Biosensor Light Guide Array for Fluorescence Crosstalk Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluorescent-detection systems face challenges in distinguishing fluorescent emissions from excitation light and managing unwanted light emissions in high-density analyte configurations, leading to optical crosstalk and difficulties in fluidic delivery of reagents in biological or chemical analysis.
Innovation Solution
A biosensor system with a flow cell and detection device featuring a shield layer with apertures to block excitation light, a filter material in light guides to separate emissions, and peripheral crosstalk shields to reduce optical crosstalk between light sensors, enabling effective detection of fluorescent signals without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a solid-state imager is used to detect fluorescent emissions, then the device footprint is reduced and cost is lowered, but it becomes challenging to distinguish fluorescent emissions from excitation light and manage unwanted light emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The detection device is segmented into multiple functional layers: a flow cell layer for sample containment, a shield layer with apertures for light management, a light guide array layer for light delivery and collection, and a solid-state imager layer for detection. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally while working together to resolve the contradiction between compact size and detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Light guides act as intermediaries between the excitation light source and the analytes, and between the analytes and the solid-state imager. These light guides efficiently channel the excitation light to the sample and collect the emitted fluorescent light, enabling the solid-state imager to distinguish fluorescent emissions from excitation light even in a compact configuration.
2Productivity
If the density of analytes on the solid-state imager is increased, then more samples can be analyzed simultaneously, but unwanted light emissions from adjacent analytes (crosstalk) become increasingly challenging to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The flow cell is divided into multiple discrete reaction chambers or wells, each containing individual analyte samples. This physical segmentation prevents optical crosstalk between adjacent analytes while maintaining high density arrangement, allowing simultaneous analysis of multiple samples without signal interference.
Solution Approach 2:
Each region of the flow cell and corresponding light guide is optimized for its specific analyte detection. The light guides are positioned and configured to deliver excitation light and collect emissions from specific local regions, ensuring that signals from adjacent analytes do not interfere with each other even at high densities.
3Use of energy by moving object
If excitation light is directed toward the light sensors, then fluorescent emissions can be excited, but it becomes challenging to distinguish the fluorescent emissions from the excitation light
Solution Approach 1:
The excitation light is extracted and channeled through light guides to specific regions where analytes are located, rather than directing it broadly toward the sensors. The light guides confine the excitation light to the necessary paths, and the shield layer blocks stray excitation light from reaching the sensors, allowing efficient excitation while preventing interference with detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits the wavelength difference between excitation light and fluorescent emissions. The excitation light at a specific wavelength excites the analytes, which then emit fluorescent light at a different (typically longer) wavelength. The shield layer and light guides are designed to manage these different wavelengths, allowing the sensors to detect the emitted fluorescent light while blocking the excitation light.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances the ability to distinguish fluorescent emissions from excitation light and reduces optical crosstalk, improving the accuracy and efficiency of biological or chemical analysis by isolating light signals and managing unwanted emissions.
Implementation Method 1
The light guides have a filter material that is configured to filter the excitation light and permit the fluorescent emissions to propagate toward the corresponding light sensors
Implementation Method 2
The shield layer extends between adjacent apertures and is configured to block the excitation light and the fluorescent emissions incident on the shield layer between the adjacent apertures
Implementation Method 3
an optical system is used to direct an excitation light onto fluorescently-labeled analytes and to also detect the fluorescent signals that may emit from the analytes
Implementation Method 4
The light guides extend into the device base from the input regions toward corresponding light sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Biosensor including a device base having a sensor array of light sensors and a guide array of light guides. The light guides have input regions that are configured to receive excitation light and light emissions generated by biological or chemical substances. The light guides extend into the device base toward corresponding light sensors and have a filter material. The device base includes device circuitry electrically coupled to the light sensors and configured to transmit data signals. A passivation layer extends over the device base and forms an array of reaction recesses above the light guides. The biosensor also includes peripheral crosstalk shields that at least partially surround corresponding light guides of the guide array to reduce optical crosstalk between adjacent light sensors.