US Patent 7528947 - Nanocrystal functionalized probes

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7528947.html

Near-field optical microscopes are important to high-resolution optical imaging and data storage. This patent from Yissum Research Development Company teaches achieving further enhanced resolution by forming fluorescent nanocrystals on the tip of a NFOM. Claim 1 reads:

1. A tip device having at least a portion thereof comprising a substrate layer functionalized by nanoparticles comprising nanocrystals which are bound to a surface of said substrate, the nanocrystals acting as active media capable of interacting with a predetermined sample to form with the sample a donor-acceptor or acceptor-donor pair, said interaction of the tip with the sample modifying light emission of the sample by transferring or accepting energy to or from the sample.