Abstract: A device has a planar optical waveguide, including a transparent carrier (40) and a wave-guiding layer (41), wherein the waveguide at least has a diffractive element (42) for coupling excitation radiation into the wave-guiding layer. Located on the wave-guiding layer is a further, tightly sealing layer (43) made from a material which, at least at the support surface, is transparent both to the excitation radiation and to the evanescently excited radiation at least to the penetration depth of the evanescent field, and which, for an analysis sample, has, at least in a partial region of the guided excitation radiation, a cavity (45) which is open to the upper side or a cavity (6) which is closed to the upper side and connected by means of an inlet channel (2) and an outlet channel (3).

Abstract: A device comprising a planar optical waveguide, consisting of a transparent carrier (40) and a wave-guiding layer (41), wherein the waveguide at least has a diffractive element (42) for coupling excitation radiation into the wave-guiding layer, and there is located on the wave-guiding layer a further, tightly sealing layer (43) made from a material which, at least at the support surface, is transparent both to the excitation radiation and to the evanescently excited radiation at least to the penetration depth of the evanescent field, and which, for an analysis sample, has, at least in a partial region of the guided excitation radiation, a cavity (45) which is open to the upper side or a cavity (6) which is closed to the upper side and connected by means of an inflow channel (2) and an outflow channel (3), the depth of the cavity corresponding at least to the penetration depth of the evanescent field, and wherein the diffractive element (42) is fully covered by the material of the layer (43) at least in the co

Abstract: A device comprising a planar optical waveguide, consisting of a transparent carrier (40) and a wave-guiding layer (41), wherein the waveguide at least has a diffractive element (42) for coupling excitation radiation into the wave-guiding layer, and there is located on the wave-guiding layer a further, tightly sealing layer (43) made from a material which, at least at the support surface, is transparent both to the excitation radiation and to the evanescently excited radiation at least to the penetration depth of the evanescent field, and which, for an analysis sample, has, at least in a partial region of the guided excitation radiation, a cavity (45) which is open to the upper side or a cavity (6) which is closed to the upper side and connected by means of an inflow channel (2) and an outflow channel (3), the depth of the cavity corresponding at least to the penetration depth of the evanescent field, and wherein the diffractive element (42) is fully covered by the material of the layer (43) at least in the co

Abstract: An improved microstructure for micro-scale fluid handling, processing and investigation comprises a support element and a microstructured element. The support element has a substantially even support face. The microstructured element has a microstructured face provided both with substantially even portions and with recessed portions. The even portions are substantially coplanar to a common even surface. The recessed portions are defined between the even portions adjacent thereto and recessed from the common even surface. The support face is located substantially adjacent to the microstructured face and cooperates with the recessed portions thereof to define a microchannel system. At least the microstructured element is made and formed of poly(dimethylsiloxane) polymer by applying a prepolymer or a precursor thereof onto a corresponding master element, and then curing the material.