High resolution, wide dynamic range microfluidic detection system
AssigneeRadisens Diagnostics Limited
InventorsDonal Cronin, Jerry O'Brien, Lee Barry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a high resolution, wide dynamic range, multi-color detection platform for microfluidic analyzers/instruments and methods. The detection platform uses multiple high gain semiconductor optical sensors for the detection of luminescence from cellular or biological samples. The digitized outputs from these sensors are combined and weighted in a signal processing unit, using pre-determined algorithms for each color, which optimize the resolution in each of these high gain semiconductor optical sensors while extending the dynamic range of the detection platform.
Claims11
A multi-colour luminescence detection system in a microfluidic system, said detection system comprising:
- a first high gain semiconductor optical sensor, for each luminescence colour component from a cellular or biological sample in the microfluidic system, adapted to be biased at an optimal operating voltage or gain for detecting low light levels of luminescence emitted from the cellular or biological sample with high resolution;
- a second, optimally biased, high gain semiconductor optical sensor for each colour component adapted to detect light levels of luminescence higher than the levels of luminescence detected by the first high gain semiconductor optical sensor emitted from the cellular or biological sample with high resolution;
- a splitter for splitting light into at least a first light path and a second light path for each detected colour of luminescence, the first light path coupling the light to the first high gain semiconductor optical sensor and the second light path coupling the light to the second high gain semiconductor optical sensor, wherein the split ratio of the splitter is adapted to attenuate the light in the second light path;
- and
- a processor for processing per luminescence colour by combining and weighting the outputs from the first and second high gain semiconductor optical sensors using a signal processing unit, and providing an instantaneous multi-colour high resolution detection system over an extended dynamic range;
- wherein the first and second high gain semiconductor optical sensors comprise a SiPM sensor.
A method of multi-colour luminescence detection in a microfluidic system, said method comprising the steps of:
- biasing a first high gain semiconductor optical sensor, for each luminescence colour component from a cellular or biological sample in the microfluidic system, at an optimal operating voltage or gain for detecting low light levels of luminescence emitted from the cellular or biological sample with high resolution;
- biasing a second, optimally biased, high gain semiconductor optical sensor for each colour component adapted to detect light levels of luminescence higher than the levels of luminescence detected by the first high gain semiconductor optical sensor emitted from the cellular or biological sample with high resolution
- splitting light into at least a first light path and a second light path for each detected colour of luminescence, the first light path coupling the light to the first high gain semiconductor optical sensor and the second light path coupling the light to the second high gain semiconductor optical sensor, wherein the split ratio is adapted to attenuate the light in the second light path;
- and
- processing per luminescence colour by combining and weighting the outputs from the first and second high gain semiconductor optical sensors using a signal processing unit, and providing an instantaneous multi-colour high resolution detection system over an extended dynamic range;
- wherein the first and second high gain semiconductor optical sensors comprise a SiPM sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.