Pacific Biosciences of California. has been granted a patent for devices that utilize waveguides for optical detection of single-molecule analytes. The method involves real-time fluorescence assays, where evanescent fields illuminate immobilized proteins, enabling precise detection of molecular interactions within nanometer-scale wells. GlobalData’s report on Pacific Biosciences of California gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Pacific Biosciences of California, Optoelectronic biosensors was a key innovation area identified from patents. Pacific Biosciences of California's grant share as of June 2024 was 55%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Real-time detection of individual molecules using waveguides
The granted patent US12043868B2 outlines a method for detecting the binding of individual molecules using a real-time fluorescence-based assay. The method involves a waveguide substrate that contains multiple optical waveguides and an analyte region positioned close to the core of one of these waveguides. This analyte region includes a single immobilized protein and is accessed through a nanometer-scale aperture. The process begins by exposing the first surface of the substrate to a fluorescent material that binds to the protein, which then emits a signal when illuminated by an evanescent field generated by optical energy directed through the waveguide core. The method allows for real-time detection of signals resulting from interactions between the analyte and the immobilized protein.
Further claims detail enhancements to the method, such as the use of optical gratings to normalize energy intensity across the waveguides and the incorporation of diffractive optical elements to split optical beams. The analyte region can be configured within nanoholes or zero-mode waveguides, and detection can occur via a detector positioned on the opposite side of the substrate. The patent also describes the potential for multiple analyte regions, each containing different proteins that can interact with various binding partners, including specific antibody-antigen interactions. Additional features include the use of reflective or absorptive layers, potentially made of metals like aluminum, and the implementation of dielectric stacks to optimize the detection process by reflecting laser illumination away from the detector.
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