Shutter assembly for a luminescence-based sample analyzer

A sample analyzer, comprising:

• an illuminator;
• a support positioned to support a sample vessel containing an assay sample proximate the illuminator, such that the illuminator causes luminescence or fluorescence of the assay sample;
• a detector positioned along an optical axis extending from the illuminator, through the assay sample, to the detector, so as to detect the luminescence or fluorescence of the assay sample;
• and
• a shutter assembly positioned along the optical axis and adjacent the detector, operable to interrupt light from the illuminator, the shutter assembly having:
• a first shutter blade with a first toothed arm extending therefrom and a first light transmitting aperture therein;
• a second shutter blade positioned adjacent and parallel to the first shutter blade, the second shutter blade having a second toothed arm extending therefrom and a second light transmitting aperture therein, the first and second shutter blades supported to allow parallel linear motion;
• and
• a motor having a gear disposed between and meshed with the first and second toothed arms such that rotation of the gear causes the first and second shutter blades to move linearly in opposite directions between an open position in which the first and second light transmitting apertures are in an overlapping relationship with respect to one another, and a closed position in which the first and second light transmitting apertures are in a non-overlapping relationship with respect to one another
• wherein the assay sample is disposed in between the illuminator and the shutter assembly along the optical axis
• wherein the apparatus is configured with an illumination mode and a measurement mode,
• wherein during the illumination mode the motor moves the first and second shutter blades to the closed position and the illuminator is operated to illuminate the assay sample;
• wherein during the measurement mode the illuminator is operated to discontinue illuminating the sample;
• further wherein during the measurement mode the motor moves the first and second shutter blades to the open position such that luminescence from the assay sample passes through the first and second light transmitting apertures to the detector along the optical axis.

A method of analyzing as assay sample, comprising:

• obtaining a sample analyzer comprising:
• an illuminator;
• a support positioned to support a sample vessel containing an assay sample proximate the illuminator;
• a detector positioned along an optical axis extending from the illuminator, through the assay sample, to the detector;
• and
• a shutter assembly, positioned along the optical axis and adjacent the detector, the shutter assembly comprising:
• a first shutter blade having a first toothed arm extending therefrom and a first light transmitting aperture therein;
• a second shutter blade positioned adjacent and parallel to the first shutter blade, the second shutter blade having a second toothed arm extending therefrom and a second light transmitting aperture therein, the first and second shutter blades supported to allow parallel linear motion;
• and
• a motor having a gear disposed between, and meshed with, the first and second toothed arms such that rotation of the gear causes the first and second shutter blades to move linearly in opposite directions between an open position in which the first and second light transmitting apertures are in an overlapping relationship with respect to one another, and a closed position in which the first and second light transmitting apertures are in a non-overlapping relationship with respect to one another
• wherein the assay sample is disposed in between the illuminator and the shutter assembly along the optical axis;
• supporting the sample vessel containing the assay sample proximate to the illuminator;
• illuminating the assay sample to cause luminescence of the assay sample during an illumination mode of the sample analyzer;
• operating the shutter assembly to cause the first and second shutter blades to reach and maintain a closed position during the illumination mode;
• discontinuing the illumination of the sample during a measurement mode of the sample analyzer,
• operating the shutter assembly to cause the first and second shutter blades to reach and maintain an open position during the measurement mode such that luminescence from the assay passes through the first and second light transmitting apertures towards the detector along the optical axis;
• and
• measuring the luminescence or fluorescence.