Ares-serono N.v.

Bicc Public Limited Company

Comtech Research

Alan M Smith

Robert M Pettigrew

John H Fisher

Satham Petty-Saphon

Derek G Layton

Peter John Taylor

John D Bradbrook

An assay technique for qualitative and quantitative detection of a chemical, biochemical or biological detection of a chemical, biochemical or biological species in sample. The technique comprises: (a) coating at least a predetermined part of a pre-formed surface on a substrate with a thin film of a material capable of binding the species to be assayed, the pre-formed surface being optically active with respect to radiation at least over a predetermined band of wavelengths; (b) contacting the coated surface with sample; and (c) observing the optical properties of said pre-formed surface in order to determine a qualitative and quantitative change in optical properties as a result of the binding of the species onto said thin film of material. The optical properties as a result of the pre-formed surface may be observed before and after step (b) in order to determine any change in optical properties, or they may be monitored during step (b). The pre-formed surface is preferably a grating. An article for use in the above technique is also disclosed, and comprises a substrate carrying said pre-formed surface which in turn is coated with the receptive material for the species to be assayed.

Optical assay technique

An assay technique for qualitative and quantitative detection of a chemcial, biochemical or biological detection of a chemical, biochemical or biological species in sample. The technique comprises (a) coating at least a predetermined part of a pre-formed surface on a substrate with a thin film of a material capable of binding the species to be assayed, the pre-formed surface being optically active with respect to radiation at least over a predetermined band of wavelengths; (b) contacting the coated surface with sample; and (c) observing the optical properties of said pre-formed surface in order to determine a qualitative and quantitative change in optical properties as a result of the binding of the species onto said thin film of material. The optical properties of the pre-formed surface may be observed before and after step (b) in order to determine any change in optical properties, or they may be monitored during step (b). The pre-formed surface is preferably a grating. An article for use in the above technique is also disclosed, and comprises a substrate carrying said pre-formed surface which in turn is coated with the respective material for the species to be assayed.

In a simple optical fibre duplex coupler of high light-coupling efficiency, two elongate optical guides are so arranged that, over a part of their lengths extending from one end of the coupler, one optical guide surrounds and is coaxial with the other optical guide with their neighboring end faces lying in a substantially common plane. At a position intermediate the ends of the coupler, the optical guides separate into distinct optical channels. The optical guides are surrounded by and enclosed in a body 1 of a transparent plastics material having a refractive index less than that of the outer optical guide. Preferably, the inner optical guide is a composite optical fibre and the outer optical guide is an elongate body of moulded transparent plastics material having a refractive index greater than that of the material of the cladding of the composite optical fibre.

Optical fiber duplex coupler

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Royston, United Kingdom

Alan M Smith