Amplitude-modulated laser
AssigneeQuantum-Si Incorporated
InventorsMichael Bellos, Alexander Goryaynov, Benjamin Cipriany, Xinghua Shi, Faisal R. Ahmad
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for producing an amplitude-modulated laser pulse train. The laser pulse train can be used to cause fluorescence in materials at which the pulse trains are directed. The parameters of the laser pulse train are selected to increase fluorescence relative to a constant-amplitude laser pulse train. The amplitude-modulated laser pulse trains produced using the teachings of this invention can be used to enable detection of specific molecules in applications such as gene or protein sequencing.
Claims16
A system comprising:
- an instrument that receives a removable chip;
- the chip comprising:
- a plurality of pixels and a waveguide, each pixel including a sample well adapted to receive a sample, and a detector;
- the instrument comprising:
- a mode-locked laser comprising:
- at least one laser diode;
- and
- at least one laser cavity containing at least one gain medium;
- wherein the output of the laser is configured to produce a train of laser pulses optimized to produce fluorescence from the sample according to laser parameters whose values are selected based on input representing sample fluorescent material, the train of laser pulses being fed to the chip and delivered by the waveguide as excitation light to each sample well.
A gain-switched laser comprising:
- at least one laser cavity containing at least one gain medium;
- wherein the output of the laser is configured to produce a train of interleaved laser pulses of different color excitation, which when incident upon a fluorescent material produces fluorescence therefrom;
- and
- wherein the fluorescence is optimized by selecting a value of at least one parameter of the laser pulse train based on received input regarding the fluorescent material.
A system comprising:
- an instrument that receives a removable chip;
- the chip comprising:
- a plurality of pixels and a waveguide, each pixel including a sample well adapted to receive a sample, and a detector;
- the instrument comprising:
- a laser light source that produces an amplitude modulated laser pulse train having ultrashort laser pulses having a pulse width of 100 picoseconds or less and individual pulses of varying amplitude, which when incident upon a fluorescent molecule within the sample well produces fluorescence therefrom;
- wherein the fluorescence is optimized by selecting a value of at least one parameters of the laser pulse train based on received input representing the fluorescent material within the sample well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.