Optical biodiscs with reflective layers

Abstract

An optical biodisc has a substrate, a first reflective layer over the substrate, an opening in the first reflective layer for receiving an investigational feature, and a second reflective layer over the opening for reflecting light transmitted through the substrate.

1 . A biodisc, comprising: 
 a light transmissive substrate;    a first reflective layer over the substrate having at least one opening for receiving an investigational feature;    a second reflective layer configured at least over said opening; and    a cap over the second reflective layer.    
     
     
         2 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is substantially circular with a diameter and thickness substantially similar to those of a compact disc.  
     
     
         3 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate and cap each include polycarbonate.  
     
     
         4 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has one or more grooves formed therein.  
     
     
         5 . The biodisc of  claim 4 , wherein the grooves are used to encode data that can be read independently of the investigational feature.  
     
     
         6 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , wherein the first reflective layer has encoded information being readable by an optical disc drive system.  
     
     
         7 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer between the substrate and the cap, the adhesive layer having at least one cut-out portion to define a fluidic circuit, the fluidic circuit including the viewing window.  
     
     
         8 . The biodisc of  claim 7 , wherein the fluidic circuit is substantially U-shaped.  
     
     
         9 . The biodisc of  claim 7 , wherein the fluidic circuit includes at least three chambers connected by passages there between.  
     
     
         10 . The biodisc of  claim 7 , wherein the cap has a port for providing access to the fluidics circuit.  
     
     
         11 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , wherein a dye layer is between the substrate and the first reflective layer, the dye layer allowing information to be written to the disc.  
     
     
         12 . The biodisc of  claim 11 , said substrate comprising grooves formed therein and filled with dye.  
     
     
         13 . The biodisc of  claim 11 , said substrate comprising grooves formed therein and filled with said first reflective layer.  
     
     
         14 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , wherein the first reflective layer is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and gold.  
     
     
         15 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has grooves and the first reflective layer includes a metal layer extending into the grooves  
     
     
         16 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the viewing window is coplanar with the top of the substrate.  
     
     
         17 . The biodisc of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the viewing window extends into the substrate.  
     
     
         18 . A biodisc comprising 
 a substrate; 
 a first reflective layer comprising a reflective material formed on said substrate, said first reflective layer comprising a first portion where there is no reflective material;  
 a cap disposed near said substrate, said cap and said substrate substantially in parallel along a first direction;  
 a second reflective layer formed on a second portion of said cap; and  
   wherein said first portion and second portion are aligned along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction such that the second portion of the cap covers the first portion.    
     
     
         19 . The biodisc of  claim 18 , wherein said biodisc further comprises a capture layer formed over said first portion, said capture layer comprising a chamber between said first portion and said second portion configured to receive a biological material for capturing a reporter introduced into said chamber.  
     
     
         20 . The biodisc of  claim 18 , where further said biodisc further comprises a channel layer disposed between said substrate and said cap, said channel layer comprising a patterned surface configured to define one or more fluidic channels.  
     
     
         21 . The biodisc of  claim 18 , wherein said biodisc further comprises a reservoir positioned over a portion of said one or more fluidic channels.  
     
     
         22 . The biodisc of  claim 21 , wherein said biodisc further comprises a vent connected to said reservoir.  
     
     
         23 . A method of detecting an investigational feature using the disc of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 introducing a sample into said opening of said first reflective layer;    exposing said sample to reporters that attach to the investigational feature;    directing a beam of light through an opening in said first reflective layer to the exposed sample such that the beam reflects off said second reflective layer;    detecting a portion of said light reflected from said second reflective layer; and    analyzing said detected light to determine the presence of reporters indicating the presence of the investigational feature.