U.S. patent application number 14/054729 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-13 for optical instrument including excitation source.
This patent application is currently assigned to APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC. Invention is credited to Steven J. Boege, Howard G. King, Mark F. Oldham, Johannes P. Sluis, Eugene F. Young.
Application Number | 20140045187 14/054729 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46299298 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140045187 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boege; Steven J. ; et
al. |
February 13, 2014 |
OPTICAL INSTRUMENT INCLUDING EXCITATION SOURCE
Abstract
An optical instrument is provided for simultaneously
illuminating two or more spaced-apart reaction regions with
excitation beams generated by a light source. The light source can
include an area light array of light emitting diodes, one or more
solid state lasers, one or more micro-wire lasers, or a combination
thereof. According to various embodiments, a Fresnel lens can be
disposed along a beam bath between the light source and the
reaction regions. Methods of analysis using the optical instrument
are also provided.
Inventors: |
Boege; Steven J.; (San
Mateo, CA) ; King; Howard G.; (Berkeley, CA) ;
Young; Eugene F.; (Marietta, GA) ; Sluis; Johannes
P.; (Redwood City, CA) ; Oldham; Mark F.;
(Emerald Hills, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC |
Carlsbad |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC
Carlsbad
CA
|
Family ID: |
46299298 |
Appl. No.: |
14/054729 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12217410 |
Jul 3, 2008 |
8557569 |
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14054729 |
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10440920 |
May 19, 2003 |
7410793 |
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12217410 |
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10216620 |
Aug 9, 2002 |
7008789 |
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10440920 |
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09700536 |
Nov 29, 2001 |
6818437 |
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PCT/US99/11088 |
May 17, 1999 |
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10216620 |
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60381671 |
May 17, 2002 |
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60409152 |
Sep 9, 2002 |
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60450734 |
Feb 28, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
435/6.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 7/52 20130101; G01N
2021/6441 20130101; G01N 2201/0245 20130101; G01N 21/6486 20130101;
G01N 2021/6419 20130101; G01N 21/6452 20130101; G01N 2201/0628
20130101; G01N 2201/0635 20130101; G01N 2021/6439 20130101; G01N
2021/6463 20130101; Y10S 435/808 20130101; Y10S 435/809 20130101;
G01N 2021/6421 20130101; G01N 2021/6482 20130101; C12Q 2545/101
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/6.12 |
International
Class: |
G01N 21/64 20060101
G01N021/64 |
Claims
1. A method of illuminating a plurality of spaced-apart reaction
regions with excitation beams, the method comprising: providing a
light emitting diode source comprising more than one light emitting
diode; generating light excitation beams with the light emitting
diode source such that more than one light emitting diode
illuminates each spaced-apart region; thermally cycling the
contents of the plurality of spaced-apart reaction regions;
reflecting the light excitation beams off of a beam splitter;
generating emission beams in at least two of the plurality of
spaced-apart regions; and passing the emission beams through a
first focusing lens and the beam splitter to a detector.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first focusing lens comprises
a Fresnel lens.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of
reaction regions includes a sample capable of emitting emission
beams when illuminated by the excitation beams, and the method
further includes: transmitting the emission beams through a second
focusing lens; detecting the emission beams transmitted through the
second focusing lens; and generating primary data signals
representative of the emission beams.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second focusing lens
comprises a Fresnel lens.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first focusing lens and the
second focusing lens are the same focusing lens.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein the sample comprises components
for nucleic acid sequence amplification.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode source
is capable of simultaneously illuminating at least two of the
reaction regions.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode source
is capable of simultaneously illuminating at least four of the
reaction regions.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode source
comprises an organic light emitting diode.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart
reaction regions comprises 96 reaction regions.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the beam splitter comprises a
dichroic beam splitter.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the beam splitter comprises a
50/50 beam splitter.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the beam splitter comprises a
dichroic reflector.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/440,920, filed May 19, 2003, which claims
the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/381,671,
filed May 17, 2002, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/409,152, filed Sep. 9, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/450,734, filed Feb. 28, 2003, and is a
continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/216,620, filed Aug. 9, 2002, which is a continuation of
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/700,536, filed Nov.
29, 2001, which is a National Stage of International Application
No. PCT/US99/11088, filed May 17, 1999, which published as
publication number WO 99/60381. Cross-reference is made to
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/440,852, and to U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/440,719, both filed May 19, 2003.
All Patents, Patent Applications, and publications mentioned herein
are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to instrumentation for
detecting and measuring fluorescence, and to methods of using the
instrumentation.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Fluorometers are described, for example, in International
Publications No. WO 01/35079 and WO 99/60381, both of which are
incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
[0004] For various applications, an inexpensive optical instrument
including a low heat-generating light source that uses minimal
power is desirable. For various purposes, an inexpensive optical
instrument including an LED excitation source capable of
simultaneously illuminating one or more sample containers is
desirable.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to various embodiments, an instrument for use in
the analysis of one or more analytes is provided. The instrument
can include a plurality of spaced-apart reaction regions, an
excitation source adapted to simultaneously illuminate one or more
of the spaced-apart reaction regions, and, optionally, a Fresnel
lens disposed along a beam path between the excitation source and
the spaced-apart reaction regions. The excitation source can
comprise an array of light sources.
[0006] According to various embodiments, an optical system can
include a Fresnel lens that focuses excitation beams radiated from
a light source to simultaneously illuminate one or more of a
plurality of spaced-apart reaction regions, for example, one or
more wells of a multi-well microtiter plate.
[0007] According to various embodiments, methods are provided for
simultaneously illuminating one or more of a plurality of
spaced-apart reaction regions with excitation beams generated from
a light source comprising an array of light sources.
[0008] Additional embodiments are set forth in part in the
description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the various
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical instrument and
an optical pathway generated by the instrument according to various
embodiments;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical instrument for
providing the pathway shown in FIG. 1, with a side panel
removed;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the optical
instrument shown in FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an array excitation source
used according to various embodiments;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the array excitation
source shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.;
[0014] FIGS. 6a and 6b are a side view and an end view,
respectively, of a n array excitation source, according to various
embodiments;
[0015] FIGS. 7a-7c are schematic diagrams of a modular light
source, according to various embodiments, wherein FIG. 7a is a
light source module, FIG. 7b is a light source lens array capable
of mounting on the light source module and including two light
source lenses, and FIG. 7c is a light source lens array capable of
mounting on the light source module and including four light source
lenses;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an optical instrument and
an optical pathway generated by the instrument, wherein the
instrument includes an array excitation source and a condensing
lens, according to various embodiments;
[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a light source
layout, for example, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layout;
and
[0018] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a light
source layout, for example, an OLED layout with varying color OLEDs
stacked upon each other.
[0019] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only and are intended to provide a further
explanation of the various embodiments of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Various embodiments described herein provide an instrument
for use in the analysis of one or more analytes. According to
various embodiments, the instrument includes a plurality of
spaced-apart reaction regions, a light source adapted to
simultaneously illuminate one or more of the reaction regions with
excitation radiation, and optionally a Fresnel lens disposed along
a beam path between the light source and the reaction regions. An
exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary instrument according to various
embodiments that can include a reaction region holding assembly 48,
for example, a thermal cycler block, including wells 44 for holding
respective reaction regions 40, for example, vials, spaced apart
from one another. The reaction regions contain respective samples
42. The samples can be, for example, respective suspensions of
ingredients for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). If the reaction
region holding assembly 48 is a thermal cycler block, the assembly
48 can include a thermal cycle controller 49 for cycling the
temperature of the block through a temperature program.
[0022] Each reaction region 40 can include, for example, any
chamber, vessel, container, sample well, capsule, vial, sample
array, centrifuge tube, or other containing, restraining,
retaining, or confining device, without limitation, that is capable
of retaining one or more samples for fluorometric analysis or
illumination thereof. The reaction regions 40 can be fixed,
secured, mounted, or otherwise attached or connected to, separate
from, or integral with, the reaction region holding assembly 48.
The assembly 48 can be attached or connected to, or placed on, a
surface of a substrate or a holder and positioned to enable one or
more of the reaction regions to be illuminated by a light source.
The holding assembly can be, for example, a purification tray,
microtiter tray, multiwell tray, sample array, micro-well array or
like device for holding multiple samples.
[0023] The samples 42 to be analyzed can include aqueous
suspensions of sample materials, for example, that might include a
"seed" sample of a target nucleic acid sequence, selected primers,
nucleic acids, enzymes, buffers, and other chemicals conventionally
used for PCR, for an isothermal reaction or another DNA
amplification method well known in the art.
[0024] The reaction regions 40 can be heated and cooled in a
predetermined cycle by electric heaters, liquid or air coolants, or
a combination of these, or by other methods to achieve thermal
cycling. The reaction regions 40 can be cycled between two
temperature phases so as to affect PCR, for example.
[0025] Spaced-apart reaction regions 40, for example, conical or
cylindrical vials, can be separate from each other, or can be
integrally formed in a unitary tray, for example, a plastic tray.
The reaction region holding assembly 48 can hold a plurality of
vials, for example, 96, in an array, such as an array of 12 by 8
vials. According to various embodiments, the vials or reaction
regions can be removed from the reaction region holding assembly 48
for preparation and/or sample loading. According to various
embodiments, a plastic unitary cover, such as a cover including
caps 46, can be provided to seal the vials.
[0026] The caps 46 can rest on, attach to, or seal tightly with the
reaction regions 40 to prevent contamination and evaporative loss
of the samples 42 in the reaction regions 40. Other methods and
instruments can be used for this function, such as disposing oil
such as mineral oil on the sample surface, in which case caps may
not be needed. If used, caps 46 can be transparent to light
utilized in the instrument. The caps 46 can be convex, for example,
facing upwardly. According to various embodiments and as shown in
FIG. 1, convex, upwardly-facing caps 46 can function as reaction
region lenses to focus respective bundles 28 of excitation beams
into a sample 42 in a respective reaction region 40.
[0027] According to various embodiments, each cap 46 can fit
snuggly on or in each respective vial 40 such that the cap 46 when
fit into or onto vial 40 can support the weight of vial 40
suspended from the cap 46. According to various embodiments wherein
vial 40 is suspended from cap 46, the cap can have a mushroom-like
shape, having a convex top and a narrower base protruding below the
top such that the narrower base can fit snuggly into vial 40. The
cap 46 supporting the vial 40 can rest on a platform 47, as shown
in FIG. 1, wherein the platform has through holes for passage of
vials 40 through the platform such that caps 46 rest on platform 47
while vials 40 are suspended from caps 46 and extend through
platform 47. According to various embodiments, a plurality of caps
46 can be formed as a single sheet such that the sheet can be laid
over a plurality of reaction regions such as vials 40. A plurality
of caps 46 can be formed as a single heat shield cover sheet.
[0028] According to various embodiments, a monitoring instrument
can be mounted over the reaction region holding assembly 48
containing the reaction regions 40. The instrument can be removable
or can swing away for access to the reaction regions 40.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the instrument can include
a platen 130 that rests over the caps 46 or, if no caps are used,
that rests directly over the reaction regions 40. The platen 130
can be aluminum and can include an array of holes 135 aligned with
reaction regions 40, with each hole having a diameter that is about
the same as the top diameter of the reaction region. If caps 46 are
used, the platen 130 can have its temperature maintained by a film
heater or other instrument to prevent condensation from forming
under the caps 46. The heating of the platen, however, should not
interfere with the reaction, such as DNA replication, in the
reaction regions 40. An exemplary method to prevent condensation is
to maintain the platen 130 at a slightly higher temperature than
the highest sample temperature that the reaction region holding
assembly 48 reaches.
[0030] According to various embodiments and as depicted in FIG. 1,
a focusing lens such as a reaction region lens 30 can be positioned
above each of reaction regions 40 so that a focal point of the
focusing lens is approximately centered in a respective sample 42
in a respective reaction region 40. A focusing lens 35, for
example, an objective lens or a Fresnel lens, can be placed above
reaction region lens 30 to provide, for example, a telecentric
optical system. The terms "focusing lens" and "reaction region
lens" used throughout this disclosure can be interchangeable in
that a reaction region lens, a focusing lens, or both can be
present according to various embodiments. Each focusing lens 35 and
each reaction lens 30 can include two or more lenses that can
together affect a desired focus, thus the word "lens" herein
includes such multiplicities. A convex, upwardly-facing cap of a
reaction region can function, for example, as a reaction region
lens. According to various embodiments, a Fresnel lens as a
focusing lens 35 and a reaction region lens 30 can be present in
the instrument. A neutral density pattern (not shown) to correct
inconsistencies in illumination and imaging can be mounted on or in
proximity to the focusing lens or reaction region lens, for
example, to attenuate light in the center of the image field.
[0031] A fluorescent marker or dye in a sample in a reaction region
can emit light at an emission frequency when excited by an
excitation beam of the appropriate wavelength. The emitted light
can be passed as emission beam 85 to a detector 80. According to
various embodiments, emission beam 85 can pass through a reaction
region lens 30 and/or focusing lens 35, such as Fresnel lens, to a
detector 80. A fold mirror 65 can be optionally mounted at a
45.degree. angle, or any other suitable angle, for convenient
packaging. The fold mirror 65 can be omitted, or other such folding
optics can be used instead or in addition to the fold mirror.
According to various embodiments, emission beam 85 can be reflected
by fold mirror 65 toward a filter 60, such as a long pass filter or
beam splitter. Filter 60 can pass or reflect an emission beam 85 to
detector 80. According to various embodiments, filter 60 can
include a curved surface, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0032] One or more of reaction region lens 30, focusing lens 35,
and cap 46 can provide a primary focusing system for focusing the
excitation beams into reaction region 40 and/or for focusing
emission beams 85 toward a detector 80. According to various
embodiments, focusing lens 35 can be omitted so that the focusing
system includes reaction region lens 30, or vice versa. According
to various embodiments, a plurality of reaction region lenses can
form a reaction region lens array, wherein each reaction region
lens can correspond to a separate reaction region. A lens array can
be incorporated into a Fresnel lens. A single structure that has a
plurality of optical elements built into the structure can also be
used. The reaction region lens can be disposed between the Fresnel
lens and the reaction region such that each bundle of excitation
beams from the light source passes through the Fresnel lens and
impinges on a respective reaction region lens, and can be focused
on a sample in a respective reaction region. According to various
embodiments, one or more of the focusing lens 35, the reaction
region lens 30, and the cap 46 can focus the emission beams 85 on a
detector 80.
[0033] According to various embodiments and as depicted in FIG. 1,
a filter 60, such as a long pass filter, can be disposed to receive
excitation beams 15 from the light source 10. According to various
embodiments and as shown in FIG. 1, filter 60 can be disposed to
receive excitation beams 25 from excitation filter 100. The filter
60 can be a dichroic reflector such that, when positioned at an
angle, such as 45.degree., the filter reflects excitation beams to
illuminate one or more of the reaction regions 40 with excitation
beams 25 that can cause one or more dye in each respective sample
to fluoresce at an emission frequency to produce an emission beam.
According to various embodiments, the filter 60 can pass light
having the emission frequency. Such a filter can utilize optical
interference layers to provide a desired frequency response.
[0034] According to various embodiments as shown in FIG. 1, and
with any of the light sources described herein, filter 60 can be
positioned so that filter 60 can reflect the excitation beams to
fold mirror 65. The excitation beams 15 can be reflected from the
filter 60 as excitation beams 25 having the excitation frequency.
Excitation beams 25 are reflected off the fold mirror 65 towards
the respective reaction regions 40. The reflected excitation beams
can be focused by Fresnel lens 35 as separated beams 28 which pass
through the reaction region lens 30 and are focused into the center
of the samples 42 of the respective reaction regions 40.
[0035] According to various embodiments, filter 60 can pass
excitation beams 15 as excitation beams 25 and reflect emission
beams 85. According to various embodiments, angles other than
45.degree. can be used if they are more suitable for the filter 60.
Although filter 60 can split the optical paths of the excitation
beams 25 from the emission beams 85, other variations that achieve
such a result are also suitable and can be used. For example, a
dichroic long pass filter used as filter 60 can be utilized to
minimize the source light reaching detector 80. According to
various embodiments, a non-dichroic long pass filter can be used as
filter 60. Filter 60 can also be, for example, a 50/50 beam
splitter, 75/25 beam splitter, 25/75 beam splitter. Collimating
lenses can be used to minimize the angle and thus the spectral
shift of the beam splitter.
[0036] According to various embodiments, a filter 60 can be
positioned such that the filter is located along an excitation beam
path between a light source 10 and a single reaction region 40.
According to various other embodiments, a filter 60 can be located
between one or more light source 10 and two or more reaction
regions 40. According to various embodiments, the filter 60 can be
located in an excitation beam path between a condensing lens and a
focusing lens (see FIG. 8), a reaction region lens, or a reaction
region. According to various other embodiments, the filter 60 can
be located in an emission beam path between a reaction region,
reaction region lens, or focusing lens and a detector.
[0037] A mirror 65 can be located in an excitation beam path
between a light source and a reaction region. According to various
embodiments, a mirror can be located in an excitation beam path
between one or more light source and two or more reaction regions.
A mirror can be located between a condensing lens or a filter, and
a focusing lens, reaction region lens, or reaction region.
[0038] To filter the excitation beams emitted from light source 10,
an excitation filter 100 can be disposed between the light source
10 and the filter 60, as shown in FIG. 1. Excitation filter 100 can
pass light having the excitation frequency for markers or dyes used
in the samples, and can substantially block light having the
emission frequency.
[0039] An emission filter 120 can be disposed between long pass
filter 60 and detector 80. Emission filter 120 can be disposed
between filter 60 and detector lens 82 in front of detector 80. The
emission filter 120 can pass emission beams having the emission
frequency emitted from the illuminated samples and can
substantially block light having the excitation frequency.
[0040] According to various embodiments, excitation filter 100 and
filter 60 together constitute a first system disposed to receive
excitation beams 15 and to form excitation beams 25 having the
excitation frequency. According to various embodiments, emission
filter 120 and filter 60 together constitute a second system
disposed to receive emission beams 85 from the focusing lens 35 so
as to pass emission beams 85 at the emission frequency to detector
80. Filter 60 can alternatively pass source beams 15 as excitation
beams 25 and reflect emission beams 85 to detector 80. According to
various embodiments, the excitation and emission filters can be
omitted, and the first system can include a filter 60 that reflects
or passes excitation beams 25, and the second system can include a
filter 60 that passes or reflects, respectively, emission beams 85
to the detector 80.
[0041] According to various embodiments, the filter 60, excitation
filter 100, and emission filter 120 can be affixed in a module 230
as shown in FIG. 2. These elements can be associated with a
selected primary dye used in the samples. The module can be
removable from a housing 232 of the instrument A for replacement
with another module capable of containing a different filter,
excitation filter, and emission filter associated with another
selected primary dye. The instrument A can include a light source
subhousing 233 and a detector or camera subhousing 235. As shown in
FIG. 2, the filter 60 can be located in instrument A such that the
filter 60 is at a 45.degree. angle with respect to plane B of the
instrument. Other suitable angles of placement of the filter with
respect to plane B can be used.
[0042] According to various embodiments and as shown in FIG. 3, the
changeable module 230 of an instrument A, as shown in FIG. 2, can
include a mounting block 234 including a flange 236 that can be
affixed to the housing 232 with a single screw 238. Filter 60 can
be held at about 45.degree., or any other suitable angle, in
mounting block 234 with a frame 240 and screws 242. Emission filter
120 can be mounted, for example, with glue, by frictional
engagement, snap-fit, or the like, into mounting block 234.
Excitation filter 100 can be mounted similarly into mounting member
244, which in turn can be held by screws 246 to mounting block 234.
With the module 230 in place, the instrument A can be closed by
attaching side plate 247 (FIG. 2), for example, with screws.
Optionally, positioning pins (not shown) ensure repeatable
alignment. A replacement module can comprise the same mounting
block and associated components but with a different long pass
filter, excitation filter, and/or emission filter.
[0043] The light source 10 for excitation beams 15 can be an array
or bundle of light-sources. According to various embodiments, and
as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the light source 10 can include an array
103 of individual light sources 104 secured in a substrate 108. The
substrate 108 can be made from any material that can withstand the
heat emitted from the light source. For example, metal and plastics
can be used for substrate 108. The substrate 108 can be mounted
into a body 102, as shown. A platform 109 can be provided for
mounting the light sources 104 and substrate 108 in the body 102.
The array of individual light sources 104 can be secured within
body 102 by other suitable devices such as rubber bands, tabs,
glue, or other means without the use of substrate 108. The body 102
can include a lens 106, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. According to
various embodiments, the lens 106 is spaced from array 103 of
individual light sources 104. light source 10 can also include
power source 110 capable of illuminating each individual light
source 104 simultaneously, individually, sequentially, in groups,
in rows, or in other configurations or orders of illumination.
Groups of individual colors from the array can be sequentially
illuminated. The light source can generate excitation beams
referred to herein as excitation beams or area light excitation
beams.
[0044] According to various embodiments, groups of predetermined
numbers of light sources 104 can emit respective wavelengths such
that the different groups of light sources emit different
excitation frequencies. Each group can be arranged as a row of
individual light sources 104 or can include a plurality of light
sources of a first excitation beam wavelength homogeneously
distributed throughout an array along with the light sources of the
other excitation beam wavelengths. The wavelength or wavelengths
emitted from each group of light sources can correspond to a
particular excitation frequency for a marker or dye used in one or
more of the samples. A controller, capable of powering one or more
of the individual light sources 104 or groups of light sources in
the array 103, can power the light sources of a group having a
particular wavelength simultaneously or independently of the light
sources of the other groups. Each group of light sources powered by
the controller can provide excitation beams that illuminate one or
more of the plurality of reaction regions simultaneously, and can
cause the respective marker or dye to fluoresce.
[0045] According to various embodiments, excitation beams emitted
from the light source can diverge from the light source at an angle
of divergence. The angle of divergence can be, for example, from
about 5.degree. to about 75.degree. or more. The angle of
divergence can be substantially wide, for example, greater than
45.degree., yet can be efficiently focused by use of a lens, such
as a focusing lens.
[0046] As used herein, the terms "excitation source" and "light
source" are used interchangeably.
[0047] According to various embodiments, the light source can be a
Light Emitting Diode (LED). The LED can be, for example, an Organic
Light Emitting Diode (OLED), a Thin Film Electroluminescent Device
(TFELD), or a Quantum dot based inorganic "organic LED." The LED
can include a phosphorescent OLED (PHOLED).
[0048] According to various embodiments, a light source can contain
one Light Emitting Diode (LED) or an array of LEDs. According to
various embodiments, each LED can be a high power LED that can emit
greater than or equal to about 1 mW of excitation energy. In
various embodiments, a high power LED can emit at least about 5 mW
of excitation energy. In various embodiments wherein the LED or
array of LEDs can emit, for example, at least about 50 mW of
excitation energy, a cooling device such as, but not limited to, a
heat sink or fan can be used with the LED. An array of high-powered
LEDs can be used that draws, for example, about 10 watts of energy
or less, about 10 watts of energy or more. The total power draw can
depend on the power of each LED and the number of LEDs in the
array. The use of an LED array can result in a significant
reduction in power requirement over other light sources, such as,
for example, a 75 watt halogen light source or a 150 watt halogen
light source. Exemplary LED array sources are available, for
example, from Stocker Yale under the trade name LED AREALIGHTS.
According to various embodiments, LED light sources can use about 1
microwatt of power or less, for example, about 1 mW, about 5 mW,
about 25 mW, about 50 mW, about 1 W, about 5 W, about 50 W, or
about 100 W or more, individually or when in used in an array.
[0049] According to various embodiments, a quantum dot can be used
as a source for luminescence and as a fluorescent marker. The
quantum dot based LED can be tuned to emit light in a tighter
emission bandpass, thus the quantum dot based LED can increase the
efficiency of the fluorescent system. Quantum dots can be
molecular-scale optical beacons. The quantum dot nanocrystals can
behave like molecular LEDs (light emitting diodes) by "lighting up"
biological binding events with a broad palette of applied colors.
Quantum dots can provide many more colors than conventional
fluorophores. Quantum dots can possess many other very desirable
optical properties. Nanocrystal quantum dots can be covalently
linked to biomolecules using standard conjugation chemistry. The
quantum dot conjugate can then be used to detect a binding partner
in a wide range of assays. According to various embodiments,
streptavidin can be attached to quantum dots to detect biotinylated
molecules in a variety of assays. Quantum dots can also be attached
to antibodies and oligonucleotides. Any assay that currently uses,
for example, fluorescent-tagged molecules, colorimetric enzymes, or
colloidal gold, can be improved with quantum dot nanocrystal-tagged
conjugates. An exemplary quantum dot implementation is available
from Quantum Dot Corporation of Haywood, Calif. under the trademark
QDOT. More information about quantum dots and their applications
can be found at, for example, www.qdot.com. U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,207,229, 6,251,303, 6,306,310, 6,319,426, 6,322,901, 6,326,144,
6,426,513, and 6,444,143 to Bawendi et al., U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,990,479, 6,207,392, and 6,423,551 to Weiss et al., U.S. Pat. No.
6,468,808 to Nie et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,323 to Bruchez et
al., describe a variety of biological applications, methods of
quantum dot manufacturing, and apparatuses for quantum dot
nanocrystals and conjugates, all of which are incorporated herein
by reference in their entireties.
[0050] Quantum dots can provide a versatile probe that can be used
in, for example, in multiplex assays. Fluorescent techniques using
quantum dot nanocrystals can be much faster than conventional
enzymatic and chemiluminescent techniques, can reduce instrument
tie-up, and can improve assay throughput. Colorimetric or detected
reflectance techniques can be inferior to fluorescence and
difficulties ensue when multiplex assays are developed based on
these materials. Quantum dots can absorb all wavelengths "bluer"
(i.e., shorter) than the emission wavelength. This capability can
simplify the instrumentation required for multiplexed assays, since
all different label colors can be excited with a single excitation
source.
[0051] A Quantum dot based LED can emit light in an emission band
that is narrower than an emission band of a normal LED, for
example, about 50% narrower or about 25% narrower. The Quantum dot
based LED can also emit light at an electrical energy conversion
efficiency of about, 90% or more, for example, approaching 100%.
OLED films, including Quantum dot based LEDs, can be applied to a
thermal block, used for heating and cooling samples, in a
fluorescence system without interfering with the operation of the
thermal block.
[0052] According to various embodiments, when an OLED is used, the
OLED can have any of a variety of sizes, shapes, wavelengths, or
combinations thereof. The OLED can provide luminescence over a
large area, for example, to luminescence multiple sample wells.
Scatter or cross-talk light between multiple sample wells for this
single OLED can be reduced by either overlaying a mask on the OLED
or by patterning the luminescent in the OLED to operatively align
with the multiple sample wells. The OLED can be a low power
consumption device. Examples of OLEDs in various configurations and
wavelengths are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,438
B1, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The
OLED can include a small-molecule OLED and/or a polymer-based OLED
also known as a Light-Emitting Polymer (LEP). A small-molecule OLED
that is deposited on a substrate can be used. An OLED that is
deposited on a surface by vapor-deposition technique can be used.
An OLED can be deposited on a surface by, for example,
silk-screening. An LEP can be used that is deposited by, for
example, solvent coating.
[0053] According to various embodiments, an OLED is used and can be
formed from one or more stable, organic materials. The OLED can
include one or more carbon-based thin films and the OLED can be
capable of emitting light of various colors when a voltage is
applied across the one or more carbon-based thin films.
[0054] According to various embodiments, the OLED can include a
film that is located between two electrodes. The electrodes can be,
for example, a transparent anode, a metallic cathode, or
combinations thereof. Several separate emission areas can be
stimulated between a single set of electrodes where simultaneous
illumination of the separate emission areas is required. According
to such embodiments, only one power and control module might be
required for several apparent light sources. The OLED film can
include one or more of a hole-injection layer, a hole-transport
layer, an emissive layer, and an electron-transport layer. The OLED
can include a film that is about one micrometer in thickness, or
less. When an appropriate voltage is applied to the film, the
injected positive and negative charges can recombine in the
emissive layer to produce light by means of electroluminescence.
The amount of light emitted by the OLED can be related to the
voltage applied through the electrodes to the thin film of the
OLED. Various materials suitable for fabrication of OLEDs are
available, for example, from H.W. Sands Corp. of Jupiter, Fla.
Various types of OLEDs are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.
4,356,429 to Tang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,450 to Shi et al., and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,593,788 to Shi et al., all of which are incorporated
herein by reference in their entireties.
[0055] According to various embodiments, an OLED can be used and
produced on a flexible substrate, on an optically clear substrate,
on a substrate of an unusual shape, or on a combination thereof.
Multiple OLEDs can be combined on a substrate, wherein the multiple
OLEDs can emit light at different wavelengths. Multiple OLEDs on a
single substrate or multiple adjacent substrates can form an
interlaced or a non-interlaced pattern of light of various
wavelengths. The pattern can correspond to, for example, a sample
reservoir arrangement. One or more OLEDs can form a shape
surrounding, for example, a sample reservoir, a series of sample
reservoirs, an array of a plurality of sample reservoirs, or a
sample flow path. The sample path can be, for example, a channel, a
capillary, or a micro-capillary. One or more OLEDs can be formed to
follow the sample flow path. One or more OLEDs can be formed in the
shape of a substrate or a portion of a substrate. For example, the
OLED can be curved, circular, oval, rectangular, square,
triangular, annular, or any other geometrically regular shape. The
OLED can be formed as an irregular geometric shape. The OLED can
illuminate one or more sample reservoirs, for example, an OLED can
illuminate one, two, three, four, or more sample reservoirs
simultaneously, or in sequence. The OLED can be designed, for
example, to illuminate all the wells of a corresponding multi-well
array.
[0056] According to various embodiments, one or more excitation
filters can be incorporated into the OLED substrate, thus
eliminating additional equipment and reducing the amount of space
needed for an optical system. For example, one or more filters can
be formed in a layer of a substrate including one or more OLEDs and
a layer including a sample flow path. The wavelength emitted by the
OLED can be tuned by printing a fluorescent dye in the OLED
substrate, as taught, for example, by Hebner et al. in "Local
Tuning of Organic Light-Emitting Diode Color by Dye Droplet
Application," APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, Vol. 73, No. 13 (Sep. 28,
1998), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
When using multiple emission lines in an OLED, the OLED can be used
in combination with a multiple bandpass emission filter.
[0057] According to various embodiments, an OLED can be substituted
in place of any of the systems, devices, or apparatuses where an
LED is shown. The OLED light source can have several OLED films
stacked and operatively disposed such that several wavelengths of
excitation beams can traverse the same optical path to illuminate
the sample well. Several OLEDs forming excitation beams of the same
wavelength can be stacked to provide higher output to illuminate
the sample well.
[0058] According to various embodiments, a sample well can be
placed in between an excitation source and a detector. The sample
well can be a micro card, for example, a microtiter card, such as a
96-well microtiter card. The excitation source can be, for example,
an OLED, standard LED, or combination thereof.
[0059] According to various embodiments, the light source can be a
Solid State Laser (SSL) or a micro-wire laser. The SSL can produce
monochromatic, coherent, directional light and can provide a narrow
wavelength of excitation energy. The SSL can use a lasing material
that is distributed in a solid matrix, in contrast to other lasers
that use a gas, dye, or semiconductor for the lasing source
material. Examples of solid state lasing materials and
corresponding emission wavelengths can include, for example: Ruby
at about 694 nm; Nd:Yag at about 1064 nm; Nd:YVO4 at about 1064 nm
and/or about 1340 nm and which can be doubled to emit at about 532
nm or about 670 nm; Alexandrite at from about 655 nm to about 815
nm; and Ti: Sapphire at from about 840 nm to about 1100 nm.
Micro-wire lasers are lasers where the wavelength of an excitation
beam formed by the laser can be tuned or adjusted by altering the
size of a wire. Micro-wire lasers are available, for example, from
Alabama Laser of Munford, Ala. More information about micro-wire
lasers can be found at, for example, www.alspi.com/wirefeeder.pdf.
According to various embodiments, other solid state lasers known to
those skilled in the art can also be used, for example, laser
diodes. The appropriate lasing material can be selected based on
the fluorescing dyes used, the excitation wavelength required, or
both.
[0060] If a SSL is used, the laser can be selected to closely match
the excitation wavelength of a fluorescent dye. The operating
temperature of the system can be considered in selecting an
appropriate SSL. The operating temperature can be regulated or
controlled to change the emitted wavelength of the SSL. The light
source for the laser can be any source as known to those skilled in
the art, such as, for example, a flash lamp. Useful information
about various solid state lasers can be found at, for example,
www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersl.htm. Examples of solid state lasers
used in various systems for identification of biological materials
can be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,502 to Southgate
et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,275 B2 to Amirkhanian et al.; both
of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
[0061] According to various embodiments, various types of light
sources can be used singularly or in combination with other light
sources. One or more OLEDs can be used with, for example, one or
more non-organic LEDs, one or more solid state lasers, one or more
halogen light sources, or combinations thereof.
[0062] According to various embodiments, a light source can be used
to provide excitation beams to irradiate a sample solution
containing one or more dyes. For example, two or more excitation
beams having the same or different wavelength emissions can be used
such that each excitation beam excites a different respective dye
in the sample. The excitation beam can be aimed from the light
source directly at the sample, through a wall of a sample container
containing the sample, or can be conveyed by various optical
systems to the sample. An optical system can include one or more of
for example, a mirror, a beam splitter, a fiber optic, a light
guide, or combinations thereof.
[0063] According to various embodiments, one or more filters, for
example, a bandpass filter, can be used with a light source to
control the wavelength of an excitation beam. One or more filters
can be used to control the wavelength of an emission beam emitted
from an excited or other luminescent marker. One or more excitation
filters can be associated with a light source to form the
excitation beam. One or more filters can be located between the one
or more light sources and a sample. One or more emission filters
can be associated with an emission beam from an excited dye. One or
more filters can be located between the sample and one or more
emission beam detectors.
[0064] According to various embodiments, one or more filters, for
example, a bandpass filter, can be used with a light source to
control the wavelength of an excitation beam. One or more filters
can be used to control the wavelength of an emission beam emitted
from an excited or other luminescent marker. One or more excitation
filters can be associated with one or more light sources to form at
least one excitation beam. One or more filters can be located
between the one or more light sources and a sample. One or more
emission filters can be associated with an emission beam from an
excited dye. One or more filters can be located between the sample
and one or more emission beam detectors.
[0065] According to various embodiments, a filter can be a single
bandpass filter or a multiple bandpass filter. As used herein, a
bandpass filter and a passband filter are used interchangeably. A
multiple passband filter can be, for example, a multiple-notch
filter or a multi-rugate filter. A multiple passband filter can be
used with an incoherent light source, for example, a halogen lamp,
a white light source, and/or one or more LEDs or OLEDs emitting
light at different wavelengths. A multiple passband filter can be
used with a multiple laser-based light source emitting light at
different wavelengths. Examples of manufacturing and use of rugate
filters and rugate beam splitters can be found in, for example,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,502 to Southwell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,148 to
Gasworth, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,275 B2 to Rahmlow, Jr., all of
which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
[0066] According to various embodiments, a multiple passband filter
can be used with a dichroic beam splitter, a 50/50 beam splitter, a
dichroic beam splitter that has several "passbands," or no beam
splitter. A multiple beam splitter can be coated at an angle,
causing a variance in a thickness across a filter substrate, to
compensate for wavelength shift with an angle. A multiple passband
filter can be formed by coating different light interference
materials over discrete areas of a substrate used in a multiple
passband filter manufacture.
[0067] A Rugate filter is an example of an interference coating
based on the refractive index that varies continuously in a
direction, for example, perpendicular or 45 degrees to the film
plane. When the refractive index varies periodically within two
extreme values, a minus filter with high transmittance on either
side of the rejection band can be made. Periodic Rugate filters can
be manufactured.
[0068] Rugate notch filters can use refractory metal oxides to
achieve coatings with exceptional thermal and environmental
stability. These filters can be used in place of other types of
notch filters, particularly where durability and reliability are
desired. Rugate notch filters are available from Barr Associates
(Westford, Mass.). The Rugate notch filter can be used as edge
filters and beam splitters. Filter sizes or shapes are not
limitations for the rugate notch filter. The rugate notch filter
can provide environmental and thermal stability, a broad operating
temperature range, narrow rejection bands, variety of shapes &
sizes, high throughput, low ripple, and/or a broad spectral range.
More information is available from, for example,
www.barr-associates-uk.com,
www.barrassociates.com/opticalfilters.php.
[0069] Multiple-bandpass filters can be made, for example, with a
measured blocking of O.D. 6 or better. Notch filters with this type
of deep blocking level at the light wavelength can also afford high
transmission close to the light line.
[0070] According to various embodiments, excitation levels can
increase when multiple dyes spaced apart spectrally are irradiated
with excitation beams. This can lead to less spectral crosstalk.
The dye matrix, condition number, and/or deconvolution in a system
can be improved. The increased excitation levels can provide higher
signal levels. Higher signal levels can be seen during the
utilization of dyes that emit in the "red" spectrum. The dynamic
range of the system can be improved. The system can reduce the
compensation for variation in the emission beam intensity for
various dyes.
[0071] According to various embodiments, the multiple dyes can be
deposited in a sample well using a fluid transfer technique, such
as, for example, manual pipette, robotic pipette, or injection.
According to various embodiments, the multiple dyes can be
deposited in a sample well, for example, by ink jet spraying, as
beads, or as a mixture of a plurality of dyes.
[0072] An exemplary light source is shown in FIG. 6a (side view)
and FIG. 6b (end view), wherein a single light source array source
211 can include a lens with two focusing areas 215, 225, forming
two respective condensed light bundles. The lens can have more than
two focusing areas, forming a number of condensed light bundles
equal to the number of focusing areas. Each focusing area of the
lens can be of any suitable shape, for example, round, oval,
elliptical, spherical, semi-spherical, semi-elliptical, or
semi-ovoid. The lens can be of unitary construction. According to
various embodiments, the lens can be modular, including a base and
one or more lens focusing area capable of mounting on the base.
According to various embodiments, each lens focusing area can
filter the wavelength of the light source. Each lens focusing area
can pass a different wavelength of light. According to various
embodiments, each lens focusing area can pass the same wavelength
of light. Light source array source 211 can comprise an array or
bundle of light sources, wherein each light source corresponds to a
respective focusing area.
[0073] Another exemplary light source, a modular light source, is
shown in FIGS. 7a-c. Light source module 311 can receive lens
arrays of variable design and quantity. According to various
embodiments, a light source module 311 has an outer surface 350 to
which any one of a variety of light source lens arrays can be
attached. The outer surface 350 can define a square, rectangular,
polygonal, circular, oval, or elliptical shape, or any other
geometric shape. According to various embodiments, outer surface
350 includes a terminal portion 355 which can extend from a
terminal end 360 of the light source module 311. Terminal portion
355 can include a rim 365 which is inset from an edge of the outer
surface 350 so as to form a shoulder 370. The terminal portion 355
can be any shape, for example, square, rectangular, polygonal,
oval, ellipsoidal, circular, semi-circular, semi-ellipsoidal,
semi-ovoid, or any other geometric shape. According to various
embodiments, terminal portion 355 can extend from terminal end 360
of light source module 311, as shown in FIG. 7a. According to
various embodiments, terminal portion 355 can be a recess in
terminal end 360 of light source module 311. Terminal portion 355
can interact with light source lens array 310, various embodiments
of which are shown in FIGS. 7b and 7c. According to various
embodiments, light source lens array 310 can fit snugly on terminal
portion 355 of light source module 311, wherein terminal portion
355 extends from terminal end 360 of light source module 311.
According to various embodiments, light source lens array 310 can
fit snugly in terminal portion 355 when terminal portion 355 is
recessed in terminal end 360 of light source module 311. light
source lens array 310 can be removably attached to or fit into
terminal portion 355 by friction fit, snap-fit, screwing, or other
reversible mounting arrangements. According to various embodiments,
light source lens array 310 can be permanently affixed to, mounted
on, or fit into terminal portion 355 of light source module 311,
such as by, for example, unitary molding, heat welding, adhesive,
or other permanent attachment arrangements. Light source lens array
310 can be any shape suitable to interact with terminal portion 355
of light source module 311. According to various embodiments, light
source lens array 310 can have a complimentary shape to terminal
portion 355. Light source lens array 310 can include one or more
light source lens. For example, as shown in FIG. 7b, light source
lens array 310 can include light source lens 315 and light source
lens 325, which light source lenses can be semi-ovoid. According to
various embodiments, light source lens array 310 can include four
light source lenses 315, 325, 335, and 345, as shown in FIG. 7c,
wherein the light source lenses can be semi-spherical: Each light
source lens, such as light source lenses 315, 325, 335, and 345,
can be any suitable shape, for example, round, spherical,
semi-spherical, spherical, oval, semi-ovoid, elliptical,
semi-elliptical, or any other shape capable of focusing light from
a light source in light source module 311. The light source lenses
can extend above the edge of light source lens array 310 as shown
in FIG. 7b, or the light source lenses can be flush with the edge
of light source lens array 310 as shown in FIG. 7c. According to
various embodiments, each light source lens can form a respective
light bundle of a different wavelength from any other light source
lens in light source lens array 310. According to various
embodiments, each light source lens can emit the same wavelength
light bundle. Each light source lens can correspond to a different
light source in light source module 311. Each light source lens can
be capable of filtering the wavelength of the light source.
According to various embodiments including more than one light
source lens, the light source lenses can be of unitary
construction, or can be formed separately. Light source module 311
can include one or more light generating sources. According to
various embodiments, the light-generating source can comprise an
array or bundle of light sources.
[0074] According to various embodiments and as shown in FIG. 8, the
light source 10 can comprise a light source 112 and a condensing
lens 20, for example, a collimating lens. Excitation beams 15
emitted from the light source 112 diverge from the light source 112
at an angle of divergence. The angle of divergence can be, for
example, from about 5.degree. to about 75.degree. or more. The
angle of divergence can be substantially wide, for example, greater
than 45.degree., yet can be efficiently focused by the use of a
condensing lens 20. According to various embodiments, the
condensing lens can be a collimating lens, a Fresnel lens, or a
molded glass sphere. According to various embodiments, a condensing
lens can receive the excitation light beams 15 from the light
source 112 and can form condensed excitation light beams 25, which
condensed light beams can be at least partially condensed or
bundled, for example, in the form of collimated light beams.
According to various embodiments wherein the condensing lens is a
collimating lens, light beams originating from a point on the light
source that is intersected by the optical axis of the collimating
lens can emerge from the collimating lens parallel to the optical
axis of the collimating lens. According to various embodiments, the
condensing lens can be located one focal length away from the light
source. According to various embodiments, the condensing lens can
be more than one condensing lens in the form of a condensing lens
array. According to various embodiments, there can be one
condensing lens provided for each light source. The condensing lens
can receive the excitation light beams from a light source and can
condense the excitation light beams such that at least one discrete
bundle of condensed excitation beams is produced. Each discrete
bundle of condensed excitation beams is of the same wavelength but
less energy than the initial excitation light beams entering the
condensing lens. According to various embodiments wherein the
condensing lens is a collimating lens, the collimating lens can
form two or more discrete bundles of collimated excitation beams
from one light source, for example, four discrete bundles of
collimated excitation beams. The condensing lens can be any
material known to receive and condense light.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 8, condensed excitation beams that have
passed through a condensing lens 20, which can be a collimating
lens, can be reflected off of long pass filter 60 in a direction
toward fold mirror 65. Excitation beams reflected from fold mirror
65 can pass through a focusing lens 35, for example, a Fresnel
lens. According to various embodiments, the excitation beams can
also be focused by reaction region lenses 30 before illuminating
samples 42 in respective reaction regions 40.
[0076] Suitable excitation and emission filters for use in optical
instruments as described herein can be any conventional optical
bandpass filters utilizing, for example, optical interference
films, each having a bandpass at a frequency that is optimal for
either the excitation wavelength of the fluorescent dye or the
emission wavelength of the fluorescent dye. Each filter can have
very high attenuation for non-bandpass frequencies to prevent
"ghost" images from being reflected and to prevent stray light. For
SYBR Green dye, for example, the excitation filter bandpass can
center around a 485 nm wavelength, and the emission filter bandpass
can center around a 555 nm wavelength. Filter can be tilted so that
any reflections do not create ghost images. Filter 60 can
transition from reflection to transmission at a wavelength between
these two, e.g. about a 510 nm wavelength, so that light of
frequencies less than the transition wavelength can be reflected
and higher wavelength light can pass through the filter, or vice
versa. In this manner, according to various embodiments, filter 60
can function as one or more of an excitation filter and an emission
filter.
[0077] According to various embodiments, the excitation filter can
be replaced by any other emission wavelength excluding device. The
emission filter can be replaced by any other excitation wavelength
excluding device. The excluding devices can be one or more of a
filter, prism, grating, distribution, plate, condensing lens,
collimating lens, or mask configured to allow the desired light
frequency to pass through, and the undesired light frequency to be
blocked, reflected, or diverted. Alternately, the desired light
frequency can be reflected or diverted, and the undesired light
frequency allowed to pass through the excluding device. An
excluding device can be used alone or in combination with one or
more of a mirror or lens.
[0078] According to various embodiments, the filter 60 can be
omitted, and the light source 10 and detector 80 can be located
side-by-side so that excitation beams 25 and emission beams 85 are
on slightly different optical paths angularly. Light source 10 and
detector 80 need not actually be side-by-side if one or more fold
mirrors are used. Thus, any such arrangement for achieving the
effects described herein should be deemed equivalent. According to
exemplary embodiments, when using a filter 60, excitation beams 25
and emission beams 85 will have the same optical paths through
Fresnel lens 35.
[0079] According to various embodiments, one or more field lens can
be used in the optical instrument. The field lens can be a Fresnel
lens, or any other suitable lens known to practitioners in the art.
According to various embodiments, a first and second field lens can
be positioned such that the first field lens can receive excitation
beams from the light source array source and pass the excitation
beams to the second field lens, which can be located a distance
from the first field lens equal to the sum of the focal lengths of
the first and second field lenses. The second field lens can pass
the excitation beams as a bundle of condense d excitation light
beams parallel to the optical axis of the second field lens to a
reaction region lens or array, or directly to a plurality of
spaced-apart reaction regions. According to various embodiments, a
single structure that combines the reaction lens array into the
second field lens can be used. According to various embodiments,
each bundle of condensed excitation light beams from the second
field lens impinges on a respective reaction region lens or
reaction region.
[0080] According to various embodiments, a pair of field lenses can
be used with each light source. According to various other
embodiments, a pair of field lenses can be used with multiple light
sources. For example, one pair of field lenses can be used for a
single line of light sources in a multi-well sample array.
According to various embodiments, a field lens pair can be used in
combination with one light source, two light sources, or more than
two light sources. The use of one pair of field lenses per multiple
light sources can reduce the cost of the optical instrument.
[0081] According to various embodiments, the sample can contain a
fluorescent dye or marker that fluoresces when un-quenched in the
presence of the target nucleic acid sequence to which the dye can
bind. Fluorescent dye probes can be used. Other dyes that have
similar characteristics can be used. The samples can also contain
an additional, passive dye that serves as a reference or
control.
[0082] If a reference dye is included, the dye can include, for
example, a nucleic acid sequence labeled with a Rhodamine and/or
Fluorescein dye or a derivative thereof. A suitable reference dye
is ROX dye available from Applied Biosystems of Foster City, Calif.
The passive dye molecule can be selected so as not to take part in
a reaction, for example, a PCR reaction, so that fluorescence from
the passive dye is substantially without influence from the target
nucleic acid sequence and remains constant during the PCR
amplification reaction. Fluorescence detected from the passive dye
can be used to normalize the fluorescence from the target sequence
binding dye by using a standard concentration of the passive dye in
one or more of the reaction regions.
[0083] The light source 10 can emit excitation beams that include a
secondary excitation frequency that causes the passive dye to
fluoresce at a secondary emission frequency. The secondary emission
frequency can be directed to the detector 80 to generate
corresponding secondary data signals. The processor can receive the
secondary data signals and compute secondary data representative of
the known standard concentration of the passive dye. These data can
be used to normalize the primary data, so that the concentration of
the target nucleic acid sequence is normalized to the standard
concentration of the passive dye after correcting the concentration
computations of the target sequence in proportion to adjustments
made in exposure time, and in conjunction with normalization for
drift, accounted for by analyzing the secondary emission frequency.
Greater details about the use of passive dyes and mathematical
transformations using data collected from passive dyes are set
forth in the ABI Prism 7000 Sequence Detection System User Guide,
pages A-1 through A-10, available from Applied Biosystems, which is
incorporated herein in its entirety be by reference. The secondary
excitation frequency can be identical to the primary excitation
frequency, and the passive dye can be selected to fluoresce such
that the secondary emission frequency can be substantially at the
emission frequency of the primary emission beams. In the example of
PCR, the primary data signals can be generated during each
extension phase of thermal cycling when the target sequence is
recombined and the primary dye emission is maximized. The secondary
data signals can be generated during each denature phase of thermal
cycling when the target sequence is denatured and correspondingly
primary dye emission is minimized. Thus, data signals for the
primary phase can be substantially representative of the target
sequence concentration, and data signals for the secondary phase
can be substantially representative of the standard concentration
of passive dye.
[0084] According to various embodiments, methods are provided
whereby excitation beams can impinge on a plurality of spaced apart
reaction regions. The excitation beams can cause one or more dye in
each of the respective reaction regions to fluoresce, emitting an
emission beam. According to various embodiments, the emission beam
can pass through a reaction region lens and, optionally, a focusing
lens, to impinge upon a filter. According to various embodiments,
the emission beam can pass through the filter to a detector, as
shown in FIG. 1. According to various other embodiments, the
emission beam is reflected off the filter towards a detector. The
detector can determine the wavelength of the emission beam as a
first data set. The first data set can be sent to a processor 90,
as shown in FIG. 1, for determination of the presence or absence of
fluorescence in a sample in one or more spaced-apart reaction
region. The wavelength and strength of each emission beam can also
be detected and recorded in the first data set. According to
various embodiments, one or more of the reaction region lens,
focusing lens, or filter, can be absent.
[0085] According to various embodiments, the detector 80 can be an
array detector, for example, a charge injection device (CID), or a
charge-coupled device (CCD). A conventional video camera, for
example, one containing a CCD detector, can be used. The detector
lens 82 and associated electronics for the detector are known to
those skilled in the art. An exemplary detector system is the
Electrim model 1000 L, which can include 751 active pixels
horizontally and 242 (non-interlaced) active pixels vertically, and
can include a circuit board that directly interfaces to a computer
ISA bus. Such cameras can include frame grabber circuitry. Any
other digital imaging device or subsystem can be used, or adapted
and used, such as CMOS pixels, photodiodes, photomultipliers, or
other light receptors. According to various embodiments, the
detector can be capable of taking still or freeze-frame images for
post processing in a computer.
[0086] According to various embodiments, a detector such as a CCD
can receive light for a selected integration period and, after
analog/digital conversion, can read out digital signal data at a
level accumulated over that period. An electronic shutter can
effectively control the integration period. Signal data can be
generated for each pixel, including those receiving the emission
beam from each of the reaction regions A mechanical shutter could
be alternately used.
[0087] A detector including a multiplicity of photoreceptors
(pixels) can be used with a plurality of reaction regions in order
to provide separate monitoring of each reaction region. According
to various embodiments, a scanning device can be used with a single
photodetector, for example, by scanning the fold mirror 65 and
using a small aperture detector lens 82 for the detector 80 as
shown in FIG. 1. According to various embodiments, a plurality of
photomultipliers can be used.
[0088] According to various embodiments, a detector lens 82 can be
used to focus the emission beam onto detector 80. In another
embodiment, a focusing reflector may be substituted for detector
lens 82. Such an emission focusing system (detector lens or
reflector) can be located after (as shown in FIG. 1) or before
filter 60 on either side of emission filter 120, and alternatively
can be integrated into a primary focusing system that includes
components also used to direct the excitation beams. For example,
Fresnel lens 35 can be an objective lens that focuses emission
beams 85 onto detector 80.
[0089] Detector lens 82 can cooperate with reaction region lens 30
and/or Fresnel lens 35 to focus the individual beams on detector
80. Detector lens 82 can include a large aperture, a low
distortion, and minimum vignetting.
[0090] According to various embodiments, a single detector 80 can
be used to receive the emission beam from multiple reaction regions
40, as shown in FIG. 1, for example. According to various other
embodiments, each reaction region can correspond to a single
detector. Examples of such detectors can be found, for example, in
publication WO 01/69211A1, incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0091] According to various embodiments, the processor 90 can be a
computer or computer system for determination of the presence or
absence and amount of sample components determined by detection of
the fluorescence of various fluorescent dyes in the spaced-apart
reaction regions. The processor can produce a second data set
containing the quantities of various components within each of the
pluralities of spaced-apart reaction regions.
[0092] According to various embodiments, a method of illuminating
multiple spaced-apart reaction regions with a light source can
comprise emitting light as an excitation beam from a light source.
The excitation beams can impinge on a plurality of spaced-apart
reaction regions. A reaction region lens, focusing lens or both,
can be set in a path of the excitation beams to focus the
excitation beams on a discrete spaced-apart reaction region. A
reaction region lens array can be used to focus the excitation
beams into separate spaced-apart reaction regions. The excitation
beams can impinge upon a respective sample set forth in a
respective reaction region. Each sample can react with the
excitation beams and can emit emission beams from the sample in the
reaction region. The emission beams can pass through the reaction
region lens and, according to some embodiments, can impinge on a
detector. According to various embodiments, the emission beams
having passed through the reaction region lens can pass through a
filter before impinging upon a detector. According to various
embodiments, the detector can receive the emission beams from a
sample in a reaction region and can create a first data set, which
can be passed to a processor for determination of the composition
of the sample in the reaction region. According to various
embodiments, a focusing lens can be used instead of or in
combination with a reaction region lens, and can be located between
the light source and reaction region.
[0093] FIG. 9 is a bottom view that illustrates an OLED layout 400
that can be used as a light source, together with a plurality of
photodiode detectors 412, according to various embodiments. The
OLED layout 400 can include a plurality of OLED well lamps 402,
each positioned, when in operation, above a respective well of a
multi-well sample well array. Each OLED material well lamp 402 can
be connected to, or integrally formed with, a respective connection
arm 404 that leads to a layout terminal 406. Each layout terminal
can be connected to or integrally formed with the respective
connection arms 404 branching from the layout terminal.
[0094] The connection arms 404 branch off of side terminals 406 and
408. The OLED layout can be connected to respective opposite
electrical connections, for example, opposite terminals of a power
supply. The OLED layout can be connected to the power supply
through leads arranged at opposite corners of the OLED layout. The
power supply can include or be connected to one or more of a
switch, a meter, an oscillator, a potentiometer, a detector, a
signal processing unit, or the like. Alternatively, or
additionally, connection arms 404 can each include a wire or
electrical lead in the form of, for example, a metal wire. The OLED
layout can include a plurality of individually addressable OLED
lighting elements (not shown) with a separate lead connected to
each lighting element. The wiring, leads, terminals, connection
arms, and the like can be implemented in, for example, a substrate
or a film. An OLED layout control unit 410 can be used to supply
power and control the OLED layout 400. A plurality of detectors 412
can be electrically connected to a detector control unit 416
through respective detector leads 414 as shown.
[0095] The plurality of detectors can be arranged, for example,
centered, on the plurality of OLED well lamps 402, on the sides of
well lamps that face respective sample wells, and/or when
operatively positioned adjacent a multi-well sample well array. The
detectors can be configured to detect light emitted from the sample
wells of a sample well array, without being flooded or bleached out
by the respective OLED well lamps. For example, a mask material can
be disposed between the detectors and the respective OLED well
lamps. The detector 412 can be formed in the same substrate as the
OLED lamp.
[0096] The exemplary OLED layout shown in FIG. 9 is shaped to be
alignable with a 24 well sample well array. Other embodiments of
OLED layouts using various shapes and various numbers of well lamps
are within the scope of the present teachings.
[0097] According to various embodiments, each well lamp 402 can
include, for example, four individual lamps or OLED layers, capable
of producing excitation wavelengths at four different
frequencies.
[0098] The OLED layout can be constructed of a unitary or
multi-part construction, of molded material, of stamped material,
of screen printed material, of cut material, or the like.
[0099] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a light
source layout. An OLED layout 450 can include varying color OLEDs
452, 454, and 456 stacked upon each other. The layout can be useful
for a compact light source design capable of forming excitation
beams at varying wavelengths. The OLEDs 452, 454, and 456 can be
transparent, allowing excitation beams from each OLED to pass
through any other OLED so as to be directed towards a sample. The
OLEDs 452, 454, and 456 can emit different colors, same colors, or
a combination thereof depending on the color intensity and variety
required. The OLEDs 452, 454, and 456 can share an electrode, for
example, a cathode. One electrode, for example, an anode, for
powering each of the OLEDs 452, 454, and 456 can be connected in
electrical isolation from each respective anode to a control unit
(not shown) if the capability to independently activate each of the
OLEDs 452, 454, and 456 is desired. The OLEDs 452, 454, and 456 can
electrically share one electrode, two electrodes, or no electrodes.
Any number of OLEDs can be stacked, for example, two OLEDs, three
OLEDs, four OLEDs, or more OLEDs, to form a light source, a
respective light source, or an array of light sources.
[0100] Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the
art from consideration of the present specification and practice of
the teachings disclosed herein. It is intended that the present
specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.
* * * * *
References