Granted Patent B2

US 12,625,137 · App. 18/126,014 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: Sarat Gundavarapu (Cambridge, MA); Ebrahim Al Johani (Somerville, MA); Diedrik Rene Vermeulen (Arlington, MA)

G01N33/56983B01L3/502715G01N33/54373B01L2200/04B01L2200/18B01L2300/0636B01L2300/0816G01N2333/165G01N2469/10

Abstract

Claims (62)

1 . An apparatus for photonic biosensors for multiplexed diagnostics, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a portable device configured for point-of-care diagnostics, wherein the portable device comprises:

a disposable microfluidic cartridge, the disposable microfluidic cartridge comprising a photonic sensor chip, the photonic sensor chip comprising:

one or more resonators, wherein the one or more resonators is substantially in contact with at least a fluid, wherein the at least a fluid comprises one or more analytes, wherein the one or more resonators comprises a plurality of ring resonators, wherein a gap exists between the plurality of ring resonators and an optical waveguide, wherein the plurality of ring resonators comprises:

a first ring resonator configured to detect a first analyte of the one or more analytes of the at least a fluid; and

a second ring resonator configured to detect a second analyte of the one or more analytes of the at least a fluid, wherein the second analyte is different from the first analyte; and

a microfluidic assembly situated atop the one or more resonators and located along a surface of the photonic sensor chip;

a reader device communicatively connected to the photonic sensor chip, wherein:

the reader device comprises at least a light source; and

the reader device is configured to:

provide an input optical signal using the at least a light source;

receive one or more sensor signals from the photonic sensor chip; and

determine one or more characteristics of the first analyte and the second analyte of the one or more analytes of the at least a fluid as a function of the one or more sensor signals provided by the photonic sensor chip including the first ring resonator and the second ring resonator; and

a connecting system, wherein the connecting system is configured to connect the photonic sensor chip and the reader device, and wherein the connecting system further comprises a multi-fiber push-on (MPO) connector.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the photonic sensor chip further comprises a splitter network, wherein the splitter network is configured to divide the input optical signal into two or more output optical signals.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more resonators is coupled with the optical waveguide, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to:

receive the two or more output optical signals from the splitter network; and

output an optical output to at least a photodetector.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the reader device is further configured to receive the one or more sensor signals from the optical waveguide using a vertical coupling of an optical fiber.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the connecting system further comprises a fiber array comprising the optical fiber, wherein the fiber array comprises:

a polarization-maintaining optical fiber (PM fiber), wherein the PM fiber is configured to transmit the input optical signal into the photonic sensor chip; and

a plurality of multi-mode fibers, wherein the plurality of multi-mode fibers is configured to transmit the optical output into the reader device.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connecting system comprises a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) system.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic assembly comprises:

a microfluidic pump, wherein the microfluidic pump is configured to route a flow of the at least a fluid; and

at least a reservoir, wherein the at least a reservoir is configured to contain the at least a fluid.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the microfluidic assembly is atop the one or more resonators of the photonic sensor chip.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connecting system further comprises a ribbon cable, and wherein the ribbon cable is configured to connect the MPO connector and the photonic sensor chip to the reader device.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connecting system further comprises:

a fiber array optically connected to the photonic sensor chip and connected to a female mechanical transfer module ferrule inside a first MPO connector;

the first MPO connector connecting the fiber array to an MPO adapter; and

a second MPO connector connecting the reader device to the MPO adapter, wherein the photonic sensor chip is configured to interrogate with the reader device through the connecting system.

11 . A method of use of photonic biosensors for multiplexed diagnostics, the method comprising:

obtaining a portable device comprising a disposable microfluidic cartridge, wherein the disposable microfluidic cartridge comprises at least a fluid, wherein the at least a fluid comprises one or more analytes and wherein the disposable microfluidic cartridge comprises:

a photonic sensor chip, the photonic sensor chip comprising:

one or more resonators substantially in contact with the at least a fluid, wherein the portable device is configured for point-of-care diagnostics, wherein the one or more resonators comprises a plurality of ring resonators, wherein a gap exists between the plurality of ring resonators and an optical waveguide; and

a microfluidic assembly situated atop the one or more resonators and located along a surface of the photonic sensor chip;

detecting, using a first ring resonator of the plurality of ring resonators, a first analyte of the one or more analytes of the at least a fluid;

detecting, using a second ring resonator of the plurality of ring resonators, a second analyte of the one or more analytes of the at least a fluid, wherein the second analyte is different from the first analyte;

providing, using at least a light source of a reader device of the portable device communicatively connected to the photonic sensor chip, an input optical signal to the photonic sensor chip;

providing a connecting system to connect the photonic sensor chip and the reader device, wherein the connecting system comprises a multi-fiber push-on (MPO) connector;

receiving, using the reader device, one or more sensor signals from the photonic sensor chip; and

determining, using the reader device, one or more characteristics of the first analyte and the second analyte of the one or more analytes of the at least a fluid as a function of the one or more sensor signals provided by the photonic sensor chip including the first ring resonator and the second ring resonator.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the photonic sensor chip further comprises a splitter network, wherein the splitter network is configured to divide the input optical signal into two or more output optical signals.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more resonators is coupled with the optical waveguide, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to:

receive the two or more output optical signals from the splitter network; and

output an optical output to at least a photodetector.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving, using the reader device, the one or more sensor signals from the optical waveguide using a vertical coupling of an optical fiber.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the connecting system further comprises a fiber array comprising the optical fiber, wherein the fiber array comprises:

a polarization-maintaining optical fiber (PM fiber), wherein the PM fiber is configured to transmit the input optical signal into the photonic sensor chip; and

a plurality of multi-mode fibers, wherein the plurality of multi-mode fibers is configured to transmit the optical output into the reader device.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the connecting system comprises a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) system.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the microfluidic assembly comprises:

a microfluidic pump, wherein the microfluidic pump is configured to route a flow of the at least a fluid; and

at least a reservoir, wherein the at least a reservoir is configured to contain the at least a fluid.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the microfluidic assembly is atop the one or more resonators of the photonic sensor chip.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the connecting system further comprises a ribbon cable, and wherein the ribbon cable is configured to connect the MPO connector and the photonic sensor chip to the reader device.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the connecting system further comprises:

a fiber array optically connected to the photonic sensor chip and connected to a female mechanical transfer module ferrule inside a first MPO connector;

the first MPO connector connecting the fiber array to an MPO adapter; and

a second MPO connector connecting the reader device to the MPO adapter, wherein the photonic sensor chip is configured to interrogate with the reader device through the connecting system.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (10)