# US 2013/0135618 A1 · Analysis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0135618 A1 - Document ID: US20130135618A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/677,765 - Filed: 2012-11-15 - Published: 2013-05-30 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-09 - Assignees: BioAccel - Inventors: Frederic ZENHAUSERN; Alan NORDQUIST; Ralf LENIGK; Cedric HURTH; Jianing YANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130135618A1 ## CPC - B01L 3/502761: {specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads or physically stretching molecules} - B01L 3/502738: {characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746)} - B01L 7/52: {with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples} - C12Q 1/6806: Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay (C12Q1/6804 takes precedence) - C25B 9/00: Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features - C25B 9/60: Constructional parts of cells - G01N 1/10: in the liquid or fluent state {(burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00)} - G01N 21/01: Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation - G01N 21/6428: {Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" (in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53)} - G01N 21/645: {Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters} - G01N 27/44721: {by optical means} - G01N 27/44791: {Microapparatus (sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027)} - B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces} - B01L 7/525: {with physical movement of samples between temperature zones} - G01N 2021/6484: {Optical fibres} - G01N 2201/062: LED's - G01N 2201/0846: Fibre interface with sample, e.g. for spatial resolution - Y10T 436/143333: Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.] - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Analysis methods and apparatus are provided for inspecting a channel, such as a capillary electrophoresis channel, in a device. Configuration and alignment systems are provided, together with optical systems and temperature control. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of configuring an optical system for a detection location, the method including: providing a channel having a detection location for performing an electrophoretic separation on at least a part of a sample; considering one or more characteristics of the channel and/or optical system; configuring the optical system relative to the detection location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which the optical system is provided in an instrument, the channel is provided in a device which can be inserted into and removed from the instrument and the configuring of the optical system is made before the electrophoretic separation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which the configuring of the optical system is made after one or more other steps have been performed on the device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which the configuring is with respect to the position of one or more parts of the optical system relative to the channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4 in which the position is the position perpendicular to the axis of the channel, parallel to the axis along which light is applied to the detection location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4 in which the position is the position perpendicular to the axis of the channel, perpendicular to the axis along which light is applied to the detection location. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4 in which the configuring is with respect to the focus of the light applied to the detection location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which the configuring is made with reference to the channel, the channel is responsive to light and the variation in the detected light with position across the channel is considered. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which one or more components of the optical system are moved and/or the channel is moved to configure the optical system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which the configuring is provided using the optical system used in detecting the results from the channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which the configuring is provided using a separate alignment system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 in which the separate alignment system includes one or more of: a variable position support and/or an actuator and/or a camera and/or a light detector and/or a light source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 in which the alignment system is used to control one or more components of the optical system so as to provide alignment between the channel and the optical system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 in which the alignment system includes a variable position support, the variable position support having a first position, the variable position support having a second position, in the second position, the camera/light detector provided on the variable position support being positioned in an alignment with the channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14 in which the alignment is less accurate than a second alignment and the second alignment is obtained by varying the position of the variable position support. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15 in which the varying of the position is in response to the form of diffraction pattern observed by the camera/light detector. ### Claim 17 Apparatus for configuring an optical system for a detection location, the apparatus including: a channel having a detection location; an optical system; one or more elements for adjusting the configuration of the optical system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) Apparatus according to claim 17 in which the optical system is provided in an instrument, the channel is provided in a device which can be inserted into and removed from the instrument. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) Apparatus according to claim 17 in which one or more components of the optical system are moveable and/or the channel is moveable to configure the optical system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) Apparatus according to claim 17 in which a separate alignment system to the optical system is provided. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the separate alignment system includes one or more of: a variable position support and/or an actuator and/or a camera and/or a light detector and/or a light source. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the alignment system includes a variable position support, the variable position support having a first position, the variable position support having a second position, in the second position, the camera/light detector provided on the variable position support being positioned in an alignment with the channel. ### Claim 23 (canceled) ### Claim 24 (canceled) ### Claim 25 (canceled) ### Claim 26 (canceled) ### Claim 27 (canceled) ### Claim 28 (canceled) ### Claim 29 (canceled) ### Claim 30 (canceled)