US 7,599,059 B2 · Monitoring molecular interactions using photon arrival-time interval distribution analysis

Abstract

A method for analyzing/monitoring the properties of species that are labeled with fluorophores. A detector is used to detect photons emitted from species that are labeled with one or more fluorophores and located in a confocal detection volume. The arrival time of each of the photons is determined. The interval of time between various photon pairs is then determined to provide photon pair intervals. The number of photons that have arrival times within the photon pair intervals is also determined. The photon pair intervals are then used in combination with the corresponding counts of intervening photons to analyze properties and interactions of the molecules including brightness, concentration, coincidence and transit time. The method can be used for analyzing single photon streams and multiple photon streams.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for analyzing properties of one or more species that are labeled with fluorophores, said method comprising the steps of:

using a detector to detect a plurality of photons that are emitted in a photon stream from a species that is labeled with a fluorophore located in a detection volume wherein each of said photons arrives at said detector at an arrival time;
determining the arrival time of each of said photons in said plurality of photons;
identifying the intervals between the arrival time of a given photon and the arrival time of other photons in said plurality of photons to thereby provide photon pair intervals that are a measure of the time between the arrival of each pair of photons in said plurality of photons;
determining the number of photons that have arrival times that are within said photon pair intervals to provide a measure of intervening photons located within said photon pair intervals;
and
calculating properties of said species that are located in said detection volume based on a relationship between said photon pair intervals and said measure of intervening photons.

3 more elements

In a method for analyzing properties of one or more species that are labeled with fluorophores and that are located within a detection volume where a detector is used to detect a plurality of photons that are emitted as part of a photon stream from said species, the improvement comprising:

determining the time when said photons in said plurality of photons arrive at said detector to provide an arrival time for each of said photons;
identifying the intervals between the arrival time of a given photon and the arrival time of other photons in said plurality of photons to thereby provide photon pair intervals that are a measure of the time between the arrival of each pair of photons in said plurality of photons;
determining the number of photons that have arrival times that are within said photon pair intervals to provide a measure of intervening photons located within said photon pair intervals;
and
calculating properties of said one or more species that are located in said detection volume based on a relationship between said photon pair intervals and said measure of intervening photons.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Monitoring molecular interactions using photon arrival-time interval distribution analysis

Life of this patent

Monitoring molecular interactions using photon arrival-time interval distribution analysis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18