Abstract: The invention discloses a luminescence sensor for bio-sensing having an input reflector and an output reflector. The gap between the input and output reflectors constitutes an optical cavity. One or both of the input and output reflectors can be a wire-grid polarizer having apertures, where at least one dimension of the apertures is below the diffraction limit. When input radiation impinges the input reflector a fraction of the input radiation is transmitted into the cavity. The energy of the radiation inside the cavity is increased due to the resonance properties of the cavity. Due to the increase of the cavity excitation energy, the luminescent radiation emitted from the luminescent particles inside the cavity can be detected outside the cavity. Since the input and output reflectors have high reflection coefficients the input radiation is effectively prohibited from being transmitted through the luminescence detector.

Abstract: A luminescence sensor, comprising a non-transparent substrate structure (2) having at least one aperture (5) intended to comprise an analyte and a transparent substrate structure (3), which is arranged to or adjacent said first structure (2). The aperture has a smallest lateral dimension, which is smaller than half the effective wavelength of an excitation radiation, such as light at a wavelength of 700 nm, resulting in an effective wavelength in water of about 538 nm. The transparent structure has a trench (4) with a surface portion provided with ligands with an affinity towards a target molecule. The trench results in that a luminophore attached to the target molecule will be positioned at the entrance surface of the aperture, where the excitation energy is largest.

Abstract: A device for monitoring radiation emitted by luminophores present in an analyte fluid of a wiregrid biosensor. The monitoring device comprises a non-polarized light source (41) for illuminating the wiregrid biosensor for exciting fluorescent labels arranged in the analyte fluid of said biosensor. A detector (71) detects radiation emitted by the labels after excitation. A polarizing filter (53) is arranged in between the transparent substrate and the detector for suppression of background emission radiation from labels positioned outside apertures in the wiregrid, in the analyte fluid.

Abstract: An optical device provides evanescent radiation, in response to incident radiation, in a detection volume for containing a target component in a medium. The detection volume has at least one in-plane dimension (W1) smaller than a diffraction limit. The diffraction limit is defined by the radiation wavelength and the medium. The evanescent radiation is provided by aperture defining structures having a smallest in plane aperture dimension (W1) smaller than the diffraction limit. The detection volume is provided between the aperture defining structures. The aperture defining structures further define a largest in plane aperture dimension (W2). The largest in plane aperture dimension is larger than the diffraction limit.

Abstract: A method and sensor for the detection of luminescence radiation generated by at least one luminophore is disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting a presence of a luminophore in a detection volume comprising providing excitation radiation in said detection volume. A luminophore is provided in said detection volume being excitable by said excitation radiation. The luminescent radiation is detected to identify the presence of said luminophore in said detection volume. In one aspect of the invention, said luminophore is selected to emit luminescent radiation having a wavelength in said medium that is larger than twice said smallest dimension; and wherein said luminophore is selected to be excitable by excitation radiation having a wavelength in said medium that is smaller than twice said smallest dimension. Accordingly, luminescent radiation is blocked from entering the detector but for the portion present on an interface of the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-layered substrate structure comprising at least one carrier layer (11), a first layer (12), said carrier layer and first layer being in contact with each other, and at least one second layer with a chemical composition different from the first layer (13) said first and second layer being in contact with each other, the second layer forming apertures each having at least one in-plane dimension (W1) smaller than the diffraction limit, the diffraction limit being defined by a radiation wavelength of the excitation light. The invention further relates to the use and manufacturing process of such a substrate structure and a luminescence sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for conducting real-time PCR, and to a device for conducting the method of the present invention. The invention is especially suited for the simultaneous identification and quantification of nucleic acids present in a sample, e.g. a biological sample. Further, this invention describes a method for simultaneous quantitative analysis of multiple nucleic acid sequences in a single compartment by using an integrated nucleic acid microarray combined with a highly surface-specific readout device. The invention relates to a device wherein a surface which is either part of the chamber surface or a surface that is created in the reaction chamber, such as bead surface, is coated with capture probes and in the same chamber, a PCR reaction takes place.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical device for providing evanescent radiation, in response to incident radiation, in a detection volume for containing a target component in a medium, the detection volume having at least one in-plane dimension (W1) smaller than a diffraction limit. The diffraction limit is defined by the radiation wavelength and the medium. The evanescent radiation is provided by aperture defining structures having a smallest in plane aperture dimension W1 smaller than the diffraction limit. The detection volume is provided between said aperture defining structures. The aperture defining structures in addition define a largest in plane aperture dimension W2; wherein said largest in plane aperture dimension is larger than the diffraction limit.

Abstract: A device for monitoring radiation emitted by luminophores present in an analyte fluid of a wiregrid biosensor. The monitoring device comprises a non-polarized light source (41) for illuminating the wiregrid biosensor for exciting fluorescent labels arranged in the analyte fluid of said biosensor. A detector (71) detects radiation emitted by the labels after excitation. A polarizing filter (53) is arranged in between the transparent substrate and the detector for suppression of background emission radiation from labels positioned outside apertures in the wiregrid, in the analyte fluid.

Abstract: There is provided a wave guide comprising: a wave guiding medium, having an index of refraction and provided between first and second wave propagating planar structures at least said first planar structure comprises a plurality of slitted-apertures defining a length axis of the first reflective structure; the slitted apertures constructed and arranged to reflect a R-polarized component of said radiation oriented parallel to said length axis; and wherein said first planar structure is arranged between said wave guiding medium and an adjacent medium having an index of refraction equal or larger than the wave guiding medium. In one aspect of the invention, a waveguide is proposed to limit an excitation region wherein luminophores are excited; substantially independent from the surrounding media of the waveguide. Preferentially, the waveguide is used in a luminescence sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting a presence of a luminophore in a detection volume comprising providing excitation radiation in said detection volume. A luminophore is provided in said detection volume being excitable by said excitation radiation. The luminescent radiation is detected to identify the presence of said luminophore in said detection volume. In one aspect of the invention, said luminophore is selected to emit luminescent radiation having a wavelength in said medium that is larger than twice said smallest dimension; and wherein said luminophore is selected to be excitable by excitation radiation having a wavelength in said medium that is smaller than twice said smallest dimension. Accordingly, luminescent radiation is blocked from entering the detector but for the portion present on an interface of the aperture.

Abstract: The invention discloses a luminescence sensor (101) for bio-sensing having an input reflector (253) and an output reflector (254). The gap (S) between the input and output reflectors constitutes an optical cavity. One or both of the input and output reflectors can be a wire-grid (270) having apertures (211,212), where at least one dimension of the apertures is below the diffraction limit. When input radiation (221) impinges the input reflector a fraction of the input radiation is transmitted into the cavity. The energy of the radiation inside the cavity is increased due to the resonance properties of the cavity. Due to the increase of the cavity excitation energy, the luminescent radiation emitted from the luminescent particles inside the cavity can be detected outside the cavity. Since the input and output reflectors have high reflection coefficients the input radiation is effectively prohibited from being transmitted through the luminescence detector.

Abstract: A luminescence sensor, comprising a non-transparent substrate structure (2) having at least one aperture (5) intended to comprise an analyte and a transparent substrate structure (3), which is arranged to or adjacent said first structure (2). The aperture has a smallest lateral dimension, which is smaller than half the effective wavelength of an excitation radiation, such as light at a wavelength of 700 nm, resulting in an effective wavelength in water of about 538 nm. The transparent structure has a trench (4) with a surface portion provided with ligands with an affinity towards a target molecule. The trench results in that a luminophore attached to the target molecule will be positioned at the entrance surface of the aperture, where the excitation energy is largest.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprises a body (13), the body including an entrance window (9) and an exit window (11) defining an optical path (13) through a cavity. The cavity contains a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), with an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid defined by a meniscus. The meniscus lies longitudinally along the optical path. Means for adjusting the meniscus are provided, for example a voltage source and at least two electrodes. Electrowetting can be used for influencing the fluids.

Abstract: A method and sensor for the detection of luminescence radiation generated by at least one luminophore is disclosed.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprises a body (13), the body including an entrance window (9) and an exit window (11) defining an optical path (13) through a cavity. The cavity contains a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), with an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid defined by a meniscus. The meniscus lies longitudinally along the optical path. Means for adjusting the meniscus are provided, for example a voltage source and at least two electrodes. Electrowetting can be used for influencing the fluids.