Sample holder for surface plasmon resonance and plasmon-waveguide resonance apparatus
The present invention is directed to a removable sample holder for analytical instruments or apparatuses that utilizes a prism. For example, sample devices of the invention can be used in a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, a plasmon-waveguided resonance (PWR) spectroscopic device, as well as other spectroscopy devices known to one skilled in the art that uses a prism. The present invention is also directed to methods for using the same. The sample holder device ( 10 ) includes a sample injection port ( 100 ), a prism retainer ( 200 ) and a sample compartment base ( 300 ). Unlike conventional SPR and PWR instruments that have a built-in sample chamber, the sample holder device ( 10 ) of the present invention provides a separate sample chamber that can be readily removed and replaced. Furthermore, by allowing ready replacement of the prism the sample holder device ( 10 ) of the invention allows user to fabricate custom sensor chips.
1 . A sample holder device ( 10 ) comprising a sample injection port ( 100 ) and a sample compartment base, wherein the sample injection port is removably connected to a sample compartment base ( 300 ), wherein
said sample injection port ( 100 ) comprises:
a top portion ( 104 ) comprising a sample injection orifice ( 112 ) for introducing a fluid sample to said sample holder device ( 10 );
a bottom portion ( 108 ); and
a body portion ( 116 ) extending from said top portion ( 104 ) to said bottom portion ( 108 );
a channel ( 120 ) within said body portion ( 116 ) extending from said sample injection orifice ( 112 ) to said bottom portion ( 108 );
and wherein
said sample compartment base ( 300 ) comprises:
a sample inlet port ( 304 ) connected to a sample chamber ( 308 ), wherein said sample inlet port ( 304 ) is operatively connected to said sample injection orifice ( 112 ) ( 104 ) of said sample injection port ( 100 ) to allow introduction of a sample into said sample chamber ( 308 );
a solution outlet ( 316 A) for introducing a solution to said sample chamber ( 308 );
a solution inlet ( 316 B) for removing a solution from said sample chamber ( 308 ); and
a prism retainer compartment ( 320 ), wherein said prism retainer compartment ( 320 ) comprises a protuberance ( 324 ) that is adapted to hold a prism in place during operation.
2 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 1 further comprising a prism retainer ( 200 ), wherein said prism retainer ( 200 ) comprises:
a top portion ( 204 ); and
a bottom portion ( 208 ) comprising a slotted opening ( 212 ) that is adapted to allow insertion of a prism and holding a prism in place during operation.
3 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 2 , wherein said prism retainer further comprises a fluid influx/efflux notch or a slotted opening ( 224 ) adapted to allow access to said solution outlet ( 316 A) and said solution inlet ( 316 B).
4 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 2 , wherein said prism retainer ( 200 ) further comprises a prism retainer guide channel ( 332 ) and said prism retainer ( 200 ) further comprises a prism retainer guide ( 220 ), wherein said prism retainer guide ( 220 ) is configured to insert into or join with the prism retainer guide channel ( 332 ) of said sample compartment base ( 300 ).
5 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 2 , wherein said prism retainer ( 200 ) further comprises a sample holder guide groove ( 216 ) that is adapted to mate with a sample place holder of an SPR apparatus.
6 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein said top portion ( 104 ) of said sample injection port ( 100 ) further comprises an annular cavity ( 124 ) adapted to assist in introducing a test sample into said sample compartment base ( 300 ).
7 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein said sample injection port ( 100 ) further comprises a joining element ( 102 ), and wherein said sample compartment base ( 300 ) further comprises a corresponding joining element ( 302 ) that is adapted to join with said joining element ( 102 ) of the sample injection port ( 100 ).
8 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein said sample injection port ( 100 ) further comprise a seating element ( 106 ) that is adapted to be in contact with the sample compartment base ( 300 ) when said sample injection port ( 100 ) is joined with the sample compartment base ( 300 ).
9 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 8 , wherein said seating element ( 106 ) comprises a cavity ( 122 ).
10 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 9 , wherein said cavity ( 122 ) comprises a removably inserted seal ( 504 ).
11 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein said sample compartment base ( 300 ) further comprises a chamber window ( 328 ) and a cavity ( 336 ) that surrounds said chamber window ( 328 ).
12 . The sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 11 further comprising a removably inserted seal ( 508 ) within said annular cavity ( 336 ).
13 . A sample holder device ( 10 ) for plasmon-waveguided resonance (PWR) or surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, said device comprising a sample injection port ( 100 ), a prism retainer ( 200 ) and a sample compartment base ( 300 ),
wherein said sample injection port is removably connected to said sample compartment base and said sample injection port comprises:
a top portion ( 104 ) comprising a sample injection orifice ( 112 ) for introducing a fluid sample to said sample holder device ( 10 );
a bottom portion ( 108 ); and
a body portion ( 116 ) extending from said top portion ( 104 ) to said bottom portion ( 108 ); and
a channel ( 120 ) within said body portion ( 116 ) extending from said sample injection orifice ( 112 ) to said bottom portion ( 108 ),
and wherein said prism retainer ( 200 ) is removably attached to said sample injection port ( 100 ) and to said sample compartment base ( 300 ), wherein said prism retainer ( 200 ) comprises:
a top portion ( 204 ); and
a bottom portion ( 208 ) comprising a slotted opening ( 212 ) that is adapted to allow insertion of a prism and holding a prism in place during operation,
and wherein
said sample compartment base ( 300 ) comprises:
a sample inlet port ( 304 ) connected to a sample chamber ( 308 ), wherein said sample inlet port ( 304 ) is operatively connected to said sample injection orifice ( 112 ) of said sample injection port ( 100 ) to allow introduction of a sample into said sample chamber ( 308 );
a solution outlet ( 316 A) for introducing a solution to said sample chamber ( 308 );
a solution inlet ( 316 B) for removing a solution from said sample chamber ( 308 ); and
a prism retainer compartment ( 320 ), wherein said prism retainer compartment ( 320 ) comprises a protuberance ( 324 ) that is adapted to hold a prism in place during operation.
14 . A method for analyzing a test sample using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument, said method comprising:
placing a prism ( 400 ) into a prism retainer ( 200 ) of a sample holder device ( 10 ) of claim 13 , wherein said prism ( 400 ) is coated with a thin-film of metal, and wherein said thin-film of metal comprises a binding molecule;
placing said sample holder device ( 10 ) on to the SPR instrument;
adding a test sample to the sample chamber ( 308 ) of said sample compartment base ( 300 ) through said sample injection orifice ( 112 ) of said sample injection port ( 100 ); and
analyzing the test sample using the SPR instrument.