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Publication Number
US-7651869-B2
Publication Date
2010-01-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Optical assay apparatus and methods are provided having an optical assay cup for detecting analytes in a sample fluid. The cup's sidewall may include an optical waveguide having a detection coating on its inner surface. During use, the waveguide receives evanescent or darkfield interrogation light, interrogates at least part of cup's interior volume with it, and emits signal light as a function of the analytes. The detection coating may have fluid or non-fluid detection layers, at least part of which may form at least part of a waveguide for the interrogation light. The cup may be spun during use, such as to centrifugally-concentrate any high-density analytes towards cup's sidewall. The assay apparatus may further include an interrogation light source, a cover or spinning apparatus for the cup, and an optical detector for the signal light.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an optical assay that detects an analyte in a sample fluid using waveguide interrogation light directed into an optical assay cup. The cup has a sidewall and an interior volume configured to receive the sample fluid, and the input end of the waveguide subjects at least part of the interior volume to interrogation. At least part of the outer surface of the waveguide emits signal light as a function of the analyte, at least primarily through the outer surface and not primarily through the input end.
The assay further supports analyte detection using luminescence detection, evanescent interrogation, and darkfield interrogation. A spinning apparatus is operable to spin the cup during luminescence detection, and the cup can receive a luminescent indicator in the interior volume and emit luminescent signal light as a function of the analyte. The described sensing structure can include an analyte detection coating on at least part of the waveguide surface, including a non-fluid detection layer.
The document also describes growth-assisting and capture/detection layers that enlarge indicator sites, and a detection layer arrangement including a detection layer and capture layer. The system supports multiple assay formats compatible with the assay cup and waveguide, including competitive immunoassays, sandwich immunoassays, ELISA including thin-film ELISA formats, metabolic activity assays, staining assays, and nucleic acid assays including in-situ PCR.
The document further describes multi-segment cup designs that enable simultaneous detection of different analytes or characteristics using distinct detection coatings and demarcations, and a sealed flow-chamber cup and optical geometry for generating evanescent and darkfield illumination and shaping interrogation regions.
Claims Coverage
The identified independent claims focus on three inventive features: waveguide interrogation and waveguide-based signal light emission from an optical assay cup, luminescence detection with spinning, and a composite sensing waveguide with an analyte detection coating and darkfield interrogation.
Waveguide outer surface analyte-dependent signal emission in an optical assay cup
An optical assay apparatus includes an optical assay cup with a sidewall and an interior volume operable to receive a sample fluid; the sidewall comprises a waveguide having an input end, an inner surface and an outer surface; the input end is operable to receive an input of waveguide interrogation light and to subject at least part of the interior volume to interrogation; and at least part of the outer surface of the waveguide is operable to emit an output of signal light as a function of the analyte, primarily through the outer surface and not primarily through the input end.
Spinning an optical assay cup during luminescence detection
An optical assay apparatus for detecting an analyte in a sample fluid by luminescence detection comprises an optical assay cup and a spinning apparatus operable to spin the cup during the luminescence detection; the cup comprises a sidewall and an interior volume operable to receive the sample fluid and a luminescent indicator for the analyte; and at least part of the outer surface of the sidewall is operable to emit an output of luminescent signal light as a function of the analyte during the luminescence detection.
Composite sensing waveguide with analyte detection coating
A composite sensing waveguide for detecting an analyte in a sample fluid comprises a support waveguide having a surface, and an analyte detection coating on at least part of the surface; at least part of the analyte detection coating is operable to be in contact with the sample fluid during use; the composite sensing waveguide is operable to receive waveguide interrogation light, to subject at least part of the sample fluid to interrogation, to emit signal light as a function of the analyte, and to use darkfield interrogation.
The claim coverage is directed to waveguide-based analyte detection from an optical assay cup or composite sensing waveguide, with outer-surface emission of signal light, a spinning cup arrangement for luminescence detection, and an analyte detection coating with darkfield interrogation.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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