Detector and screening device for ion channels

A device, comprising:

• i) a liquid handler comprising at least one pipetting tip, said at least one pipetting tip comprising programmable control of aspiration from a first plurality of addressable wells of a first multiwell plate and programmable control of dispensation into a second plurality of addressable wells of a second multiwell plate,
• ii) an optical detector module comprising at least one detector, said at least one detector being in optical connection to said second plurality of addressable wells of said second multiwell plate and, said detector module simultaneously detecting at least two optical properties from each well of said second plurality of addressable wells of said second multiwell plate,
• iii) a plate handler to align said first multiwell plate and said second multiwell plate to said liquid handler, and said detector module, and to move said first multiwell plate and said second multiwell plate into and out of said device, and
• iv) a data processing and control module for coordinating the operation of said device,
• wherein said data processing and control module coordinates said plate handler to move said second plurality of addressable wells of said second multiwell plate to said liquid handler,
• and wherein, said data processing and control module collects data from said detector module
• wherein said device is adapted such that said liquid handler dispenses into said second plurality of addressable wells while said detector module is simultaneously detecting at least two optical properties from each well of said second plurality of addressable wells.

A device, comprising:

• i) an optical detector module comprising at least one fiber optic bundle comprising a trifurcated fiber optic bundle, at least one detector, said at least one detector being in optical connection to a plurality of addressable wells of a multiwell plate and, said detector module simultaneously detecting at any instant, at least two optical properties from each well of said plurality of addressable wells of said multiwell plate,
• ii) an optical irradiation module comprising at least one light source, wherein said at least one light source irradiates said plurality of addressable wells of said multiwell plate,
• iii) a plate handler to align said plurality of addressable wells of said multiwell plate to said detector module, and to move said multiwell plate into and out of said device,
• iv) an integration and control module for coordinating the operation of said device,
• v) a liquid handler for dispensing reagent into said plurality of addressable wells,
• wherein said integration and control module coordinates said plate handler to move said plurality of addressable wells of said multiwell plate to said detector module,
• wherein said detector module simultaneously detects at least two optical properties from each well of said plurality of addressable wells of said multiwell plate,
• wherein said data processing and control module collects data from said detector module, and
• wherein said device is adapted such that said liquid handler dispenses into said plurality of addressable wells while said detector module is simultaneously detecting at least two optical properties from each well of said plurality of addressable wells.

An optical detection system for detecting an optical attribute of a biological, biochemical or chemical sample, comprising:

• a) a light source that launches at least one predetermined wavelength of light,
• b) sample holder,
• c) a ball lens at a predetermined interrogation distance from said sample holder,
• d) a trifurcated fiber adapted for dual optical interrogation and in optical communication with said ball lens,
• e) a detector that detects light of at least one desired wavelength and in optical communication with said ball lens, and
• f) a reagent dispenser for dispensing reagent into said sample holder,
• wherein said optical detection system is adapted to detect light from a sample contained in said sample holder while said reagent dispenser is dispensing reagent is into said sample.