Angled illumination system for microfluidic devices
AssigneeStandard Biotools Inc.
InventorsZhongwei Shen, Kyle Wisdom Hukari, Kum Hon Cheang
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Abstract
Systems and associated methods and techniques for illuminating and imaging a device, such as a microfluidic or microarray device, are described herein. An optical source that illuminates the planar surface at an oblique angle can be used with optical components, such as an offset optical shaping rod and a wedge prism, used to provide uniform illumination across the planar surface and allow the illumination to appropriately reach the target illumination area despite the geometric limitations imposed by the presence and position of imaging, microfluidic control, and/or thermal cycling components.
Claims22
An optical projection system for illuminating a planar surface, the optical projection system comprising:
- a light source directed to emit light along an emission axis, the emission axis oriented non-orthogonal to the planar surface;
- a shaping rod in optical communication with the light source, the shaping rod having a rod axis aligned parallel to the emission axis;
- and
- projection optics in optical communication with the shaping rod, the projection optics comprising a plurality of optical elements arranged along a central axis that is offset from and does not intersect the rod axis and, the projection optics further comprising an output axis that is angled relative to the central axis;
- wherein the planar surface comprises, retains, or is configured to retain a microarray or microfluidic device comprising a plurality of reaction sites distributed across the planar surface;
- the optical projection system further comprising a microscope system in optical communication with the planar surface, the microscope system comprising one or more collection lenses for collecting scattered or emitted light from the planar surface;
- the optical projection system further comprising a thermal block coupled to the microfluidic device or a thermocycling device coupled to the microfluidic device;
- and
- wherein the planar surface is positioned between the microscope system and the thermal block or the thermocycling device.
A method for illuminating a planar surface using an optical projection system, the method comprising:
- directing light from a light source along an emission axis, the emission axis oriented non-orthogonal to the planar surface;
- passing the light through a shaping rod, the shaping rod having a rod axis aligned along the emission axis;
- passing the light through projection optics, the projection optics comprising a plurality of optical elements arranged along a central axis that is offset from and does not intersect the rod axis and, the projection optics further comprising an output axis that is angled relative to the central axis;
- and
- directing the light from projection optics onto the planar surface, wherein the planar surface comprises, retains, or is configured to retain a microarray or microfluidic device comprising a plurality of reaction sites distributed across the planar surface;
- the optical projection system further comprising a microscope system in optical communication with the planar surface, the microscope system comprising one or more collection lenses for collecting scattered or emitted light from the planar surface;
- the optical projection system further comprising a thermal block coupled to the microfluidic device or a thermocycling device coupled to the microfluidic device;
- and
- wherein the planar surface is positioned between the microscope system and the thermal block or the thermocycling device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.