System for Optically Monitoring Operating Conditions in a Sample Analyzing Apparatus
AssigneeMolecular Devices (Austria) GmbH
InventorsMichael Katzlinger, Georg Kronberger, Bernhard Schinwald
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sample analyzing apparatus for performing an optical-based measurement on a sample includes a housing, a first light source, excitation optics, a first light detector, emission optics, and a monitoring system, all of which are disposed in the housing. The monitoring system is configured for monitoring a movable component disposed in the housing. The monitoring system includes one or more light sources for illuminating the movable component, and one or more light detectors for detecting light reflected from the movable component in response to being illuminated.
Claims23
A sample analyzing apparatus for performing an optical-based measurement on a sample, the sample analyzing apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a first light source disposed in the housing and configured for generating excitation light;
- excitation optics disposed in the housing and configured for directing the excitation light from the first light source to the sample, wherein the sample emits emission light in response to being irradiated by the excitation light;
- a first light detector disposed in the housing and configured for measuring the emission light;
- emission optics disposed in the housing and configured for directing the emission light from the sample to the first light detector;
- one or more liquid handling components configured to deliver liquid to the sample;
- and
- a monitoring system configured for monitoring an area of the housing in which one or more movable components are located, the area corresponding to a space in which the one or more liquid handling components are configured to interact with the sample, the monitoring system comprising:
- a second light source disposed in the housing and configured for illuminating the movable component;
- and
- a second light detector disposed in the housing and configured for detecting light reflected from the one or more movable components in response to being illuminated.
A method for monitoring a movable component of a sample analyzing apparatus, the sample analyzing apparatus comprising a housing in which the movable component is disposed, a first light source disposed in the housing and configured for generating excitation light, excitation optics disposed in the housing and configured for directing the excitation light from the first light source to a sample disposed in the housing, a first light detector disposed in the housing and configured for measuring emission light emitted from the sample in response to being irradiated by the excitation light, and emission optics disposed in the housing and configured for directing the emission light from the sample to the first light detector, one or more liquid handling components configured to deliver liquid to the sample, the method comprising:
- operating a monitoring system to monitor the movable component by:
- operating a second light source disposed in the housing to illuminate the movable component;
- and
- operating a second light detector disposed in the housing detect light reflected from the movable component in response to being illuminated.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.