Elastomeric grating sensor for multifunctional optofluidic biosensing

Optical sensing techniques are being employed in widespread applications ranging from aerospace to electronics, process control and medicine. Optical biosensors are desirable in various clinical applications for their greater sensitivity, electrical passivity, wide dynamic range and high spatial resolution. Optical biosensors such as laser interferometers and optical fiber sensors can be incorporated for the real time measurement of biofluid parameters. Various applications in medicine such as blood monitoring in hemodialysis require the monitoring of multiple biofluid parameters. As multiple monitors are needed for sensing, the sensor becomes bulky and costly. Miniature optical sensors based on elastomers are best suited for this purpose. Sensors based on deformable elastomeric materials have several benefits such as greater sensitivity, high spatial resolution, reliability and low cost. The Multifunctional Elastomeric Grating Sensor (EGS) presented in this thesis is fabricated using elastomeric materials. The EGS is made by integrating a two-dimensional (2D) diffraction grating inside a hemispherical chamber. The sensing mechanism of the EGS is based on the diffraction of light. The laser beam passing through the 2D grating and the fluid inside the chamber is diffracted. The diffraction angle and the power of diffraction orders are used to compute the biofluid parameters. This sensor can be used for real time monitoring of glucose concentration, refractive index, pressure and opacity of the fluid. In future, the EGS will also be useful in highly sensitive temperature measurements. This device is being tested for more advanced biological experiments such as DNA hybridization and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This simple, compact and low cost device has an enormous potential for future use in various clinical applications such as blood monitoring in hemodialysis.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Khan, Muhammad Ibrahim

• Elastomeric grating sensor
• Biofluid sensing

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Muhammad Ibrahim Khan

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78607

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/78607