CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS USING DIFFRACTION GRATING-BASED ENCODED OPTICAL ELEMENTS

摘要

An optical identification element and a microparticle comprising it, as well as a method of synthesizing a chemical on an optical element. The microbeads (8) have a plurality of unique identification digital codes based on a diffraction grating (12) disposed therein that are detected when illuminated by incident light (24). The incident light (24) may be directed transversely onto the side or onto an end of the tube (14) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, in which case the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively. The assay stick (7) may be reused or disposed upon completion of the assay.