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US 7,248,359 B2Granted
Combining multi-spectral light from spatially separated sources
AssigneeApplera Corporation
InventorSteven J. Boege
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for biological sample detection by combining and directing light with an optical blender that provides a composite beam from spatially and spectrally distinct non-parallel light sources.
Claims16
A biological sample excitation system, the system comprising:
- a first light source emitting a first light beam having a first optical spectrum;
- a second light source spatially separated from the first light source, the second light source emitting a second light beam having a second optical spectrum, wherein the second optical spectrum is different from the first optical spectrum, and wherein the first light beam and the second light beam have non-parallel paths;
- and
- an optical blender positioned in the paths of the first light beam and the second light beam, wherein the optical blender combines the first light beam and the second light beam into a composite beam directed toward a luminescent dye that produces emission light in relation to nucleic acid present in the biological sample,
- wherein the optical blender is a wedge, wherein the wedge comprises a dichroic surface and a reflective surface.
2 more elements
A biological sample excitation system, the system comprising:
- a first light source emitting a first light beam having a first optical spectrum;
- a second light source spatially separated from the first light source, the second light source emitting a second light beam having a second optical spectrum, wherein the second optical spectrum is different from the first optical spectrum, and wherein the first light beam and the second light beam have non-parallel paths;
- and
- an optical blender positioned in the paths of the first light beam and the second light beam, wherein the optical blender combines the first light beam arid the second light beam into a composite beam directed toward a luminescent dye that produces emission light in relation to nucleic acid present in the biological sample,
- wherein the optical blender comprises at least one of a diffraction grating, an optical prism, a beamsplitter, a wedge, and a mirror array relay, and
- wherein the optical blender comprises two or more optical blenders.
3 more elements
A biological sample detection system, the system comprising:
- a first light source emitting a first light beam having a first optical spectrum;
- a second light source spatially separated from the first light source, the second light source emitting a second light beam having a second optical spectrum, wherein the second optical spectrum is different from the first optical spectrum, and wherein the first light beam and the second light beam have non-parallel paths;
- and
- an optical blender positioned in the paths of the first light beam and the second light beam, wherein the optical blender combines the first light beam and the second light beam into a composite beam directed toward a luminescent dye that produces emission light in relation to nucleic acid present in the biological sample;
- and
- a detector configured to detect the emission light generated in the biological sample,
- wherein the detector comprises two or more detectors, and
- wherein the optical blender separates the emission light into two or more emission light components, and wherein each of the two or more detectors detects each of the two or more emission light components, wherein each emission light component is generated by different dyes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.