposed into the carrier and are guided through the carrier. The carrier is a foil element out of transparent material in which a coupling structure for coupling of light waves is integrally formed and the coupled light waves are guidable. The coupling structure is formed in the molding step of the foil element on the surface of the foil elements in a step together with the formation of the foil element. The foil element is produced by stamping, rolling, pouring or hardening of fluid medium. The form of the coupling structure is formed during the stamping, rolling, pouring or hardening. A flow cell for the medium to be detected forms a measuring area with the surface of the foil elements. The coupling structure is arranged in the area covered by the flow cell. The molecules for the recognition of the substances to be detected are probes from biological and/or biochemical molecules such as antibody molecules, DNA molecules, single-stranded DNA, RNA molecules and/or single-stranded RNA that are immobilized on the surface of the foil element or in the foil element. The molecules form a selection field with measuring points for space-resolved detection of substances. The foil element has a homogenizing area that is arranged in optical path downstream the coupling structure and upstream a detecting point before the selection field so that light waves coupled in the foil element over the coupling structure shows a homogeneous groove before reaching the detecting point. A diffractive optical element e.g. a lattice structure is arranged in the optical path. The coupling structure has a vault comparable to a cylinder lens or round form to reach a homogeneous distribution of the light waves coupled in the foil element. The coupling element has a refractive optical element e.g. a prism or a lattice or a structure with a trapezoidal or rectangular cross-section. The coupling structure is a diffractive optical element. The thickness of the foil element is 10-1000 mu m and is selected in such a way that the foil element has flexibility. The foil thickness is 100 mu m. The foil element is molded with an external thickness area in the form of frame thus increasing the mechanical stability of the foil element. A polymer cartridge, in which the foil element is integrated, has an injection port for the medium to be detected, reagent container, fluidic channel for the transport of the medium and the reagent, and an arrangement for moving the medium and the reagent. An excitation optic for generation of light waves for stimulation of markers such as fluorescent dye related to the optical detection or for generation of color change on the surface or in the foil element in dependence of the medium to be detected. An arrangement is intended for the variation of a relative position of stimulation optics to the coupling structure, with which a coupling angle is selectable so that the coupling angle corresponds to the total reflection angle that arises itself with the refractive index of the medium adjacent to the foil element. In the optical path, a detector is arranged with which the light waves are detectable for the optimization of the radiation position and/or for the determination of reflection of the coupled light waves. The detector for the detection of the intensity of light waves at the coupling structure is arranged for the determination of absorption of the light waves guided in the foil element and its change. An image optic is measurable with the optical characteristics such as fluorescence characteristics or colors from the substances or markers on the surface or in the foil element. The foil element consists of glass that is produced by hot-stamping. An independent claim is included for a procedure for the carriers for molecules for the detection of substances in fluid or gaseous medium.