# US 2019/0376902 A1 · Optical imaging system using lateral illumination for digital assays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0376902 A1 - Document ID: US20190376902A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/419,952 - Filed: 2019-05-22 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-21 - Assignees: Abbott Japan Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Abbott Japan Co., LTD - Inventors: Tomohiro Ikeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376902A1 ## CPC - G01N 21/75: Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated (systems in which material is burnt in a flame or plasma G01N21/72, G01N21/73) - G01N 21/51: inside a container, e.g. in an ampoule (G01N21/53 takes precedence) - G01N 21/64: Fluorescence; Phosphorescence - 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 21/6452: {Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates} - G01N 33/54366: {Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing} - G01N 2201/0621: Supply - G01N 2201/063: Illuminating optical parts - 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) ## Abstract A compact optical imaging system including a single filter and a light source that provides lateral illumination for bead detection in digital assays. The light source is configured to emit light toward the detection vessel. The single filter is positioned to receive light reflected from a sample in the detection vessel, that originated from the light source, and receive an output from a sample in the detection vessel. A detector is configured to receive a portion of the reflected light and a portion of the output that passes through the single filter. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -53. (canceled) ### Claim 54 A method of detecting an analyte of interest in a liquid droplet, which method comprises: (a) providing a first liquid droplet containing an analyte of interest and a second liquid droplet containing at least one solid support, wherein the solid support comprises a specific binding member that binds to the analyte of interest; (b) using energy to exert a force to manipulate the first liquid droplet with the second liquid droplet to create a mixture; (c) moving all or at least a portion of the mixture to an array of wells; (d) adding at least one detectable label to the mixture before and/or after step (c); and (e) detecting the analyte of interest in the wells using a compact digital assay apparatus comprising: (i) a detection vessel; (ii) a light source configured to emit light toward the detection vessel; (iii) a single filter positioned to receive and pass through a portion of light reflected from a sample in the detection vessel, that originated from the light source, and receive and pass through a portion of a fluorescence output from a sample in the detection vessel; and (iv) a detector configured to receive a portion of the reflected light and a portion of the fluorescence output that passes through the single filter. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The method of claim 54, wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55, wherein the light source includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 57 (depends on 54) The method of claim 54, wherein the light source is comprised of more than one light source. ### Claim 58 (depends on 54) The method of claim 54, wherein the light source is configured to change colors. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) The method of claim 58, wherein the light source is configured to change between a blue color and a green color. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59, wherein the green color light source reflects off a sample in the detection vessel for the detector to generate optical data identifying whether a bead is present in the sample. ### Claim 61 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59, wherein the blue color light source excites a sample in the detection vessel for the detector to generate optical data identifying whether an enzyme is present in the sample. ### Claim 62 (depends on 54) The method of claim 54, wherein the output is a fluorescence generated after excitation of a sample in the detection vessel by the light source. ### Claim 63 (depends on 54) The method of claim 54, wherein the output is generated by a chemical reaction of a sample in the detection vessel. ### Claim 64 A method of detecting an analyte of interest in a liquid droplet, which method comprises: (a) providing a first liquid droplet containing an analyte of interest and a second liquid droplet containing at least one solid support, wherein the solid support comprises a specific binding member that binds to the analyte of interest; (b) using energy to exert a force to manipulate the first liquid droplet with the second liquid droplet to create a mixture; (c) moving all or at least a portion of the mixture to an array of wells; (d) adding at least one detectable label to the mixture before and/or after step (c); and (e) detecting the analyte of interest in the wells using a compact digital assay apparatus comprising: (i) a detection vessel; (ii) a first light source configured to emit light toward the detection vessel and at an angle relative to the detection vessel; (iii) a second light source configured to emit light toward the detection vessel; (iv) a single filter positioned to receive and pass through a portion of light reflected from a sample in the detection vessel, that originated from the first light source, and receive and pass through a portion of a fluorescence output from a sample in the detection vessel; and (v) a detector configured to receive a portion of the reflected light and a portion of the fluorescence that passes through the single filter. ### Claim 65 (depends on 64) The method of claim 64, wherein the detection vessel comprises an axis extending therethrough at substantially 90 degrees. ### Claim 66 (depends on 65) The method of claim 65, wherein the first light source is positioned at an angle relative to the axis. ### Claim 67 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66, wherein the angle is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees. ### Claim 68 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66, wherein the angle is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. ### Claim 69 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66, wherein the angle is 80 degrees. ### Claim 70 (depends on 65) The method of claim 65, wherein the second light source is configured to emit a beam of light that travels along the axis. ### Claim 71 (depends on 65) The method of claim 65, wherein the second light source is laterally offset relative to the axis, and wherein the second light source is configured to emit a beam of light that travels parallel to the axis. ### Claim 72 (depends on 64) The method of claim 64, wherein the second light source includes more than one light source. ### Claim 73 (depends on 64) The method of claim 64, wherein the first light source is a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 74 (depends on 73) The method of claim 73, wherein the first light source includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 75 (depends on 64) The method of claim 64, wherein the first light source is comprised of more than one light source. ### Claim 76 (depends on 64) The method of claim 64, wherein the first light source is a green light emitting diode. ### Claim 77 (depends on 64) The method of claim 64, wherein the second light source is a blue light emitting diode. ### Claim 78 (depends on 64) The method of claim 64, wherein the detector is configured to generate a first image based on light that originated from the first light source, the first image identifying location of a bead in a sample in the detection vessel. ### Claim 79 (depends on 78) The method of claim 78, wherein the detector is configured to generate a second image based on fluorescence output from the sample after activation by the second light source, the second image detecting presence of a label in the sample in the detection vessel. ### Claim 80 (depends on 64) The method of claim 64, wherein the first light source includes a color, and further wherein, the color is based on the single filter. ### Claim 81 A method of detecting an analyte of interest in a liquid droplet, which method comprises: (a) providing a first liquid droplet containing an analyte of interest and a second liquid droplet containing at least one solid support, wherein the solid support comprises a specific binding member that binds to the analyte of interest; (b) using energy to exert a force to manipulate the first liquid droplet with the second liquid droplet to create a mixture; (c) moving all or at least a portion of the mixture to an array of wells; (d) adding at least one detectable label to the mixture before and/or after step (c); and (e) detecting the analyte of interest in the wells using a compact digital assay apparatus comprising: (i) a sample array having a plurality of detection vessels; (ii) a first light source configured to emit light toward the detection vessels at an angle relative to the detection vessels to illuminate a sample in the detection vessels; (iii) a second light source configured to emit light toward the detection vessels without using a mirror or other reflective object, the second light source further configured to activate a sample in the detection vessels to emit a fluorescence output; (iv) a filter positioned to receive and pass through a portion of light reflected from the detection vessels that originated from the first light source, and receive and pass through a portion of the fluorescence output from the sample in the detection vessels; and (v) a detector configured to receive the reflected light and the fluorescence output from the sample that pass through the filter and to generate optical data identifying which vessels contain a bead and which vessels contain a label. ### Claim 82 (depends on 81) The method of claim 81, wherein the sample array comprises an axis extending therethrough at substantially 90 degrees. ### Claim 83 (depends on 82) The method of claim 82, wherein the first light source is positioned at an angle relative to the axis. ### Claim 84 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83, wherein the angle is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees. ### Claim 85 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83, wherein the angle is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. ### Claim 86 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83, wherein the angle is 80 degrees. ### Claim 87 (depends on 82) The method of claim 82, wherein the second light source is configured to emit a beam of light that travels along the axis. ### Claim 88 (depends on 82) The method of claim 82, wherein the second light source is laterally offset relative to the axis, and wherein the second light source is configured to emit a beam of light that travels parallel to the axis. ### Claim 89 (depends on 81) The method of claim 81, wherein the second light source includes more than one light source. ### Claim 90 (depends on 81) The method of claim 81, wherein the first light source is a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 91 (depends on 90) The method of claim 90, wherein the first light source includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 92 (depends on 81) The method of claim 81, wherein the first light source is comprised of more than one light source. ### Claim 93 (depends on 81) The method of claim 81, wherein the first light source is a green light emitting diode. ### Claim 94 (depends on 81) The method of claim 81, wherein the second light source is a blue light emitting diode. ### Claim 95 (depends on 81) The method of claim 81, wherein the optical data is an image identifying a location of the bead, if present, in the detection vessels, and the label, if present, in the detection vessels. ### Claim 96 (depends on 81) The method of claim 81, wherein the first light source includes a color, and further wherein, the color is based on the filter. ### Claim 97 A method of detecting an analyte of interest in a liquid droplet, which method comprises: (a) providing a first liquid droplet containing an analyte of interest and a second liquid droplet containing at least one solid support, wherein the solid support comprises a specific binding member that binds to the analyte of interest; (b) using energy to exert a force to manipulate the first liquid droplet with the second liquid droplet to create a mixture; (c) moving all or at least a portion of the mixture to an array of wells; (d) adding at least one detectable label to the mixture before and/or after step (c); and (e) detecting the analyte of interest using a compact digital assay apparatus comprising: (i) a sample array including a plurality of samples positioned in a plurality of nanowells; (ii) a light source configured to emit light toward the sample array at an angle relative to the sample array to illuminate a sample in the sample array, the light source having a wavelength between 450 nm and 550 nm; (iii) a single filter positioned to receive and pass through a portion of light reflected from the plurality of samples in the sample array, that originated from the light source; and (iv) a detector configured to receive a portion of light reflected from the sample. ### Claim 98 (depends on 97) The method of claim 97, wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 99 (depends on 98) The method of claim 98, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 100 (depends on 97) The method of claim 97, wherein the light source includes more than one light source. ### Claim 101 (depends on 97) The method of claim 97, wherein the light source is configured to change colors. ### Claim 102 (depends on 101) The method of claim 101, wherein the light source is configured to change between a blue color and a green color. ### Claim 103 (depends on 102) The method of claim 102, wherein the green color light source reflects off a sample in the sample array for the detector to generate optical data identifying whether a bead is present in the sample. ### Claim 104 (depends on 97) The method of claim 97, wherein the angle is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees relative to an axis oriented perpendicular to the sample array. ### Claim 105 (depends on 97) The method of claim 97, wherein the angle is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees relative to an axis oriented perpendicular to the sample array. ### Claim 106 (depends on 97) The method of claim 97, wherein the angle is 80 degrees relative to an axis oriented perpendicular to the sample array.