Back to results
US 2014/0273181 A1Published application
Compact optical system for substantially simultaneous monitoring of samples in a sample array
AssigneeBioFire Diagnostics, LLC
InventorsRichard David Abbott, Patrick L. Riley, Zackery Kent Evans, Lyle M. Nay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Optical systems and apparatuses configured for enabling substantially simultaneous observation of a plurality of points in an array from a common reference point. Without the optical systems and apparatuses disclosed herein, less than all of the plurality of points can be observed substantially simultaneously from the common reference point.
Claims34
An optical system that defines an optical path, the optical system comprising:
- a body that includes a plurality of points of interest, wherein the body comprises an element of the optical path;
- and
- means disposed in the optical path for enabling observation of each of the plurality of points of interest substantially simultaneously, wherein the means defines a ray length from each point of interest to a common reference point whose distance from the plurality of points of interest is less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and wherein each of the ray lengths are substantially equal in length.
An optical system that defines an optical path, the optical system comprising:
- a body that includes a plurality of points of interest, wherein the body comprises an element of the optical path;
- and
- one or more elements that collectively define one or more curved surfaces that are disposed in the optical path, wherein the one or more curved surfaces collectively define a ray length from each point of interest to a common reference point whose distance from the points of interest is less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and wherein the ray lengths are substantially the same.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a thermocycling system configured for subjecting a plurality of biological samples contained within a corresponding plurality of sample containers to thermal cycling;
- and
- an optical system defining an optical path that is operatively associated with the thermocycling system, the optical system being configured and arranged for substantially simultaneous monitoring of fluorescence in each of the plurality of biological samples, the optical system including:
- a sample block comprising an element of the optical path,
- wherein the sample block includes a top surface and a plurality of sample wells defining a plurality of recessed bottom surfaces, and
- wherein the plurality of recessed bottom surfaces define a first plurality of points of interest;
- and
- one or more elements that collectively define one or more curved surfaces that are disposed in the optical path, wherein the one or more curved surfaces collectively define a ray length from each point of interest to a common reference point whose distance from the points of interest is less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and wherein the ray lengths are substantially the same.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.