Miniaturized fluorescence analysis system
AssigneeUniversity of Washington
InventorsDenise M. Wilson, Andrew E. Moe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to embodiments of the present invention, a fluorescence analysis system includes a light emitting diode to excite a fluorophor sample for analysis. The system includes an LED driver that pulses the LEDs in the array with currents in excess of maximum rated current at low duty cycles. One embodiment receives a first drive current at a light emitting diode (LED), emits excitation light having a first color and/or first wavelength band in response to the first drive current, receives a second drive current at the LED, and emits excitation light having a second color and/or second wavelength band in response to the second drive current, wherein at least one of the drive currents is greater than a nominal drive current for the LED.
Claims23
An apparatus for performing fluorescence analysis using a plurality of drive currents, comprising:
- a light emitting diode (LED);
- control electronics to apply a plurality of drive currents to the LED, wherein a first drive current in the plurality of drive currents is to cause the LED to emit excitation light having a first color and/or first wavelength band, wherein a second drive current in the plurality of drive currents is to cause the LED to emit excitation light having a second color and/or second wavelength band, wherein at least one of the drive currents is greater than a nominal drive current for the LED;
- optics to couple the excitation light from the LED to a holder for a fluorophor, the fluorophor to emit light in response to the excitation light from the LED, the light emitted from the fluorophor having a color and/or wavelength band that is different from the color and/or wavelength band of the excitation light coupled to the holder;
- one or more photodetectors;
- and
- an optical signal path to couple the light from the holder to the photodetector.
A method for performing fluorescence analysis using a plurality of drive currents, comprising:
- receiving a first drive current in the plurality of drive currents at a light emitting diode (LED);
- emitting excitation light having a first color and/or first wavelength band in response to the first drive current;
- receiving a second or more drive current in the plurality of drive currents at the LED;
- emitting excitation light having a second color and/or second wavelength band in response to the second drive current, wherein at least one of the drive currents is greater than a nominal drive current for the LED;
- coupling the excitation light from the LED to a sample having a fluorophor therein;
- emitting light from the fluorophor in response to the excitation light, the light emitted from the fluorophor having a color and/or wavelength band that is different from the color and/or wavelength band of the excitation light coupled to the holder, the light emitted from the fluorophor also being different from the emitted light using first drive current and the second or more drive current;
- and
- coupling the light from emitted from the fluorophor to one or more photodetectors, the photodetectors having a spectral sensitivity to capture differences in color or wavelength band between emissions corresponding to the first drive current and the second or more drive currents.
A method for performing fluorescence analysis, comprising:
- receiving a first drive current at a light emitting diode (LED);
- emitting excitation light having a first color and/or first wavelength band in response to the first drive current;
- receiving a second drive current at the LED;
- and
- emitting excitation light having a second color and/or second wavelength band in response to the second drive current, wherein at least one of the drive currents is greater than a nominal drive current for the LED
- detecting the excitation light emitted from the LED;
- coupling the excitation light from the LED to a holder for a fluorophor;
- emitting light from the excitation light, the light emitted from the fluorophor having a color and/or wavelength band that is different from the color and/or wavelength band of the excitation light coupled to the holder;
- and
- coupling the light emitted from the fluorophor to a photodetector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.