Hand-held portable microarray reader for biodetection

A hand-held portable microarray reader apparatus for analyzing a sample, comprising:

• a high-powered light-emitting diode that emits excitation light,
• an excitation filter positioned to receive said excitation light,
• a sample holder for positioning said sample to receive said excitation light from said excitation filter,
• an emission filter positioned to receive said excitation light from said sample holder,
• a lens positioned to receive said excitation light from said emission filter, and
• a camera positioned to receive said excitation light from said lens,
• wherein said high-powered light-emitting diode, said an excitation filter, said sample holder, said emission filter, said lens, and said camera are positioned relative to each other such that the hand-held portable microarray reader apparatus for analyzing a sample fits within an envelope of 20 cm by 7 cm by 5 cm or smaller.

A hand-held portable microarray reader apparatus for analyzing a sample, comprising:

• a high-powered light-emitting diode that emits excitation light;
• an excitation filter positioned to receive said excitation light;
• a slide;
• a slide holder assembly for positioning said slide to receive said excitation light from said excitation filter, wherein said high-powered light-emitting diode is positioned to provide illumination to back illuminate said slide with said excitation light;
• an emission filter positioned to receive said excitation light from said slide;
• a lens positioned to receive said excitation light from said emission filter;
• and
• a CCD camera positioned to receive said excitation light from said lens.

A hand-held portable microarray reader apparatus for analyzing a sample, comprising:

• a high-powered light-emitting diode that emits excitation light, wherein said high-powered light-emitting diode is an ultra-bright LED, powered at 3.3 V, with a peak wavelength of 530 nm with a range of 520-550 nm, and the power being approximately 80 mW;
• an excitation filter positioned to receive said excitation light;
• a slide;
• a slide holder assembly for positioning said slide to receive said excitation light from said excitation filter, wherein said high-powered light-emitting diode is positioned to provide illumination to back illuminate said slide with said excitation light;
• an emission filter positioned to receive said excitation light from said slide;
• a lens positioned to receive said excitation light from said emission filter;
• and
• a CCD camera positioned to receive said excitation light from said lens.

A hand-held portable microarray reader apparatus for analyzing a sample, comprising:

• a high-powered light-emitting diode that emits excitation light, wherein said high-powered light-emitting diode is an ultra-bright LED, powered at 3.3 V, with a peak wavelength of 530 nm with a range of 520-550 nm, and the power being approximately 80 mW;
• an excitation filter positioned to receive said excitation light;
• a slide;
• a slide holder assembly for positioning said slide to receive said excitation light from said excitation filter, wherein said high-powered light-emitting diode is positioned to provide illumination to back illuminate said slide with said excitation light;
• an emission filter positioned to receive said excitation light from said slide;
• a lens positioned to receive said excitation light from said emission filter;
• and
• a CCD camera positioned to receive said excitation light from said lens, wherein said CCD camera has a dark count of 2 electrons per pixel per second at 25° C. with a readout noise of 8 electrons, and a quantum efficiency of 40% at 500 nm.