High-efficiency oblique illumination module for fluorescence excitation and detection
OwnerAndrew Pappinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a module for efficiently exciting and detecting fluorescence. In a disclosed preferred embodiment, excitation lamp modules with multiple solid-state light sources shone at different oblique angles, such that multiple-beams converge in a single plane, are combined with appropriate emission filters that block the excitation light wavelengths while passing the emission wavelengths. A multitude of such modules can be combined on a slider with precise registration via a mating structure, and can be accurately positioned in front of an observation point, such as a microscope's objective lens, external to the microscope, via a novel magnetic detent system, allowing for the rapid switching between the analysis of different fluorophores.
Claims13
A module for electromagnetic projection and detection of fluorescence comprising:
- at least two sources of electromagnetic radiation;
- said sources of electromagnetic radiation shone directly at essentially the same point;
- said sources of electromagnetic radiation shone at said point, via at least two distinct 3-dimensional angles, in lines not parallel to the line between a point of observation and a specimen;
- a detection element disposed across said line between a point of observation and a specimen, said element operating on a spectrum associated with the spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation sources;
- at least one of:
- sliding electrical contacts,
- inductive power couplings,
- sensors,
- wired communication, and
- wireless communication;
- to concomitantly energize said electromagnetic radiation source;
- and
- devoid of a dichroic mirror.
A module for the excitation and detection of fluorescence comprising:
- at least one electromagnetic radiation filter disposed to be moved into a path between a sample and a point of observation, for detection;
- at least one electromagnetic radiation source disposed to excite said sample from a point outside said path between said sample and said point of observation;
- means to concomitantly energize said electromagnetic radiation source responsive to positioning said electromagnetic radiation filter inside said path between a sample and a point of observation wherein said electromagnetic radiation filter and said electromagnetic radiation source are physically linked, automatically;
- and
- devoid of manual switching of said electromagnetic radiation source relative to said electromagnetic radiation filter.
A module for the excitation and detection of fluorescence comprising:
- at least one electromagnetic radiation filter disposed to be moved into a path between a sample and a point of observation, for detection;
- at least one electromagnetic radiation source disposed to excite said sample from a point outside said path between said sample and said point of observation;
- at least one of:
- sliding electrical contacts,
- inductive power couplings,
- sensors,
- wired communication, and
- wireless communication
- to concomitantly energize said electromagnetic radiation source responsive to positioning said electromagnetic radiation filter inside said path between said sample and said point of observation;
- and
- said electromagnetic radiation filter in fixed physical relationship with said radiation source for automatic coordination of said source with said filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.