Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of assaying for a ligand in a sample which comprises incubating, simultaneously or in any desired sequence, a) the sample b) a reagent X and c) a reagent Y immobilised directly or indirectly on the surface of an optical structure capable of exhibiting surface plasmon resonance,
Claim 2
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of assaying for a ligand in a sample which comprises incubating, simultaneously or in any desired sequence, a) the sample b) a reagent X and c) a reagent Y immobilised directly or indirectly on the surface of an optical structure capable of exhibiting surface plasmon resonance,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
one of reagents X and Y comprising a specific binding partner to said ligand and the other of reagents X and Y comprising either a ligand analogue or a specific binding partner to said ligand, reagent X being such, that any formation of a direct or indirect complex between reagents X and Y results in an optical surface having an appreciably enhanced optical thickness as compared to the optical thickness of the optical surface which would prevail in the absence of reagent X, which method includes the step of determining whether and, if desired, the extent to which and/or rate at which the surface plasmon resonance effect exhibited by the optical structure is altered by said complex formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
one of reagents X and Y comprising a specific binding partner to said ligand and the other of reagents X and Y comprising either a ligand analogue or a specific binding partner to said ligand, reagent X being such, that any formation of a direct or indirect complex between reagents X and Y results in an optical surface having an appreciably enhanced optical thickness as compared to the optical thickness of the optical surface which would prevail in the absence of reagent X, which method includes the step of determining whether and, if desired, the extent to which and/or rate at which the surface plasmon resonance effect exhibited by the optical structure is altered by said complex formation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein reagent Y is a ligand analogue and reagent X is a specific binding partner to the ligand, optionally linked to an optical thickness enhancing entity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein reagent Y is a specific binding partner to the ligand and reagent X is a ligand analogue linked to an optical thickness enhancing entity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein reagent Y is a specific binding partner to the ligand and reagent X is a specific binding partner (identical to or different from reagent Y) to the ligand, optionally linked to an optical thickness enhancing entity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein reagent X increases the size of any complex formed by at least 100 nm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 5 wherein reagent X has a high refractive index.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein reagent X has a refractive index of at least 2.0.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the optical structure is a diffraction grating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A kit for carrying out a method of assay as claimed in any of the preceding claims which comprises a reagent X, as defined in claim 1, and an optical structure on the surface of which is immobilised a reagent Y, as defined in claim 1.