Compact Mode-Locked Laser for Bioanalytical Instruments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ultrashort pulsed lasers are typically large, expensive, and unsuitable for mobile applications or incorporation into portable instrumentation for imaging, ranging, or bioanalytical uses, requiring a compact and cost-effective solution for producing sub-100-picosecond pulses.

Innovation Solution

A compact mode-locked laser system is developed, capable of producing sub-100-picosecond pulses at ˜100 MHz pulse-repetition rates, integrated into a portable package that includes a gain medium, saturable-absorber mirror, and beam-steering optics, allowing for efficient optical excitation and detection in bioanalytical instruments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional mode-locked lasers are used to produce ultrashort optical pulses, then pulse duration and repetition rate requirements are met, but system size and cost become prohibitively large and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulse durationVSAvoidsystem footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the conventional laser system into modular components mounted on a common base plate, allowing the optical cavity, gain medium, and saturable-absorber mirror to be arranged in a compact configuration that reduces overall footprint while maintaining pulse quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs nested mounting arrangements where optical components are mounted on the base plate in a space-efficient manner, with components arranged to minimize the overall system area while maintaining proper optical path lengths for ultrashort pulse generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional mode-locked lasers are used to produce ultrashort optical pulses, then pulse duration and repetition rate requirements are met, but system cost becomes prohibitively high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulse durationVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses commercially available, lower-cost laser components including standard gain media and saturable-absorber mirrors that can be replaced if needed, rather than requiring expensive custom-built ultrashort pulse laser systems, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs a versatile laser system that can be configured for multiple applications (DNA sequencing, optical coherence tomography, time-domain spectroscopy) using the same basic compact architecture, reducing development and manufacturing costs through platform standardization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional mode-locked lasers are used to produce ultrashort optical pulses, then pulse quality is achieved, but system portability is lost due to large footprint

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulse qualityVSAvoidsystem portability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamically scalable system where the compact laser can be easily integrated into different portable platforms and instrumentation systems, allowing the same laser design to serve both laboratory and field-deployable applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the laser gain medium and saturable-absorber mirror into a single integrated optical cavity system on a common base plate, reducing the number of separate components and mounting requirements, thereby improving portability while maintaining pulse generation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 compact laser system enables portable and cost-effective ultrashort pulsed laser technology for applications like DNA sequencing and bioanalytical instruments, providing sufficient optical power and portability for research, clinical, and commercial use.

Implementation Method 1

a saturable-absorber mirror mounted on the base plate and forming a second end mirror for the laser cavity, wherein the mode-locked laser is configured to produce optical pulses by passive mode locking

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSaturable absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a gain medium mounted on the base plate, a first end mirror mounted on the base plate located at a first end of a laser cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStimulated emission: Laser

Data Source

PatentUS10246742B2Pulsed laser and bioanalytic system

Publication Date: 2019.04.02 QUANTUM SI INC

AI summary

Apparatus and methods for producing ultrashort optical pulses are described. A high-power, solid-state, passively mode-locked laser can be manufactured in a compact module that can be incorporated into a portable instrument for biological or chemical analyses. The pulsed laser may produce sub-100-ps optical pulses at a repetition rate commensurate with electronic data-acquisition rates. The optical pulses may excite samples in reaction chambers of the instrument, and be used to generate a reference clock for operating signal-acquisition and signal-processing electronics of the instrument.