US 7,567,695 B2 · Method and apparatus for reading reporter labeled beads

Abstract

Combinatorially-synthesized deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) oligonucleotides attached to encoded beads that are hybridized to amplified and labeled genomic DNA or ribonucleic acid (RNA) are analyzed using a flow imaging system. Oligonucleotides and corresponding reporters are bound to the surfaces of a plurality of small beads such that different beads bear different oligo sequences. Each bead bears a unique optical signature comprising a predefined number of unique reporters, where each reporter comprises a predefined combination of different fluorochromes. The composite spectral signature in turn identifies the unique nucleotide sequence of its attached oligo chains. This optical signature is rapidly decoded using an imaging system to discriminate the different reporters attached to each bead in a flow in regard to color and spatial position on the bead.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A method for imaging and decoding a plurality of encoded beads comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting light from an encoded bead along a collection path;
(b) dispersing the light that is traveling along the collection path into a plurality of light beams, as a function of a plurality of different discriminable characteristics of the light;
(c) focussing each of the plurality of light beams to produce a respective image corresponding to that light beam, thereby generating a plurality of images, each image being indicative of an identity of said encoded bead;
(d) detecting the plurality of images using at least one detector;
(e) analyzing the plurality of images to determine the identity of said encoded bead using a signal processor configured to process output signals from the at least one detector to decode the encoded bead;
and
(f) repeating steps (a)-(e) for successive encoded beads from the plurality of encoded beads.

4 more elements

An imaging system for imaging and decoding a plurality of encoded beads to which is attached one or more compounds, each compound being associated with a unique reporter set, each reporter set including at least one reporter, comprising:

(a) a collection lens disposed so that light traveling from each encoded bead passes through the collection lens and is focussed along a collection path;
(b) a dispersing component that receives the light from the collection lens and disperses the light into a plurality of light beams, as a function of a plurality of different discriminable characteristics of the light, said plurality of different discriminable characteristics being indicative of the reporter sets associated with the encoded beads;
(c) at least one pixilated detector;
(d) an imaging lens that focuses each of the plurality of light beams on said at least one pixilated detector, producing a respective image corresponding to each of the plurality of light beams, said at least one pixilated detector providing an output signal for each respective image, each output signal indicating the reporter set associated with the encoded bead;
and
(e) a signal processor coupled to receive the output signals from said at least one pixilated detector, said signal processor processing the output signals to decode each reporter set associated with the encoded bead, thereby identifying each compound attached to the encoded bead.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for reading reporter labeled beads

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for reading reporter labeled beads

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28