BIOLOGICAL SENSORS

• Main Authors: JOHN EDWARD MAURICE MIDGLEY, JAMES CHRISTOPHER IRLAM, MARTIN FRANCIS FINLAN, STEPHEN ALEXANDER CHARLES
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.02.1989
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; TESTING

A sensor using the principle of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to monitor the progress of the reaction between a sample (not shown) and a sensitive layer 20 (for example an antibody layer). The layer 20 is applied to the rear surface of a metallic film 19 formed on the surface of an optically transmissive component 28 in the form of a hemicylindrical lens 11 and slide 16. Collimated light from a source (not shown) is applied via a lens 2 which focusses the incoming beam 1 to a focus at point 3 to form a fan-shaped spread of light incident at point 3. The light is internally reflected at point 3, and emerges from the component 28 to be applied to a detector array 18 which latter is electronically scanned. The angle of incidence of the light at the point 3 is such as to span that angle which gives rise to surface plasmon resonance, together with a range of angles thereabout so that the progress of the resonant condition, as the reaction between the sample and the sensitive layer proceeds, can be monitored.