The present invention is directed to an assembly for use in detecting an analyte in a sample based on thin-film spectral interference. The assembly comprises a waveguide, a monolithic substrate optically coupled to the waveguide, and a thin-film layer directly bonded to the sensing side of the monolithic substrate. The refractive index of the monolithic substrate is higher than the refractive index of the transparent material of the thin-film layer. A spectral interference between the light reflected into the waveguide from a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface varies as analyte molecules in a sample bind to the analyte binding molecules coated on the thin-film layer.

A system and method for the monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO2) for chemical contaminants. The carbon dioxide monitoring system includes a contaminant sensor that is configured to detect trace amounts of contaminants in CO2 that is pumped through it in real time. The contaminant sensor includes an interferometer configured to track the amount of contaminants.

An interferometric chip is provided that includes a substrate having one or more waveguide channels having a sensing layer thereon. Related methods are also provided.

The invention relates to a device comprising a first optical Mach-Zehnder interferometric sensor (MZI1) with a large FSR, wherein a plasmonic waveguide (107) thin-film or hybrid slot, is incorporated as transducer element planar integrated on Si3N4 photonic waveguides and a second optical interferometric Mach-Zehnder (MZI2), both comprising thermo-optic phase shifters (104, 106) for optimally biasing said MZI sensor (MZI1) and MZI as variable optical attenuator VOA. It further comprises an overall chip (112), being remarkable in that it comprises a set of Photonic waveguides (103) with a high index silicon nitride strip (303, 603), which is sandwiched between a low index oxide substrate (SiO2) and a low index oxide superstrate (LTO); Optical coupling structures (102, 109) at both ends of the sensor acting as the optical I/Os; an Optical splitter (102) and an optical combiner (109) for optical splitting at the first junction (102) of said first sensor (MZI1) and optical combining at the second junction (109) of said first MZI (MZI1); a variable optical attenuator (VOA) with said additional second MZI (MZI2), which is nested into said MZI1 (sensor)), deploying an optical splitter and an optical combiner for optical splitting at the first junction of said additional second MZI (MZI2), and optical combining at the second junction of said second MZI (MZI2); a set of Thermo-optic phase shifters (104, 106) to tune the phase of the optical signal in the reference arm (104, 106) of each said MZI (MZI1, MZI2-VOA); wherein Thermo-optic phase shifters are formed by depositing two metallic stripes parallel to each other on top of a section of the photonic waveguide and along the direction of propagation of light; and a plasmonic waveguide (107) in the upper branch (103) of said first MZI (MZI1), that confines light propagation through coupling to Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP) at the metal-analyte interface, and method associated thereto.

Methods and instruments for measuring a liquid sample (S1) in a well plate (50) by means of an optical chip 10. The chip (10) comprises an optical sensor (13) that is accessible to the liquid sample (S1) at a sampling area (SA) of the chip. A free-space optical coupler (11,12) is accessible to receive input light (L1) and/or emit output light (L2) via a coupling area (CA) of the chip (10). The sampling area (SA) of the chip 10 is submerged in the liquid sample (S1) while keeping the liquid sample (S1) away from the coupling area (CA) for interrogating the optical coupler (11,12) via an optical path (P) that does not pass through the liquid sample (S1).

A point of use analyte detection and quantification system for aquatic applications is provided. Related methods are also provided.

Introduced here are interferometric sensors that can be used to conduct biochemical tests. Each interferometric sensor includes an interference layer that is secured along the surface of a monolithic substrate. Analyte-binding molecules can be coated along the surface of the interference layer. Over the course of a biochemical test, a biolayer will form as analyte molecules in a sample bind to the analyte-binding molecules. The refractive index of the monolithic substrate is higher than the refractive index of the interference layer. Moreover, the interference layer may be designed such that its refractive index is substantially similar to the refractive index of the biolayer.

A sensor system includes a sensing element, an illumination optical system including a light source, the illumination optical system being configured to obliquely illuminate the sensing element, and a detector device configured to detect light reflected off the sensing element. The sensing element includes a chemical sensing layer configured to change in an optical characteristic in response to contact with a target substance, a reflection layer configured to reflect at least part of incident light, and an intermediate layer located between the reflection layer and the chemical sensing layer. The detector device is configured to separately detect p-polarized light and s-polarized light reflected off the sensing element.

The invention relates to an electronic device for analyzing an analyte (2) present in a fluid, comprising: a consumable and interchangeable sensor (10) comprising temporary receptors (14) capable of an interaction with the analyte present in the fluid, causing a change in local property; a sensor holder (50) in which the sensor is intended to be reversibly placed; and a transducer for the change in local property (130, 131; 230, 231), positioned on the sensor and/or on the sensor holder and able to convert the change in local property into an electronic signal expressing the change in local property. The sensor comprises a protection (17) for the temporary receptors. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing this device, as well as to the consumable and interchangeable sensor and to its method of manufacturing.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with a sample testing device are provided.