Patent ID: 8404450

Claim:
A method of imaging real-time data of microwave induced reactions or interactions of biomolecules, the method comprising: a) providing a sample comprising at least one biomolecule and a detector molecule, wherein the sample is positioned on a sample plate, and wherein the wherein the sample plate comprises at least one layer of metallic material deposited on the sample plate surface, wherein the metallic material is formed into particles having a triangular geometric shape having at least one apex and wherein the apex from different triangular shaped particles are adjacent and opposite to each other and ranging a distance from about 0.01 mm to 5 mm, and thereby creating a reactive zone therebetween; b) placing the sample in a microwave cavity and positioned in the reactive zone, wherein the microwave cavity is communicatively connected to a microwave producing source and also communicatively connected to an optical imaging system, wherein the optical imaging system comprises: an electromagnetic energy producing source to produce energy at a frequency to excite the sample; an objective positioned for receiving excitation electromagnetic energy from the source and focusing same on the sample; a dichroic mirror positioned between the laser and objective for reflecting electromagnetic energy from the energy source to the objective and for directing emitted signals from the sample; a tube lens positioned after the dichroic mirror for collecting emissions from the sample and directing same to a detector device c) irradiating the sample with low power microwave energy in an amount to increase interactions or reactions in the sample; and d) imaging the emission signal of the detector molecule with the optical imaging system of step b).