Waveguide-Based Multi-Analyte Detection With Shared Optical Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-analyte detection systems are not portable and have high manufacturing and operating costs, limiting their use to large-scale testing in controlled environments, while lacking the compactness and speed required for field and office applications.
Innovation Solution
A compact detection system with multiple illuminators and a shared detection optics configuration, utilizing excitation waveguides and a combined-emission waveguide to guide light from multiple sample regions to detectors, reducing complexity and size, and enabling rapid multi-wavelength measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple illuminators and detection optics are used for multi-analyte detection, then detection capability and sensitivity are improved, but system size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple emission waveguides into a single shared collection waveguide that delivers light from multiple detection locations to a common detection optics assembly. This merging approach maintains the ability to detect multiple analytes while reducing the number of separate detection paths and components needed, thereby decreasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared collection waveguide and detection optics serve multiple functions by collecting and analyzing emission light from multiple different detection locations simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows a single detection system to handle multiple analytes without requiring separate dedicated detection paths for each, reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated illuminators are used for each detection location, then illumination quality and detection sensitivity are improved, but system size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple emission waveguides from different detection locations are merged into a single shared collection waveguide. This allows the system to maintain dedicated illumination for each location while combining the collection paths, thereby reducing system size without sacrificing detection sensitivity.
3Productivity
If rapid measurements at multiple wavelengths and locations are performed, then productivity and measurement speed are improved, but system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shared collection waveguide enables continuous collection of emission light from multiple detection locations simultaneously, allowing rapid sequential or parallel measurements without requiring the system to reconfigure between locations. This continuous action maintains high measurement speed while simplifying the system architecture.
4Device complexity
If beam splitters are used to direct light from multiple locations, then system compactness is improved, but signal attenuation and loss of detection sensitivity occur
Solution Approach 1:
The emission waveguides act as intermediary elements that directly transmit emission light from each detection location to the shared collection waveguide without using beam splitters. This eliminates the signal attenuation problems associated with beam splitters while maintaining system compactness through the waveguide integration.
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 achieves improved illumination properties, decreased complexity, increased robustness, and portability, with rapid measurement capabilities and lower costs due to the absence of moving parts, facilitating use in field and office settings.
Implementation Method 1
An excitation waveguide is coupled to each of the illuminators. Each of the excitation waveguides is configured to guide the excitation light from the coupled illuminator to a corresponding location
Implementation Method 2
A combined-emission waveguide is configured to guide light emitted from the illuminated locations to detection optics
Implementation Method 3
The detection optics include one or more lenses. The detection optics are configured to receive at least a portion of the emitted light provided from the combined-emission waveguide and direct at least a first portion of the received emitted light along a first detection path based on a first wavelength
Implementation Method 4
Upon illumination, light may be emitted from fluorescent species at the detection location (e.g., from fluorescent tags associated with an analyte of interest)
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes two or more illuminators, each illuminator configured to provide excitation light. An excitation waveguide is coupled to each of the illuminators. Each of the excitation waveguides is configured to guide the excitation light from the coupled illuminator to a corresponding location, thereby illuminating at least a portion of the location with the excitation light. A combined-emission waveguide is configured to guide light emitted from the illuminated locations to detection optics. The detection optics include one or more lenses. The detection optics are configured to receive at least a portion of the emitted light provided from the combined-emission waveguide and direct at least a first portion of the received emitted light along a first detection path based on a first wavelength of the received emitted light.