Micro lens array for bioassay
AssigneeMaven Technologies, LLC
InventorZonh-Zen Ho
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for imaging biochip spots in which a linearly spaced array of micro-lenses has a set of optical fibers which are associated with each micro-lens to receive and transmit the image magnified by the micro-lens. The micro-lenses are spaced to that of the biochip spots so that the microlens array can be positioned over a selected group of biochip spots, one for each micro-lens. The microlens array can be translated to be over selected groups of biochip spots. A detector and user devise such as a computer and a screen are used to record and view the collected images.
Claims15
A fiber optic apparatus for use with a biochip having an array of spots comprising;
- a micro-lens optical fiber array having a plurality of micro-lenses arranged linearly and spaced apart by a distance equal to the spacing of the spots on the biochip so that when set in a position above the spots each micro-lens will be focused on one of the spots and having a plurality of optical fibers each positioned above one of the micro-lenses to receive the image, passed through the micro-lens, of the respective biochip spot wherein the microlenses, the optical fiber core size, and distance between the optical fiber and the microlens are selected to provide confocal effect;
- a scanning apparatus to which the micro-lens optical fiber array is attached having a mechanism for selectably translating said array from a position over one set of biochip spots to a position over another set of biochip spots.
A method for imaging biochip spots or portions thereof comprising;
- providing a microlens optical fiber array having a plurality of micro-lenses arranged linearly and spaced apart by a distance equal to the spacing of the spots on the biochip so that when set in a position above the spots each micro-lens will be focused on one of the spots and having a plurality of optical fibers each positioned above one of the micro-lenses to receive the image, passed through the micro-lens, of the respective biochip spot wherein the microlenses, the optical fiber core size, and distance between the optical fiber and the microlens are selected to provide confocal effect;
- placing the microlens optical fiber array over a first selected group of spots;
- recording the images of the first selected group of spots;
- translating the microlens optical fiber array to a position over one or more subsequently selected group of spots;
- recording each of the images of each of the one or more subsequently selected group of spots.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.