A device for use in the detection of binding affinities comprises a substrate, a planar waveguide arranged thereon and having an outer surface. The device further comprises a grating for coupling coherent light of a predetermined wavelength into the planar waveguide such that the coherent light coupled into the planar waveguide propagates through the planar waveguide in a predetermined propagation direction. An evanescent field of the coherent light propagates along the outer surface of the planar waveguide. The outer surface of the planar waveguide has receptor molecules arranged thereon capable of binding target samples to the receptor molecules such that light of the evanescent field is diffracted by the target samples bound to the receptor molecules. The receptor molecules are arranged along a plurality of straight parallel lines such that a portion of the light of the evanescent field is diffracted by the target samples bound to the receptor molecules.

A biosensing system includes a biosensor, a light source, first and second photodetectors, and a calculator. The light source is disposed to irradiate the biosensor, so as to generate two or more of a coupled light beam, a reflected light beam, a transmitted light beam and a diffracted light beam. The first photodetector is disposed to measure an intensity of one of the generated light beams that is indicative of an effect of an analyte on light to obtain a first intensity value. The second photodetector is disposed to measure an intensity of another one of the generated light beams that is indicative of an effect of the analyte on light to obtain a second intensity value. The calculator performs compensation calculation based at least on the first and second intensity values.

A linear actuation screw having a first end portion, a second end portion on an opposite side as the first end portion, and a sloping intermediate portion between the first end portion and second end portion. The first end portion has a threaded outer wall having a generally constant first diameter over at least a portion of its length and is configured to advance a nut or a sliding member along at least a portion of the first end portion. The second end portion has a threaded outer wall having a generally constant second diameter that is different from the first diameter and is configured to receive a motor fastening nut around it in order to secure the linear actuation screw to a motor. The sloping intermediate portion includes an outer wall that is generally smooth and continuous over at least a majority of the area of the outer wall.

The application relates to methods of analyzing luminescent species. A substrate is provided that has a plurality of zero mode waveguides having apertures that extend through an upper non-reflective layer that is disposed on a lower transparent layer of a substrate. The apertures have non-reflective oxide layers on the reflective side walls of the apertures, the side walls having a thickness of greater than 10 nm, and the oxide layer is formed by oxidizing the non-reflective layer. The volume within the oxide layer defines a solution volume, and the volume within the reflective walls defines a ZMW volume. Having such non-reflective layers on the walls of the ZMW usefully decouples the solution volume from the ZMW volume.

The present invention provides a dual grating sensor having at least two double-sided grating structures for detecting the properties of an analyte. The dual grating sensor includes a substrate, a waveguide layer which is formed on the substrate and has at least two double-sided grating structures, and an upper cover configured on the waveguide layer, wherein a channel is formed between the upper cover and the waveguide layer for the analyte to flow therethrough. A light couples into the waveguide layer via the first double-sided grating structure, transmits in the waveguide layer, and couples out of the waveguide layer via the second double-sided grating structure, such that the properties of the analyte can be detected according to the change of the light intensities of the emergent light. The sensitivity of the dual grating sensor has an additive effect when the light passes through the first double-sided grating structure and the second double-sided grating structure.

A method for observing a fluorescent sample, the sample comprising a fluorescent agent that emits fluorescence light, in a fluorescence spectral band, when it is illuminated by excitation light, in an excitation spectral band, the method comprising the following steps: a) placing the sample on a holder; b) illuminating the sample, with an excitation light source, in the excitation spectral band, the light emitted by the light source propagating along a propagation axis; c) detecting fluorescence light, in the fluorescence spectral band, with an image sensor;
the method being such that the holder comprises a thin layer formed from a first material, of a first refractive index, the thin layer lying in a holder plane perpendicular to the propagation axis, the thin layer comprising a first photonic crystal and second photonic crystals configured to confine the excitation light and the fluorescence light in the thin layer.

An active-source-pixel, integrated device capable of performing biomolecule detection and/or analysis, such as single-molecule nucleic acid sequencing, is described. An active pixel of the integrated device includes a sample well into which a sample to be analyzed may diffuse, an excitation source for providing excitation energy to the sample well, and a sensor configured to detect emission from the sample. The sensor may comprise two or more segments that produce a set of signals that are analyzed to differentiate between and identify tags that are attached to, or associated with, the sample. Tag differentiation may be spectral and/or temporal based. Identification of the tags may be used to detect, analyze, and/or sequence the biomolecule.

Under one aspect, a device is provided for use in luminescent imaging. The device can include a photonic superlattice including a first material, the first material having a first refractive index. The first material can include first and second major surfaces and first and second pluralities of features defined through at least one of the first and second major surfaces, the features of the first plurality differing in at least one characteristic from the features of the second plurality. The photonic superlattice can support propagation of a first wavelength and a second wavelength approximately at a first angle out of the photonic superlattice, the first and second wavelengths being separated from one another by a first non-propagating wavelength that does not selectively propagate at the first angle out of the photonic superlattice.

A biosensing system includes a biosensor, a light source, first and second photodetectors, and a calculator. The light source is disposed to irradiate the biosensor, so as to generate two or more of a coupled light beam, a reflected light beam, a transmitted light beam and a diffracted light beam. The first photodetector is disposed to measure an intensity of one of the generated light beams that is indicative of an effect of an analyte on light to obtain a first intensity value. The second photodetector is disposed to measure an intensity of another one of the generated light beams that is indicative of an effect of the analyte on light to obtain a second intensity value. The calculator performs compensation calculation based at least on the first and second intensity values.

A linear actuation screw having a first end portion, a second end portion on an opposite side as the first end portion, and a sloping intermediate portion between the first end portion and second end portion. The first end portion has a threaded outer wall having a generally constant first diameter over at least a portion of its length and is configured to advance a nut or a sliding member along at least a portion of the first end portion. The second end portion has a threaded outer wall having a generally constant second diameter that is different from the first diameter and is configured to receive a motor fastening nut around it in order to secure the linear actuation screw to a motor. The sloping intermediate portion includes an outer wall that is generally smooth and continuous over at least a majority of the area of the outer wall.