Multiplex Photonic Biosensor With Passive Capillary Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photonic biosensors face high costs due to complex fluid and light interconnections, which are unsuitable for point-of-care and cost-sensitive diagnostic applications, and they often require costly instrumentation and complex active fluid delivery mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A photonic biosensor apparatus with a silicon-based photonic integrated circuit (PIC) on a substrate, featuring non-contact optical coupling and passive fluid flow, utilizing a fiber bundle for optical coupling and a fluid pathway with micropillars for capillary action, enabling multiplex assays on a single slide or card.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional silicon-based fabrication processes are used to create detection elements, then manufacturing precision and optical characteristics are improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to required optical fiber bonding and active fluid delivery mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection element fabrication with the substrate into a single integrated structure. The detection element is formed directly on the substrate using the same silicon-based fabrication processes, eliminating the need for separate optical fiber bonding and complex fluid delivery mechanisms. This integration reduces device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex active fluid delivery mechanisms and optical fiber bonding components from the system. By using passive fluid delivery through the substrate and integrating detection elements directly into the substrate, the patent removes unnecessary complexity while preserving the core sensing functionality.
2Reliability
If optical fiber bonding is used for interfacing with light paths, then light transmission is improved, but device complexity and instrumentation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical interface directly into the substrate structure, eliminating the need for separate optical fiber bonding. The substrate itself serves as the optical interface, integrating light transmission functionality into the base structure and reducing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If active fluid delivery mechanisms with external pumps are used, then sample flow control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements passive fluid delivery where the substrate itself drives fluid flow without requiring external pumps. The substrate structure enables automatic sample flow control through its design, allowing the system to serve itself without complex active mechanisms.
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 solution reduces costs and complexity by eliminating active fluid control and light interfaces, allowing for high-throughput, multiplexed immunoassays with reduced turnaround time and reagent use, suitable for both point-of-care and laboratory settings.
Implementation Method 1
at least one photonic integrated circuit (PIC) disposed directly on a substrate, optically coupled to a light source and a photodetector via a fiber bundle
Implementation Method 2
a fluid pathway with micropillars for capillary action
Implementation Method 3
at least one first grating coupler, at least two second grating couplers, at least one waveguide between the first grating coupler and the second grating couplers
Implementation Method 4
The use of photonic biosensors to measure refractive light index changes in a sample is well known. The detected change in refractive light of a sample provides for the detection of analytes.
Data Source
AI summary
A photonic biosensor apparatus comprises a sample addition zone in fluid communication with a wicking zone and a sample detection zone, at least one optical input port disposed within the sample detection zone, wherein the optical input port is configured to optically couple to a light source, at least one optical output port disposed within the sample detection zone, wherein the optical output port is configured to optically couple to a photodetector via a fiber bundle, at least one photonic integrated circuit (PIC) disposed directly atop a substrate, wherein the at least one photonic integrated circuit comprises at least one first grating coupler aligned with the optical input port, at least two second grating couplers aligned with the optical output port, at least one waveguide between the first grating coupler and the second grating couplers, and at least one detection element disposed within the at least one waveguide.