Multi-Angle Prism Optical Detection for Multi-Wavelength Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for forming enhanced electric fields are limited in that they can only produce enhanced electric fields at uniquely determined wavelengths, making it difficult to perform fluorescence observation at multiple wavelengths and leading to issues with non-specific adsorption of labels or foreign substances, which complicates the detection of target substances.
Innovation Solution
An optical detection device with a prism having multiple light incident surfaces at different angles, allowing light to be irradiated at a fixed angle to the detection plate, enabling the generation of enhanced electric fields at multiple wavelengths and reducing noise from non-specific adsorption by using a laminate structure with a light transmissive substrate, metal or semiconductor layer, and light transmissive dielectric layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional guided mode excitation mechanism with a single incident angle is used, then the device structure is simple, but enhanced electric fields can only be formed at uniquely determined wavelengths, limiting multi-wavelength fluorescence observation
Solution Approach 1:
The prism is divided into multiple light incident surfaces (first, second, third incident surfaces) with different incident surface angles. Each surface is responsible for exciting guided modes at specific wavelengths, enabling multi-wavelength observation capability without requiring multiple separate prisms or complex adjustable mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single incident angle configuration to multiple incident surface angles in the spatial dimension. By introducing angular diversity through multiple prism surfaces, the system achieves wavelength multiplexing capability while maintaining a compact integrated structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light is irradiated at different angles to achieve multiple wavelengths, then multiple wavelengths can be excited, but the alignment and positioning precision becomes more difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The prism is pre-designed and pre-aligned during manufacturing with specific incident surface angles (e.g., 45 degrees for the first surface, 30 degrees for the second surface, 60 degrees for the third surface). This preliminary configuration of angular parameters eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures during operation, as the geometric relationships are built into the prism structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the angular parameters of the prism surfaces from a single value to multiple specific values. By optimizing these angular parameters during design, the system achieves broad wavelength excitation capability while the fixed geometric relationships simplify manufacturing and alignment precision requirements.
3Reliability
If conventional single-wavelength excitation is used, then the detection system is simpler, but non-specific adsorption of labels or foreign substances cannot be effectively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into multiple excitation channels corresponding to different wavelengths, each accessible through a different prism surface. This segmentation enables simultaneous or sequential multi-wavelength excitation, allowing differentiation between specific target signals and non-specific adsorption background through spectral characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The single prism structure serves multiple functions: it provides multiple excitation wavelengths through its different incident surfaces, maintains a compact form factor, and enables both specific and non-specific signal discrimination. This multi-functionality achieves improved detection accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity.
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
Enables clearer, quicker, and more accurate optical detection by allowing enhanced electric fields to be obtained at multiple wavelengths, facilitating multi-staining procedures and improving sensitivity by reducing noise from non-specific adsorption.
Implementation Method 1
light from the light irradiation unit is made to enter a prism 3, and the light that has entered the prism 3 is irradiated from the back surface side of the detection plate 4 under a condition that satisfies a total reflection condition in the detection plate 4
Implementation Method 2
The incident light is incident on the detection plate under a total reflection condition. At a particular incident angle, incident light having a particular wavelength is conjugated with a guided mode propagated in the layer structure on the detection plate, thus exciting the guided mode. When the guided mode is excited, the electric field of the light having the particular wavelength is enhanced on the front surface of the detection plate, thus forming an enhanced electric field.
Implementation Method 3
The SPR is excited on a gold thin film on the surface of glass in contact with a prism by the total reflection of incident light at the interface between the gold thin film and a liquid sample thereby to form an enhanced electric field on the surface of the gold thin film.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical detection method and an optical detection device quickly and accurately detects a micro target substance, such as an antigen, with high sensitivity by using an enhanced electric field. The optical detection device includes: one or more light irradiation units; a detection plate having a laminate structure; a prism in close optical contact to a back surface side of the detection plate and having multiple light incident surfaces with different incidence angles; and a light detection unit which is placed on the front surface side of the detection plate and which detects an optical signal from a sample. Light from the light irradiation unit enters the light incident surfaces of the prism at a fixed angle with respect to the front surface of the detection plate, and the light passing through the prism is irradiated from the back surface side of the detection plate under a total reflection condition.