Device and method for investigating analytes in liquid suspension or solution

Abstract

An optical detection device is provided for analyzing analytes in a liquid suspension or solution that can detect and process a large number of wavelengths of incident and fluorescent light simultaneously, which is small in size and can be easily adapted to different investigation requirements. The optical detection device may include a light supplying device, an analyte handling device, a light directing device, and a detector integrated on planar substrate devices, respectively. A plurality of optical waveguides are integrated in the substrate devices to direct light emitted by the light supplying device through the different sections of the optical detector to the detector. The analyte handling device may include an analyte channel for the liquid flow of the analyte suspension or solution and an analyte sorting device comprising several sorting channels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for analysing analytes in a liquid suspension or solution, comprising:
 an analyte handling unit integrated on a first planar substrate, the analyte handling unit including:
 an analyte channel configured to carry analytes in a liquid suspension or solution through an interrogation region of the analyte channel, 
 an input optical waveguide that is configured to conduct interrogation light into the interrogation region of the analyte channel, 
 at least one output optical waveguide configured to collect at least one type of scattered light from the interrogation region of the analyte channel, and 
 an analyte sorting unit configured to sort analytes present in the liquid suspension or solution passing through the analyte channel, the analyte handling unit comprising:
 a first y-junction having first and second legs which is integrated on the first planar substrate at a location downstream from the interrogation region such that a first portion of the liquid suspension or solution passing through the analyte channel passes down the first leg of the first y-junction and such that a second portion of the liquid suspension passing through the analyte channel passes down the second leg of the first y-junction; and 
 first and second electrodes that are located on the first planar substrate on first and second opposite sides, respectively, of the y-junction. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the analyte sorting unit further comprises:
 a second y-junction having first and second legs which is integrated on the first planar substrate on the first leg of the first y-junction such that a first portion of the liquid suspension or solution passing through first leg of the first y-junction passes down the first leg of the second y-junction and such that a second portion of the liquid suspension passing through the first leg of the first y-junction passes down the second leg of the second y-junction; and   third and fourth electrodes that are located on the first planar substrate on first and second opposite sides, respectively, of the second y-junction.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the analyte sorting unit further comprises:
 a third y-junction having first and second legs which is integrated on the first planar substrate on the second leg of the first y-junction such that a first portion of the liquid suspension or solution passing through second leg of the first y-junction passes down the first leg of the third y-junction and such that a second portion of the liquid suspension passing through the second leg of the first y-junction passes down the second leg of the third y-junction; and   fifth and sixth electrodes that are located on the first planar substrate on first and second opposite sides, respectively, of the second y-junction.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one output optical waveguide comprises:
 a first output optical waveguide configured to collect a first type of scattered light from the interrogation region of the analyte channel, and   a second output optical waveguide configured to collect a second type of scattered light from the interrogation region of the analyte channel.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the input optical waveguide and the first output optical waveguide are positioned on opposite sides of the interrogation region and a longitudinal axis of the input optical waveguide is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the first output optical waveguide such that the first output optical waveguide receives forwarded scattered light from the interrogation region. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the second output optical waveguide is oriented such that the second output optical waveguide receives side scattered light from the interrogation region. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising a light analyzing unit that includes:
 a first dispersive element that receives light from the first output optical waveguide and that delivers a plurality of different wavelength bands of the light received from the first output optical waveguide into a corresponding first plurality of interrogation waveguides, and   a second dispersive element that receives light from the second output optical waveguide and that delivers a plurality of different wavelength bands of the light received from the second output optical waveguide into a corresponding second plurality of interrogation waveguides.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the light analyzing unit further comprises:
 a first plurality of optical detectors, each of the first plurality of optical detectors receiving light from one of the first plurality of interrogation waveguides and outputting a signal based on the received light; and   a second plurality of optical detectors, each of the second plurality of optical detectors receiving light from one of the second plurality of interrogation waveguides and outputting a signal based on the received light.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second dispersive elements comprise arrayed waveguide gratings. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second dispersive elements comprise transmission gratings. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second dispersive elements comprise reflection gratings. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the light analyzing unit is integrated into the first planer substrate that includes the analyte handling unit. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the light analyzing unit is integrated into a second planar substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the first output optical waveguide adjacent the interrogation region is oriented at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second output optical waveguide adjacent the interrogation region. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the angle is between 45° and 135°. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the input optical waveguide adjacent the interrogation region is oriented at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the analyte channel. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the angle is between 30° and 60°.