US 6,940,598 B2 · Multi-channel optical detection system

Abstract

An apparatus for thermally controlling and optically interrogating a reaction mixture includes a vessel [2] having a chamber [10] for holding the mixture. The apparatus also includes a heat-exchanging module [37] having a pair of opposing thermal plates [34A, 34B] for receiving the vessel [2] between them and for heating/and or cooling the mixture contained in the vessel. The module [37] also includes optical excitation and detection assemblies [46,48] positioned to optically interrogate the mixture. The excitation assembly [46] includes multiple light sources [100] and a set of filters for sequentially illuminating labeled analytes in the mixture with excitation beams in multiple excitation wavelength ranges. The detection assembly [48] includes multiple detectors [102] and a second set of filters for detecting light emitted from the chamber [10] in multiple emission wavelength ranges. The optics assemblies [46,48] thus provide a multi-channel system for detecting a plurality of different target analytes in the mixture.

Claims35

Dependent claims

An apparatus for optically interrogating a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel having a chamber for holding the mixture, the apparatus comprising:

a) a first optics assembly comprising:
i) at least two light sources for transmitting excitation beams to the chamber;
ii) a first set of filters for filtering the excitation beams such that each of the beams transmitted to the chamber has a substantially distinct excitation wavelength range;
and
iii) a first housing for holding the light sources and the first set of filters, wherein the light sources and the first set of filters are rigidly fixed in the first housing;
b) a second optics assembly comprising:
i) at least two detectors for detecting light emitted from the chamber in at least two respective emission wavelength ranges;
ii) a second set of filters for separating the light emitted from the chamber into the respective emission wavelength ranges;
and
iii) a second housing for holding the detectors and the second set of filters, wherein the detectors and the second set of filters are rigidly fixed in the second housing;
and
c) optical devices for placing the first and second optics assemblies in optical communication with first and second walls of the chamber, respectively.

9 more elements

An apparatus for optically interrogating a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel having a chamber for holding the mixture, the apparatus comprising:

a) a first optics assembly comprising:
i) a first housing having at least a first optical window;
ii) a first light source rigidly fixed in the first housing for transmitting a first excitation beam to the chamber through the first optical window;
iii) a first detector rigidly fixed in the first housing for detecting light emitted from the chamber;
and
iv) a first set of filters rigidly fixed in the first housing for filtering portions of the first excitation beam that are outside of a first excitation wavelength range, for filtering portions of the emitted light that are outside of a first emission wavelength range, and for directing the light in the first emission wavelength range to the first detector;
b) a second optics assembly comprising:
i) a second housing having at least a second optical window;
ii) a second light source rigidly fixed in the second housing for transmitting a second excitation beam to the chamber through the second optical window;
iii) a second detector rigidly fixed in the second housing for detecting light emitted from the chamber;
and
iv) a second set of filters rigidly fixed in the second housing for filtering portions of the second excitation beam that are outside of a second excitation wavelength range different than the first excitation wavelength range, for filtering portions of the emitted light that are outside of a second emission wavelength range different than the first emission wavelength range, and for directing the light in the second emission wavelength range to the second detector;
and
c) optical devices for placing the first and second optics assemblies in optical communication with first and second walls of the chamber, respectively.

11 more elements

An apparatus for thermally controlling and optically interrogating a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel, wherein the vessel has a chamber for holding the mixture, the apparatus comprising:

a) at least one thermal surface for contacting the vessel;
b) at least one heating element for heating the thermal surface;
c) a first optics assembly comprising:
i) a first light source for generating a first excitation beam;
ii) a first detector for detecting light emitted from the chamber;
and
iii) a first set of filters arranged with the first light source and first detector for filtering portions of the first excitation beam that are outside of a first excitation wavelength range and for filtering portions of the emitted light that are outside of a first emission wavelength range;
d) a second optics assembly comprising:
i) a second light source for generating a second excitation beam;
ii) a second detector for detecting light emitted from the chamber;
and
iii) a second set of filters arranged with the second light source and second detector for filtering portions of the second excitation beam that are outside of a second excitation wavelength range different than the first excitation wavelength range and for filtering portions of the emitted light that are outside of a second emission wavelength range different than the first emission wavelength range;
and
e) optical devices for placing the first and second optics assemblies in optical communication with first and second walls of the chamber, respectively.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-channel optical detection system

Life of this patent

Multi-channel optical detection system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35