US 6,284,546 B1 · Method and device for photodetection

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for mixing two or more liquids and detecting light emitted by the mixture. The method comprises forming a liquid droplet containing two or more liquids on a substantially planar surface in containerless containment on the surface and causing the droplet to deform in an essentially zero air flow environment thereby mixing the liquids and surrounding the planar surface with a reflective housing and photodetector. An apparatus of the invention comprises (a) a substantially planar support, (b) means for dispensing liquids onto the support to form a droplet, and (c) non-evaporative means for causing the droplet to deform without deforming the support thereby mixing the liquids and a two part reflective housing and photodetector which is moveable. The drop can be deformed by, for example, application of acoustic energy or a variable electrostatic field. The methods and apparatus have particular application to the determination of an analyte.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An automatic analysis apparatus for analyzing a plurality of samples, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a movable substantially inelastic and substantially planar surface,
(b) a rigid support for said surface,
(c) one or more liquid dispensing probes for dispensing a sample and reagents onto said surface to form droplets each containing a sample and reagents, said droplets being in containerless containment on said surface, said surface being substantially impervious to and non-reactive with said sample and reagents,
(d) non-evaporative means for deforming said droplets without substantially stretching said surface thereby mixing said sample and said reagents contained in said droplets, said means being acoustic energy or electrostatic energy, and
(e) an analyzer for analyzing said droplets, wherein said analyzer comprises:
(f) a photodetector and
(g) two reflective surfaces positioned with respect to said movable surface such that each of said droplets lies between said reflective surfaces, which substantially surround said droplet, at least one of said reflective surfaces having an opening for light emitted from said droplet to impinge on said photodetector.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for photodetection

Life of this patent

Method and device for photodetection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7