Fluorescence detecting optical system and multi-channel fluorescence detection apparatus including the same

A fluorescence detection optical system comprising:

• a light source unit which emits excitation light;
• an objective lens which focuses the excitation light on a microfluidic device;
• a fluorescence detector which detects fluorescence which is generated by the microfluidic device while a sample in the microfluidic device is excited by the excitation light;
• an automatic focusing unit which detects the excitation light which is reflected off the microfluidic device, calculates a focusing error of the excitation light reflected off the microfluidic device, and adjusts a focusing position of the objective lens with respect to the microfluidic device;
• and
• a light transferring unit which transfers the excitation light emitted from the light source unit to the microfluidic device, transfers the excitation light reflected off the microfluidic device to the automatic focusing unit, and transfers the fluorescence generated by the microfluidic device to the fluorescence detector,
• wherein the light source unit comprises:
• a first light source which emits an excitation light beam of a first wavelength;
• a first excitation light filter which passes the excitation light beam of the first wavelength;
• a second light source which emits an excitation light beam of a second wavelength which is different from the first wavelength;
• and
• a second excitation light filter which passes the excitation light beam of the second wavelength,
• wherein the light transferring unit comprises:
• a first dichroic filter which faces the first light source and the second light source, passes the excitation light beam of the first wavelength emitted from the first light source, and reflects the excitation light beam of the second wavelength emitted from the second light source;
• a second dichroic filter which is between the objective lens and the fluorescence detector, reflects the excitation light and passes the fluorescence generated by the microfluidic device;
• and
• a beam splitter which is between the first dichroic filter and the second dichroic filter, passes a portion of the excitation light incident on the beam splitter, and reflects a remaining portion of the excitation light incident on the beam splitter.

A fluorescence detection optical system comprising:

• a light source unit which emits excitation light;
• an objective lens which focuses the excitation light on a microfluidic device;
• a fluorescence detector which detects fluorescence which is generated by the microfluidic device while a sample in the microfluidic device is excited by the excitation light;
• an automatic focusing unit which detects the excitation light which is reflected off the microfluidic device, calculates a focusing error of the excitation light reflected off the microfluidic device, and adjusts a focusing position of the objective lens with respect to the microfluidic device;
• and
• a light transferring unit which transfers the excitation light emitted from the light source unit to the microfluidic device, transfers the excitation light reflected off the microfluidic device to the automatic focusing unit, and transfers the fluorescence generated by the microfluidic device to the fluorescence detector,
• wherein the light source unit comprises:
• a first light source which emits an excitation light beam of a first wavelength, and
• a second light source which emits an excitation light beam of a second wavelength which is different from the first wavelength,
• wherein the plurality of fluorescence detectors comprises:
• a first fluorescence detector which detects a fluorescence beam with a third wavelength generated while the sample is excited by the excitation light beam of the first wavelength, and
• a second fluorescence detector which detects a fluorescence beam with a fourth wavelength generated while the sample is excited by the excitation light beam of the second wavelength, and
• wherein the plurality of automatic focusing units comprises:
• a first automatic focusing unit which measures the excitation light beam of the first wavelength reflected off the microfluidic device, and performs an automatic focusing function, and
• a second automatic focusing unit which measures the excitation light beam of the second wavelength reflected off the microfluidic device, and performs an automatic focusing function.