Douglas P Christensen

US Patent:

6350413, Feb 26, 2002

Filed:

Oct 5, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/412731

Inventors:

W. Monty Reichert - Durham NC
James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G01N 3353

US Classification:

422 8211, 422 8205, 436150, 436164, 385 12

Abstract:

A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection. The propagated light is then coupled evanescently into the thin film waveguide across a spacer layer of precise thickness and having an index of refraction lower than either the input waveguide or the thin-film waveguide.

US Patent:

6911344, Jun 28, 2005

Filed:

Nov 3, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/185318

Inventors:

W. Monty Reichert - Durham NC, US
James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT, US
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT, US
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT, US
Jacob D. Durtschi - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

BioCentrex, LLC - Culver City CA

International Classification:

G01N033/543

US Classification:

436518, 356317, 356318, 385 12, 385123, 385129, 422 8205, 422 8208, 422 8211, 435 6, 435 75, 4352871, 4352872, 4352887, 435808, 436164, 436172, 436527, 436531, 436805

Abstract:

A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection. The propagated light is then coupled evanescently into the thin film waveguide across a spacer layer of precise thickness and having an index of refraction lower than either the input waveguide or the thin-film waveguide.

US Patent:

7537734, May 26, 2009

Filed:

Oct 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/973557

Inventors:

W. Monty Reichert - Durham NC, US
James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT, US
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT, US
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G01N 21/00
G01N 33/53
G01N 33/552
G01N 21/55
G01N 21/41
G02B 6/00

US Classification:

422 8211, 435 79, 436518, 356445, 356 12, 356128

Abstract:

A composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprising a substrate layer having one or more thin-film waveguide channels deposited thereon. Binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin-film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide includes integral light input coupling means adapted to the thin-film channels. Light coupling means may include a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has an input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end, propagating it by total internal reflection. Propagated light is coupled evanescently into the thin film across a spacer layer of precise thickness with a lower index of refraction than that of the input waveguide or the thin-film waveguide.

US Patent:

59619244, Oct 5, 1999

Filed:

Oct 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/961827

Inventors:

W. Monty Reichert - Durham NC
James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G01N 3353
G01N 2117

US Classification:

422 8211

Abstract:

A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection. The propagated light is then coupled evanescently into the thin film waveguide across a spacer layer of precise thickness and having an index of refraction lower than either the input waveguide or the thin-film waveguide.

US Patent:

58321659, Nov 3, 1998

Filed:

Aug 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/705893

Inventors:

W. Monty Reichert - Durham NC
James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G02B 610

US Classification:

385130

Abstract:

A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection. The propagated light is then coupled evanescently into the thin film waveguide across a spacer layer of precise thickness and having an index of refraction lower than either the input waveguide or the thin-film waveguide.

US Patent:

58145656, Sep 29, 1998

Filed:

Feb 23, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/393450

Inventors:

W. Monty Reichert - Durham NC
James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G01N 3353
G01N 2117

US Classification:

422 8211

Abstract:

A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection. The propagated light is then coupled evanescently into the thin film waveguide across a spacer layer of precise thickness and having an index of refraction lower than either the input waveguide or the thin-film waveguide.