# US 7,358,476 B2 · Sensing photons from objects in channels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,358,476 B2 - Document ID: US7358476B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/315,992 - Filed: 2005-12-22 - Published: 2007-06-28 - Granted: 2008-04-15 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-22 - Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated - Inventors: Peter Kiesel; Meng H. Lean; Oliver Schmidt; Armin R. Völkel; Noble M. Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7358476B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/05: Flow-through cuvettes (G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10) - G01N 21/645: {Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters} - G01N 21/65: Raman scattering - G01N 21/658: {enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons} - G01N 2021/0346: {Capillary cells; Microcells} - G01N 2021/1734: {Sequential different kinds of measurements; Combining two or more methods} - G01N 2021/6421: {Measuring at two or more wavelengths} - G01N 2021/6482: {Sample cells, cuvettes} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A fluidic structure includes a channel and along the channel is a series of sensing components to obtain information about objects traveling within the channel, such as droplets or other objects carried by fluid. At least one sensing component includes a set of cells of a photosensor array. The set of cells photosense a range of photon energies that emanate from objects, and include a subset of cells that photosense within subranges. A processor can receive information about objects from the sensing components and use it to obtain spectral information. The processor can perform an initial analysis using information from one set of sensing components and, based on the results, control a fluidic device in the channel, such as a gate, to retain objects, such as for concentration and more detailed analysis by other sensing components, or to purge objects from the channel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus comprising: a fluidic structure with a channel defined therein within which objects travel, the objects being capable of emanating photons as the objects travel within the channel; and along the channel, a series of two or more sensing components that obtain information about objects traveling within respective portions of the channel; the series including a first sensing component that includes a respective set of cells of a photosensor array, the set of cells photosensing photons within a first range of photon energies that emanate from objects traveling within the respective portion of the channel, the set including a subset of two or more cells each of which photosenses photons in a respective subrange of the first range of photon energies, the subranges of at least two cells in the subset being different from each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which the photosensor array is included in a respective IC. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 in which the sensing components further include a second sensing component that includes a respective set of cells of a photosensor array included in a respective IC, the set of cells photosensing photons within a second range of photon energies that emanate from objects traveling within the respective portion of the channel; the first and second ranges of photon energies being different from each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 in which the respective set of cells of the second sensing component includes a subset of two or more cells each of which photosenses photons in a respective subrange of the second range of photon energies, the subranges of at least two cells in the subset being different from each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: circuitry that responds to the first and second sensing components, providing signals that indicate spectral information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5 in which the circuitry further responds to all the sensing components in the series and provides signals indicating a complete spectral distribution. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5 in which the signals indicate a spectral profile of an analyte, the circuitry further comparing the spectral profile with a library of spectral profiles to identify the analyte. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, further including a fluidic device connected to receive control signals from the circuitry; the circuitry providing the control signals based on the spectral information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first sensing component is one of a fluorescence spectroscope, an absorption spectroscope, a scatter spectroscope, or a Raman spectroscope. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which the fluidic structure includes at least one of micromolded polydimethylsiloxane, etched glass, quartz, and patterned polymer material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which the objects are carried within the channel by fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 in which the first sensing component further includes: an excitation component that provides electromagnetic wave excitation to the objects being carried within the respective portion of the channel by the fluid, the objects emitting photons in response to the electromagnetic wave excitation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 in which the respective portion of the channel is an anti-resonant waveguide in response to the electromagnetic wave excitation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 in which the excitation component includes a laser or light emitting diode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 in which the excitation component provides continuous electromagnetic wave excitation while an object is within the respective portion of the channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 in which the first sensing component further includes: an illumination component that illuminates the objects, the objects scattering photons in response to being illuminated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a fluid propelling component that propels the fluid through the channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 in which the fluid propelling component includes at least one of an electro-osmotic pump, a gas pressure pump, a positive displacement pump, a micro-peristaltic pump, an electro-kinetic pump, and a thermal mode pump. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 in which the first sensing component further includes: an excitation component that adds a reagent to the fluid, the objects reacting with the reagent in the respective portion of the channel and, in response, emitting photons. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 in which the fluidic structure includes a surface that contacts the fluid, the surface including an anti-adhesion coating that allows the objects in the fluid to move without adhering to the surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which objects travel through the channel without reacting with reagents. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first sensing component further includes: a transmission structure that transmits photons emanating from objects in the respective portion of the channel to the sensing component's set of cells, the transmission structure having a set of regions, each region transmitting photons within one of the respective subranges. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 in which the transmission structure includes a coating that varies along the channel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23 in which the coating is over the photosensor array included in the sensing component's respective IC. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A system that comprises the apparatus of claim 1, the system further comprising: a processor connected to receive information about objects from at least two of the sensing components in the series. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 in which the processor uses the information about objects to obtain spectral information about the objects. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, further including a fluidic device connected to receive control signals from the processor; the processor providing the control signals based on the spectral information. ### Claim 28 A method comprising: producing an apparatus that includes a fluidic structure and two or more sensing components; the fluidic structure having a channel defined therein within which objects travel, the objects being capable of emanating photons as they travel within the channel; the act of producing the apparatus comprising:producing the apparatus so that the sensing components are in a series along the channel, obtaining information about objects traveling within respective portions of the channel; the series including a first sensing component that includes a respective set of cells of a photosensor array, the set of cells photosensing photons within a first range of photon energies that emanate from objects traveling within the respective portion of the channel, the set including a subset of two or more cells each of which photosenses photons in a respective subrange of the first range of photon energies, the subranges of at least two cells in the subset being different from each other. ### Claim 29 A method of obtaining information about objects, the method comprising: causing one or more objects to travel within a channel defined within a fluidic structure while photons emanate from the objects; and using a series of sensing components along the channel, obtaining information about objects traveling within respective portions of the channel; the series including a first sensing component that includes a respective set of cells of a photosensor array, the set of cells photosensing photons within a first range of photon energies that emanate from objects traveling within the respective portion of the channel, the set including a subset of two or more cells each of which photosenses photons in a respective subrange of the first range of photon energies, the subranges of at least two cells in the subset being different from each other; the act of using the series of sensing components comprising: using information from the first sensing component to obtain spectral information about objects traveling within its respective portion of the channel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, in which the act of using the series of sensing components further comprises: using information from all the sensing components to obtain the spectral information. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, in which the act of using the series of sensing components further comprises: providing control signals to a fluidic device in the channel based on the spectral information. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, in which the fluidic device is a gate that, when actuated, directs movement of one or more of the objects in the channel; the act of providing the control signals further comprising: providing the control signals to actuate the gate.