Optical scanning system

Abstract

An optical scanning system including a switchable light source, a detector, a substrate and a plurality of optical sensing sites, as well as methods and kits for use thereof are provided. The substrate is coupled to and in optical communication with the switchable light source and the detector. Additionally, the substrate includes a plurality of substantially parallel excitation waveguides, and a plurality of substantially parallel collection waveguides, the excitation waveguides and collection waveguides crossing to form a two-dimensional array of intersection regions where an excitation waveguide and a collection waveguide cross and provide optical communication with the intersection region at each crossing. The plurality of optical sensing sites are each in optical communication with an intersection region.

1 . A chip for detecting a biologically active analyte, comprising a substrate wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of substantially parallel excitation waveguides, and a plurality of substantially parallel collection waveguides, the excitation waveguides and collection waveguides crossing to form a two-dimensional array of intersection regions where an excitation waveguide and a collection waveguide cross and provide optical communication with the intersection region at each crossing; and
 a plurality of optical sensing sites each in optical communication with an intersection region.   
     
     
         2 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the optical sensing sites comprise a sensor and a sample comprising a biologically active analyte, and wherein a measurable change in a first light wave results when the sensor discriminates or interacts with the biologically active analyte. 
     
     
         3 . The chip of  claim 1  wherein a first light wave in an excitation waveguide is transduced by a sensor of an optical sensing site in optical communication with the excitation wave guide resulting in a second light wave in a collection waveguide. 
     
     
         4 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is adapted to support an immunoassay. 
     
     
         5 . The chip of  claim 4 , wherein the immunoassay supported is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 
     
     
         6 . The chip of  claim 4 , wherein the immunoassay supported is a fluorescent immunoassay. 
     
     
         7 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescence well, an absorption cell, an interferometric sensor, a diffractive sensor and surface plasmon resonance sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active analyte is selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid, a protein, an antigen, an antibody, a lipid, a polysaccharide, a glycoprotein, a cell, a tissue, a microorganism, a gas, a chemical agent and a pollutant. 
     
     
         9 . The chip of  claim 8 , wherein the nucleic acid is produced via an amplification reaction. 
     
     
         10 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the crossing of the excitation waveguides and collection waveguides is substantially perpendicular. 
     
     
         11 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the excitation waveguides are single-mode and the collection waveguides are multi-mode. 
     
     
         12 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the excitation waveguides and the collection waveguides support single-mode in a first vertical dimension and multi-mode in a second lateral dimension. 
     
     
         13 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the excitation waveguides and the collection waveguides are multi-mode. 
     
     
         14 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the excitation waveguides and the collection waveguides are single-mode. 
     
     
         15 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the excitation waveguide comprises a plurality of branches for drawing a fraction of the light from a first light wave traveling in the excitation waveguide. 
     
     
         16 . The chip of  claim 15 , wherein the excitation waveguide branches are in optical communication with the excitation waveguide. 
     
     
         17 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the collection waveguide comprises a plurality of funnels for collecting light from the sensing sites and coupling it to the collection waveguide. 
     
     
         18 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the optical sensing sites comprise wells. 
     
     
         19 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the optical sensing sites comprise the surface of the substrate above the intersection region of the excitation waveguides and the collection waveguides. 
     
     
         20 . The chip of  claim 1 , wherein the optical sensing sites comprise biochemical interaction sites.