Abstract: An apparatus for single analyte molecule detection includes: a light source (20) for generating excitation light; a dichroic mirror (22) disposed on a first path of excitation light generated by the light source, wherein the mirror directs excitation light into a fiber aligner (30); an optical transducer coupled to the light source by the fiber aligner, the optical transducer comprising an optical waveguide (40) made of dielectric material having a first dielectrical index; a photon detector (70) disposed to receive fluorescent back radiation, wherein when a test solution having a second dielectric index lower than the first index is provided and comprises one or more target molecules, excitation light is transmitted by the waveguide and exits a waveguide tip disposed in the test solution so as to excite one or more target molecules; subsequently, the waveguide transmits back radiation along a second path to the photon detector that detects the transmitted back radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus for single analyte molecule detection includes: a light source (20) for generating excitation light; a dichroic mirror (22) disposed on a first path of excitation light generated by the light source, wherein the mirror directs excitation light into a fiber aligner (30); an optical transducer coupled to the light source by the fiber aligner, the optical transducer comprising an optical waveguide (40) made of dielectric material having a first dielectrical index; a photon detector (70) disposed to receive fluorescent back radiation, wherein when a test solution having a second dielectric index lower than the first index is provided and comprises one or more target molecules, excitation light is transmitted by the waveguide and exits a waveguide tip disposed in the test solution so as to excite one or more target molecules; subsequently, the waveguide transmits back radiation along a second path to the photon detector that detects the transmitted back radiation.

Abstract: The invention is broadly directed to methods for sensitively detecting proximity changes in systems that utilizes an interacting fluorophore and quencher. In such methods, a metal surface is used as the quencher. The metal surface may be a particle or film, such as nanoparticles or a coating, respectively. Such systems provide an increase in sensitivity over previously-described quenchers, offering a signal-to-noise ratio of up to several orders of magnitude. Examples of such systems in which proximity changes are usefully detected include conformational changes in biomolecules resulting from their interaction with their binding partners or ligands. Such biomolecules may be, for example, nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, polysaccharides, or other polymeric, naturally occurring or synthetic molecules.

Abstract: A measuring machine pick-up, for measuring e.g. watch movements, has measuring means mounted on a measuring head for movement in two or three orthogonal directions. The measuring means are plural, so that plural measurements may be effected without changing the parts.