Instrument and method for detecting analytes

• US 10,393,659 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Furlan, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Turk, Neil N
• Application Number:
  US15/266,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20170082543A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3174 Filter wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6441 with two or more labels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6471 Special filters, filter wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/272 for following a reaction, e.g. for determining photometrically a reaction rate (photometric cinetic analysis)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0423 with rotating optics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0668 Multiple paths; optimisable path length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/006 Filter holders

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an instrument and methods for detecting an analyte, comprising a light source capable of generating excitation light for exciting a plurality of luminescence labels, an excitation beam path extending between said light source and said analyte, a detector capable of detecting light emitted from said luminescence label, an emission beam path extending between said analyte and said detector, a filter carrier carrying two or more pairs of filter portions, each pair being related to one luminescence label and comprising a first filter portion for transmitting excitation light and a second filter portion for transmitting emitted light, wherein said first filter portion of one pair is said second filter portion of another pair, and wherein said filter portions are arranged in a manner that a respective one of said pairs can be brought in an operative condition in which said first filter portion is in said excitation beam path and said second filter portion is in said emission beam path, and wherein said filter carrier and said beam paths are movable with respect to each other by at least one moving mechanism so as to bring a respective one of said pairs in said operative condition.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an analyte in a sample, wherein the method comprises:

(a) providing an instrument including;

a mount configured to support a vessel for housing said sample;

an excitation arrangement comprising a light source capable of generating an excitation light for exciting a plurality of luminescence labels associated with said analyte in said sample housed in said vessel, wherein said excitation arrangement is configured to propagate said excitation light along an excitation beam path positioned between said light source and said vessel, said excitation beam path comprising one or more excitation light fibers configured to transmit said excitation light to said vessel;

a detection arrangement comprising a detector capable of detecting emission light emitted from one of said plurality of luminescence labels, wherein said detection arrangement is configured to propagate said emission light along an emission beam path positioned between said vessel and said detector, said emission beam path comprising one or more emission light fibers configured to transmit said emission light to said detector;

a rotatable filter wheel mounted to a wheel hub, thereby forming a spin axis, said filter wheel comprising a plurality of filter pairs positioned around said wheel, each pair relating to one of said plurality of luminescence labels and comprising (i) a first filter adapted to filter a first wavelength of said excitation light and transmit said excitation light for exciting a luminescence label, and (ii) a second filter adapted to filter a second wavelength of said emission light and transmit said emission light emitted by said luminescence label, wherein said plurality of filter pairs are positioned around said wheel such that, upon rotation of the filter wheel, one of said plurality of pairs can be brought into an operative orientation relative to said excitation and emission beam paths such that said one member of the pair is positioned in said excitation beam path and a second member of the pair is positioned in said emission beam path;

(b) generating, using said light source, said excitation light, said excitation light propagating along said excitation beam path towards said sample,

(c) rotating the filter wheel to a first rotating position in which a first pair of filters is in operative position, such that (i) a first filter of the first pair is positioned in said excitation beam path, thereby filtering and transmitting a first excitation light via the excitation light fibers to interact with said sample, and (ii) a second filter of the first pair is positioned in said emission beam path, thereby filtering and transmitting a first emission light emitted by one or more of the plurality of luminescence labels in the sample via the emission fibers to the detector;

(d) rotating the filter wheel to a second rotating position in which a second pair of filters is in operative orientation and said first pair of filters is moved away from said operative orientation, such that (i) a first filter of the second pair is positioned in said excitation beam path, thereby filtering and transmitting a second excitation light via the excitation light fibers to interact with said sample, and (ii) a second filter of the second pair is positioned in said emission beam path, thereby filtering and transmitting a second emission light emitted by the sample via the emission fibers to the detector; and

(e) detecting, using the detector, said first and second emission lights emitted from said plurality of luminescence labels through said plurality of filter pairs, and correlating said first and second emission lights to a presence of said analyte in said sample.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said excitation and emission beam paths are stationary relative to said filter wheel.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said excitation and emission beam paths are movable relative to said filter wheel.