Time-delay integration in electrophoretic detection systems

An apparatus for detecting analytes in a sample, comprising:

• a channel-defining-member defining at least one channel therein having a detection zone;
• a separating system coupled to the at least one channel for separating a sample containing analytes into analyte bands migrating along the at least one channel, wherein each analyte band is detectable by the presence of a corresponding marker;
• at least one irradiation source disposed for irradiating the detection zone of the at least one channel with radiation to thereby excite markers responsive to the radiation and which emit light signals indicative of corresponding analytes;
• a detector array disposed for collecting the light signals produced by the markers and for producing charges corresponding to the light signals, the detector array having an output;
• modulating optics for modulating light between the at least one irradiation source and the detector array;
• and
• a time delay integration system for effecting, within the detector array, an accumulation of charges corresponding to light signals associated with at least one given analyte band before reading accumulated charges at the output of the detector array, the accumulation being effected during an integration time of the at least one given analyte band moving across the detection zone by moving, relative to one another, the detector array and at least one of the detection zone and the modulating optics.

An apparatus for detecting analytes in a sample, comprising:

• a channel-defining-member defining at least one channel therein having a detection zone;
• a separating system coupled to the at least one channel for separating a sample containing analytes into analyte bands migrating along the at least one channel, wherein each analyte band is detectable by the presence of a corresponding marker;
• at least one irradiation source disposed for irradiating the detection zone of the at least one channel with radiation to thereby excite markers responsive to the radiation for emitting light signals indicative of corresponding analytes, the light signals together forming an image corresponding to analyte bands migrating across the detection zone;
• a detector array disposed for collecting the light signals produced by the markers and for producing charges corresponding to the light signals, the detector array having an output;
• a re-imaging optical system disposed between the detection zone and the detector array for optically inverting an image produced by the light signals before the image is collected by the detector array;
• modulating optics for modulating light between the at least one irradiation source and the detector array;
• and
• a time delay integration system for effecting, within the detector array, an accumulation of charges corresponding to light signals associated with at least one given analyte band before reading accumulated charges at the output of the detector array, the accumulation being effected during an integration time of the at least one given analyte band moving across the detection zone.

A method for detecting analytes in a sample, comprising the steps of:

• providing a channel-defining-member defining at least one channel therein having a detection zone;
• providing a migration medium within the at least one channel;
• separating a sample containing analytes and disposed in contact with the migration medium into analyte bands migrating along the at least one channel, wherein each analyte band is detectable by the presence of a marker;
• irradiating the detection zone with non-coherent radiation using at least one irradiation source thereby exciting markers responsive to the radiation for emitting light signals indicative of corresponding analytes;
• detecting the light signals produced by the markers by collecting the light signals on a detector array to produce charges on the detector array corresponding to the light signals;
• modulating light between the at least one irradiation source and the detector array;
• effecting a time delay integration of the light signals within the detector array by accumulating the charges within the detector array corresponding to light signals associated with at least one given analyte band during an integration time of the at least one given analyte band moving across the detection zone;
• and
• reading the accumulated charges.

A method for detecting analytes in a sample, comprising the steps of:

• providing a channel-defining-member defining at least one channel therein having a detection zone;
• providing migration medium within the at least one channel;
• separating a sample containing analytes and disposed in contact with the migration medium into analyte bands migrating along the at least one channel, wherein each analyte band is detectable by the presence of a marker;
• irradiating the detection zone using at least one irradiation source generating radiation of such wavelength as to thereby excite markers responsive to the radiation for emitting light signals indicative of corresponding analytes;
• detecting the light signals produced by the markers by collecting the light signals on a detector array to produce charges on the detector array corresponding to the light signals;
• modulating light between the at least one irradiation source and the detector array using modulating optics;
• effecting a time delay integration of the light signals within the detector array by accumulating the charges within the detector array corresponding to light signals associated with at least one given analyte band during an integration time of the at least one given analyte band moving across the detection zone, wherein the accumulation is effected by moving, relative to one another, the detector array and at least one of the detection zone and the modulating optics;
• and
• reading the accumulated charges.

An apparatus for detecting analytes in a sample, comprising:

• means defining at least one channel therein having a detection zone;
• means for separating a sample containing analytes and disposed in contact with a migration medium disposed within the at least one channel into analyte bands migrating along the at least one channel, wherein each analyte band is detectable by the presence of a marker;
• means for irradiating the detection zone with non-coherent radiation, thereby exciting markers responsive to the radiation and which emit light signals indicative of corresponding analytes;
• means for detecting the light signals by collecting the light signals thereby producing charges corresponding thereto;
• means for effecting a time delay integration of the light signals within the detector array by accumulating within the detector array the charges corresponding to light signals associated with at least one given analyte band during an integration time of the at least one given analyte band moving across the detection zone;
• and
• means for reading the accumulated charges.

A method for detecting analytes in a sample, comprising the steps of:

• providing a channel-defining member defining at least one channel therein including one or more detection zones;
• providing a migration medium within the at least one channel;
• separating a sample containing analytes and disposed in contact with the migration medium into analyte bands migrating along the at least one channel, wherein each analyte band is detectable by the presence of a marker;
• irradiating the one or more detection zones with non-coherent radiation using at least one irradiation source thereby exciting markers responsive to the radiation for emitting light signals indicative of corresponding analytes;
• detecting the light signals produced by the markers by collecting the light signals on a detector array to produce charges on the detector array corresponding to the light signals;
• modulating light between the at least one irradiation source and the detector array;
• effecting a time delay integration of the light signals within the detector array by accumulating the charges within the detector array which correspond to light signals associated with at least one given analyte band during an integration time of the at least one given analyte band moving across the one or more detection zones;
• moving the accumulated charges on the detector array at a first speed that is synchronized with the migration speed of a first analyte band migrating across the one or more detection zones;
• adjusting the moving of accumulated charges to a second speed that differs from the first speed and to substantially synchronize the moving of accumulated charges with the migration speed of a second analyte band migrating across the detection zone.