US4882288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Assay technique and equipment
Assignee: Applied Research Systems ARS Holding NV
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Filing: 1985-09-16
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Granted: 1989-11-21
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Expires: 2005-09-16
Abstract
Abstract An assay technique for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a chemical, biochemical or biological species in a sample comprising (a) coating at least a predetermined part of a pre-formed surface with a thin film of a material capable of binding the species to be assayed, said thin film incorporating a fluorescent compound whose fluorescent properties show a dependence upon it's molecular environment and said surface being optically active with respect to radiation over a predetermined band of wavelengths (b) contacting the coated surface with the sample and (c) measuring the change in fluorescent properties of said fluorescent compound before and after binding of said species. The preformed surface is preferably a diffraction grating.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. North
- 👤 Satham Petty-Saphon
- 👤 Craig G. Sawyers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/648; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/4788; G01N21/6428; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/543; G01N33/54366; G01N33/54373; G01N33/544; G01N33/545; G01N33/551; G01N33/553; G01N2021/6432; G01N21/6408; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/805; Y10S436/807; Y10S436/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An article for use in an assay technique for qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a chemical, biochemical or biological species in a sample, which article comprises a substrate having a surface with a pre-formed relief profile which is optically active with respect to radiation at least over a predetermined band of wavelengths, and at least a predetermined part of which surface is coated with a thin film of a material capable of binding a predetermined chemical or biochemical or biological species, said thin film of material incorporating molecules of a fluorescent compound whose fluorescent properties show an observable dependence upon its molecular environment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An article for use in an assay technique for qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a chemical, biochemical or biological species in a sample, which article comprises a substrate having a surface with a pre-formed relief profile which is optically active with respect to radiation at least over a predetermined band of wavelengths, and at least a predetermined part of which surface is coated with a thin film of a material capable of binding a predetermined chemical or biochemical or biological species, said thin film of material incorporating molecules of a fluorescent compound whose fluorescent properties show an observable dependence upon its molecular environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plastic material is a material which is curable by ultra-violet light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plastic material is an acrylic or a polyester material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plastic material is polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a glass coated with a synthetic polymeric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate is lamellar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article as claimed in claim 7, wherein the substrate is in strip-form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An article as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pre-formed surface relief profile is in the form of one or more gratings, with two or more gratings disposed mutually at an angle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 9, wherein the or each grating is of square-wave, sinusoidal or saw-tooth profile.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pre-formed surface relief profile comprises a regular array of protuberances.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surface is constituted by a metal or a metal layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article as claimed in claim 12, wherein the metal is silver or aluminium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article as claimed in claim 12, wherein the metal is copper or gold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article as claimed in claim 13, wherein the metal is coated with a layer of an oxide of silicon or aluminium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article as claimed claim 1, wherein said thin film of material comprises specific antigens or antibodies, tagged with a fluorescent compound.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article as claimed in claim 16, wherein said antibodies are monoclonal antibodies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article as claimed in claim 16, wherein said fluorescent compound is a dye of the coumarin, rhodamine or fluorescein or is the ion Eu +++ .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the molecular environment of said fluorescent compound is such that fluorescence is activated before said species is bound to the article and quenched or partially quenched after said species is bound to the article, or vice versa.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
135 words
An assay technique for qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a chemical, biochemical or biological species in a sample which comprises: (a) coating at least a predetermined part of a surface having a pre-formed relief profile which is optically active with respect to radiation at least over a predetermined band of wavelengths, with a thin film of a material capable of binding the species to be assayed, said thin film of material incorporating molecules of a fluorescent compound whose fluorescent properties show an observable dependence upon its molecular environment; (b) contacting the coated surface with the sample; and (c) measuring the change in fluorescent properties of said fluorescent compound after and before binding of the species undergoing assay whereby said change in fluorescent properties provides a qualitative and/or quantitative detection of the species to be assayed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
135 words
An assay technique for qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a chemical, biochemical or biological species in a sample which comprises: (a) coating at least a predetermined part of a surface having a pre-formed relief profile which is optically active with respect to radiation at least over a predetermined band of wavelengths, with a thin film of a material capable of binding the species to be assayed, said thin film of material incorporating molecules of a fluorescent compound whose fluorescent properties show an observable dependence upon its molecular environment; (b) contacting the coated surface with the sample; and (c) measuring the change in fluorescent properties of said fluorescent compound after and before binding of the species undergoing assay whereby said change in fluorescent properties provides a qualitative and/or quantitative detection of the species to be assayed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 20, in which incident radiation is directed at the surface of said article at a predetermined angle of incidence and at a wavelength which is (a) such as to excite the dye molecule into the fluorescent state, and (b) such as to be resonant with the grating surface structure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein observation of the fluorescent emission from the dye molecules is carrried out at a predetermined angle of emission which is that at which maximum fluorescence occurs in the absence of the species undergoing assay.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein observation of the fluorescent emission from the dye molecules is carried out at a predetermined angle of emission which is that at which maximum fluorescence occurs in the presence of the species undergoing assay.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the fluorescent compound is incorporated into the species to be assayed, instead of into said thin film.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
111 words
In an assay technique for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a chemical, biochemical, or biological species in a sample comprising measuring the change in optical properties of a substrate having a surface with a pre-formed relief profile, wherein said change in optical properties occurs as a result of the binding of said species to a thin film of material capable of binding said species said thin film being coated over at least a pre-determined part of said surface, the improvement wherein a fluorescent compound is present at said surface and the fluorescent properties are the optical properties which are measured to provide the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of said species.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
111 words
In an assay technique for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a chemical, biochemical, or biological species in a sample comprising measuring the change in optical properties of a substrate having a surface with a pre-formed relief profile, wherein said change in optical properties occurs as a result of the binding of said species to a thin film of material capable of binding said species said thin film being coated over at least a pre-determined part of said surface, the improvement wherein a fluorescent compound is present at said surface and the fluorescent properties are the optical properties which are measured to provide the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of said species.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4537861A
Cited
US4647544A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-20 | 1993-05-22 | 1993-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-20 | 1997-05-22 | 1997-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-20 | 2001-05-22 | 2001-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |