US 12,146,829 B2
Interferometric detection and quantification system and methods of use in agriculture
Ron Levin, Valdosta, GA (US); Clinton Beeland, Valdosta, GA (US); James LeFiles, Valdosta, GA (US); Joseph Egan, Atlanta, GA (US); Timothy Zollers, Atlanta, GA (US); and Jacob Thompson, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to SALVUS, LLC, Valdosta, GA (US)
Filed by Salvus, LLC, Valdosta, GA (US)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/222,092.
Application 18/222,092 is a continuation of application No. 17/448,067, filed on Sep. 20, 2021, granted, now 11,747,276.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/080,219, filed on Sep. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0358674 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. G01J 3/45 (2006.01); G01N 21/45 (2006.01); G01N 21/77 (2006.01); G01N 33/53 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/45 (2013.01) [G01J 3/45 (2013.01); G01N 21/77 (2013.01); G01N 33/5308 (2013.01); G01N 2021/7779 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of detecting and quantifying the level of analyte in an agricultural test sample, the method comprising the steps of:
collecting an agricultural test sample containing one or more analytes;
introducing the agricultural target sample to a portable interferometric system;
initiating waveguide interferometry on the agricultural test sample; and
processing any data resulting from the waveguide interferometry,
wherein the interferometric system comprises:
an optical assembly unit, the optical assembly unit comprising a light unit and a detector unit each adapted to fit within a portable housing unit; and
a cartridge system adapted to be inserted in the housing unit and removed after one or more uses, the cartridge system comprising:
an interferometric chip including one or more waveguide channels having a sensing layer thereon, the sensing layer adapted to selectively bind or otherwise be selectively disturbed by one or more analytes within the agricultural test sample; and
a flow cell wafer; and
a cartridge housing enclosing the interferometric chip and flow cell wafer; and
an alignment means for aligning the cartridge system within a cartridge recess in the optical assembly unit upon insertion thereby providing optical and microfluidic alignment of the interferometric chip and flow cell wafer.