Biochip scanner device

Abstract

A biochip scanner device includes a light source for emitting a light beam; a light processing unit for focusing the light beam onto the biochip to excite fluorescence from a sample spot on the biochip; a filter for filtering off the light beam from the light source and the scattered light from the surface on the biochip; a photomultiplier tube (PMT) for detecting and converting the fluorescence into a current signal; and an output device for outputting/displaying the current signal detected by the PMT. The output device controls the platform to match the pattern of the biochip. No conversion of the output signal of the output device into image data is needed. A real-time analysis proceeds while samples are being scanned on the biochip. The biochip scanner device of the present invention reads the current signal from PMT directly without processing it into image data and setting lens before the PMT is no longer needed. As a result, the structure of the device is simplified and the cost for production is reduced.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.