Planar Optical Interferometric Sensor with Single Microfluidic Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical interferometric sensors face challenges in achieving high sensitivity and precision while maintaining a simple design and low cost, particularly in biosensing applications.
Innovation Solution
A planarly integrated optical interferometric sensor with a large Free Spectral Range, featuring a Mach-Zehnder configuration with plasmonic or photonic waveguides, a single microfluidic channel, and phase shifters in both arms to balance optical losses and enhance sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical interferometric sensors use complex configurations to improve sensitivity and precision, then measurement performance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the reference arm and sensing arm into a single microfluidic channel, allowing both measurement functions to coexist in a unified structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate complex fluidic pathways while maintaining the interferometric measurement capability, thus improving sensitivity without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The single microfluidic channel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the reference arm, sensing arm, and provides a common baseline for interferometric measurements. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through the interferometric configuration
2Device complexity
If the sensor uses a single microfluidic channel for both reference and sensing arms, then device complexity is reduced, but maintaining measurement precision becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Within the single microfluidic channel, the patent segments the optical path into distinct reference and sensing regions using waveguide structures. This segmentation allows independent functional zones within a unified channel, maintaining measurement precision by preserving the interferometric arm separation while simplifying the overall device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide structures act as intermediaries that separate and define the reference and sensing paths within the single microfluidic channel. These intermediary elements enable precise optical path differentiation while maintaining the simplicity of a unified fluidic structure, thus preserving measurement precision without increasing device 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
The sensor achieves high sensitivity and noise cancellation capabilities with a simple structure, maintaining optimal performance across various conditions and reducing complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
optical interferometric sensor
Implementation Method 2
plasmonic or photonic waveguides
Implementation Method 3
phase shifters in both arms to balance optical losses
Implementation Method 4
optical combiner is placed downstream of the first and second optical path and is configured to recombine said optical signal
Implementation Method 5
plasmonic waveguides offer better sensing properties in smaller waveguide lengths
Data Source
AI summary
An optical interferometric sensor presents a first optical path defining a sensing arm and a second optical path defining a reference arm. The sensor includes with respect to the first and second optical path an optical splitter placed upstream and an optical combiner placed downstream. Along the sensing arm are placed a first waveguide comprising a substrate and a binding surface functionalized to bind to at least one marker of an analyte and a first optical element. Along the reference arm are placed a second waveguide including a substrate identical to the substrate of the first waveguide and a second optical element presenting the same optical response of the first optical element. The sensor further includes a single microfluidic channel running through the first and the second waveguide.