Fluorometric detection using visible light
First Claim
1. A visible light transilluminator system for viewing one or more patterns of fluorescence emitted by fluorophors, capable of being excited by light of an excitation type and capable of emitting light of an emitted type, wherein at least a portion of said emitted type is of a wavelength different from said excitation type, said system comprising:
- a) a non-laser colored light producing element that produces light, at least a portion of which is capable of exciting said fluorophors;
b) a first colored optical filter positioned between said light producing element and said fluorophors, wherein said first optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said excitation type and of preventing transmission of light of said emitted type; and
c) a second colored optical filter positioned in optical communication with said fluorophors, wherein said second optical filter is capable of transmitting light from said fluorophors of said emitted type and of preventing transmission of light of said excitation type;
said system being constructed and arranged such that patterns of fluorescence emitted by said fluorophors are viewable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, devices and methods are provided for viewing a pattern of fluorophors capable of fluorescing when exposed to visible light, e.g., fluorescently stained DNA, protein or other biological material. The system includes a light source emitting light in the visible spectrum, such as a fluorescent lamp used in domestic lighting, a first optical filter capable of transmitting light from the source at wavelengths capable of exciting the fluorophors and of absorbing light of other wavelengths, and a second optical filter capable of blocking substantially all the light from the source not blocked by the first filter, so that the only light reaching the viewer is light produced by fluorescence of the fluorophors.
19 Citations
64 Claims
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1. A visible light transilluminator system for viewing one or more patterns of fluorescence emitted by fluorophors, capable of being excited by light of an excitation type and capable of emitting light of an emitted type, wherein at least a portion of said emitted type is of a wavelength different from said excitation type, said system comprising:
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a) a non-laser colored light producing element that produces light, at least a portion of which is capable of exciting said fluorophors;
b) a first colored optical filter positioned between said light producing element and said fluorophors, wherein said first optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said excitation type and of preventing transmission of light of said emitted type; and
c) a second colored optical filter positioned in optical communication with said fluorophors, wherein said second optical filter is capable of transmitting light from said fluorophors of said emitted type and of preventing transmission of light of said excitation type;
said system being constructed and arranged such that patterns of fluorescence emitted by said fluorophors are viewable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31)
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29. The transilluminator of claim I wherein said light producing element produces light with a maximal output over a wavelength range of approximately 550 nm to approximately 650 nm.
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32. A visible light photoluminescent imaging system for viewing one or more patterns of fluorescence emitted by fluorophors or a material containing fluorophors, capable of being excited by light of an excitation type and capable of emitting light of an emitted type, wherein at least a portion of said emitted type is of a wavelength different from said excitation type, said system comprising:
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a) a non-laser colored light source comprising a light producing element that produces light, at least a portion of which is capable of exciting said fluorophors, and a first colored optical filter positioned between said light producing element and said fluorophors, wherein said first optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said excitation type and of preventing transmission of light of said emitted type; and
b) a second colored optical filter positioned in optical communication with said fluorophors, wherein said second optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said emitted type from said fluorophors and of preventing transmission of said excitation light;
said system being constructed and arranged such that patterns of fluorescence emitted by said fluorophors are viewable. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A visible light photoluminescent imaging system for viewing one or more patterns of fluorescence emitted by fluorophors, capable of being excited by light of an excitation type and capable of emitting light of an emitted type, wherein at least a portion of said emitted type is of a wavelength different from said excitation type, said system comprising:
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a) a non-laser light source comprising a light producing element that produces light, at least a portion of which is capable of exciting said fluorophors, and a first optical filter positioned between said light producing element and said fluorophors, wherein said first optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said excitation type and of preventing transmission of light of said emitted type; and
b) a second optical filter positioned in optical communication with said fluorophors, wherein said second optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said emitted type from said fluorophors and of preventing transmission of said excitation light;
said system being constructed and arranged such that patterns of fluorescence emitted by said fluorophors are viewable. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A visible light photoluminescent imaging system for viewing one or more patterns of fluorescence emitted by fluorophors capable of being excited by light of an excitation type and of producing light of an emitted type, wherein at least a portion of said emitted type is of a wavelength different from said excitation type, said system comprising:
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a) a non-laser light source comprising a light producing element that produces light, a portion of which is capable of exciting said fluorophors, and a first optical filter positioned between said light producing element and said fluorophors, wherein said first optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said excitation type and of preventing transmission of light of said emitted type;
b) fluorophors having a Stokes shift of less than 100 nm; and
c) a second optical filter positioned in optical communication with said fluorophors, wherein said second optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said emitted type from said fluorophors and of preventing transmission of light of said excitation type;
said system being constructed and arranged such that patterns of fluorescence emitted by said fluorophors are viewable.
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53. A method of viewing one or more patterns of fluorescence emitted by fluorophors capable of being excited by light of an excitation type and of producing light of an emitted type, wherein at least a portion of said emitted type is of a wavelength different from said excitation type, said method comprising:
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a) passing visible light from a non-laser colored light source on to said fluorophors or a material containing said fluorophors, whereby said fluorophors emit light of said emitted type, wherein said colored light source comprises a light producing element that produces light, at least a portion of which is said excitation type, and a first colored optical filter positioned between said light producing element and said fluorophors, wherein said first optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said excitation type and of preventing transmission of light of said emitted type;
b) passing said emitted light through a second colored optical filter, which is capable of transmitting light of said emitted type from said fluorophors and of preventing transmission of light of said excitation type, whereby an image of said patterns of fluorescence is formed; and
c) viewing said image with a human eye and/or other light detector. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A visible light photoluminescent imaging system for viewing one or more patterns of fluorescence emitted by fluorophors capable of being excited by polarized light of an excitation type and of producing light of an emitted type, wherein at least a portion of said emitted type is of a polarization different from said excitation type, said system comprising:
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a) a non-laser light producing element that produces light, at least a portion of which is light of said excitation type;
b) a first optical polarization filter positioned between said light producing element and said fluorophors, wherein said first filter is capable of transmitting polarized light from said light producing element of said excitation type and of preventing transmission of light from said light producing element of said emitted type; and
3. a second optical polarization filter positioned in optical communication with said fluorophors, wherein said second filter is capable of transmitting polarized light of said emitted type and preventing transmission of light of said excitation type;
said system being constructed and arranged such that patterns of fluorescence emitted by said fluorophors are viewable. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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63. A visible light photoluminescent imaging system for viewing one or more patterns of fluorescence emitted by fluorophors capable of being excited by light of an excitation type and of producing light of an emitted type, wherein at least a portion of said emitted type is of a wavelength different from said excitation type, said system comprising:
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a) colored non-laser exciting light, at least a portion of which is of a wavelength in the range of said excitation type;
b) a first colored optical filter positioned in front of said fluorphors or a material containing said fluorophors, through which light of said excitation type is transmitted, wherein said first optical filter is capable of transmitting light of said excitation type and of preventing transmission of light of said emitted type;
c) a second colored optical filter, positioned in optical communication with said fluorophors, wherein said second colored filter is capable of transmitting light of said emitted type from said fluorophors and of preventing transmission of light of said excitation type;
said system being constructed and arranged such that patterns of fluorescence emitted by said fluorophors are viewable. - View Dependent Claims (64)
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Specification