Xiangqun Zeng is awarded U.S. patent 7,943,092

“Biomolecular interactions are traditionally studied using techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA), and affinity chromatography. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensing technique provides two main advantages over these techniques. First, the biomolecular interactions can be monitored in real-time. Second, it is not necessary to label the interacting biomolecules. Surface plasmon is a quantum name for an electric charge density wave that propagates on an interface between a metal and a dielectric, just like photon is a quantum name for a light wave. Surface plasmons are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,084,980 to Jones, et al. hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Surface plasmons resonate upon excitation by electromagnetic radiation entering an interface of metallic material and a dielectric material. The surface plasmon responds to changes in the environment in close proximity to the interface. This fact makes surface plasmon resonance useful for the detection of biomolecular interactions…. While the related art teach surface plasmon resonance biosensors, there still exists a need for an inexpensive and portable surface plasmon resonance biosensor.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and portable surface plasmon resonance biosensor device. ”