Replaceable filter module
AssigneeGeneSys Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDavid W. Braumann, Patrick J. Saunders, John A. Luckey, Robert L. Brumley, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An instrument for processing light information to assay chemical or biological molecules is made more flexible by the use of a replaceable filter module. Several light filters, or in one embodiment dichroic mirrors, are mounted in a common module in fixed position relative to each other. The whole filter module can then be removed, and a different one inserted in its place, to change the wavelength bands of light detected by the instrument, as needed, for different applications.
Claims17
An apparatus for determining the amounts of fluorophore-labeled molecules in a medium comprising:
- a. a source of fluorophore-labeled molecules, the molecules labeled with at least two different fluorophores having distinct fluorescence emission spectra;
- b. an excitation source for producing excitation light which can be directed to the fluorophore-labeled molecules;
- c. a collection device for collecting the emitted light created by the labeled molecules;
- d. an interchangeable housing which contains a plurality of filters used to separate the wavelengths of the emission spectra of the fluorophores, each interchangeable housing containing a distinct plurality of filters allowing the detection of specific emission spectra, the housing being interchangeable to change filters in the apparatus;
- and
- e. a plurality of detectors, each detector receiving a distinct wavelength constituent from one of the filters, each detector thus detecting a specific fluorophore-labeled molecule in the medium.
An apparatus for scanning an electrophoretic separation medium containing fluorophore-labeled molecules comprising:
- a. an excitation source for producing excitation light directed to excite the fluorophore-labeled molecules;
- b. a collection device for collecting the emitted light created in the medium by the fluorophore-labeled molecules;
- c. an interchangeable filter module housing containing an array of dichroic mirrors aligned to receive the signal from the labeled molecules, each interchangeable filter module capable of containing a distinct array of dichroic mirrors, each dichroic array including a plurality of dichroic mirrors having distinct filtering characteristics wherein the emitted light signal is separated into distinct wavelength constituents by reflection at predetermined wavelengths and transmission at other wavelengths, the housing module being replaceable by another filter housing module while retaining the optical alignment of the apparatus;
- and
- d. a plurality of detectors, each detector receiving a distinct wavelength constituent from one of the dichroic mirrors, each detector thus detecting a specific labeled molecule in the medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.