Multi-channel optical detection system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for thermally controlling and optically interrogating a reaction mixture, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a reaction vessel having a chamber for holding the mixture, wherein the vessel includes first and second optically transmissive walls;
b) opposing plates positioned to receive the vessel between them;
c) at least one heating element coupled to at least one of the plates for heating the reaction mixture; and
d) first and second optics assemblies positioned such that when the vessel is placed between the plates, the first and second optics assemblies are in optical communication with the first and second optically transmissive walls, respectively;
the first optics assembly comprising;
i) a first housing having a first optical window;
ii) at least two light sources for transmitting excitation beams to the reaction mixture through the first window; and
iii) a first set of filters for filtering the excitation beams such that each of the beams transmitted to the reaction mixture has a substantially distinct excitation wavelength range, wherein the light sources and the first set of filters are rigidly fixed in the first housing;
and the second optics assembly comprising;
i) a second housing having a second optical window for receiving light emitted from the chamber;
ii) at least two detectors for detecting the emitted light; and
iii) a second set of filters for separating the emitted light into at least two emission wavelength ranges and for directing the emitted light in each of the emission wavelength ranges to a respective one of the detectors, wherein the detectors and the second set of filters are rigidly fixed in the second housing.
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Abstract
An apparatus for thermally controlling and optically interrogating a reaction mixture includes a vessel [2] having a chamber [10] for holding the mixture. The apparatus also includes a heat-exchanging module [37] having a pair of opposing thermal plates [34A, 34B] for receiving the vessel [2] between them and for heating/and or cooling the mixture contained in the vessel. The module [37] also includes optical excitation and detection assemblies [46,48] positioned to optically interrogate the mixture. The excitation assembly [46] includes multiple light sources [100] and a set of filters for sequentially illuminating labeled analytes in the mixture with excitation beams in multiple excitation wavelength ranges. The detection assembly [48] includes multiple detectors [102] and a second set of filters for detecting light emitted from the chamber [10] in multiple emission wavelength ranges. The optics assemblies [46,48] thus provide a multi-channel system for detecting a plurality of different target analytes in the mixture.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An apparatus for thermally controlling and optically interrogating a reaction mixture, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a reaction vessel having a chamber for holding the mixture, wherein the vessel includes first and second optically transmissive walls;
b) opposing plates positioned to receive the vessel between them;
c) at least one heating element coupled to at least one of the plates for heating the reaction mixture; and
d) first and second optics assemblies positioned such that when the vessel is placed between the plates, the first and second optics assemblies are in optical communication with the first and second optically transmissive walls, respectively;
the first optics assembly comprising;
i) a first housing having a first optical window;
ii) at least two light sources for transmitting excitation beams to the reaction mixture through the first window; and
iii) a first set of filters for filtering the excitation beams such that each of the beams transmitted to the reaction mixture has a substantially distinct excitation wavelength range, wherein the light sources and the first set of filters are rigidly fixed in the first housing;
and the second optics assembly comprising;
i) a second housing having a second optical window for receiving light emitted from the chamber;
ii) at least two detectors for detecting the emitted light; and
iii) a second set of filters for separating the emitted light into at least two emission wavelength ranges and for directing the emitted light in each of the emission wavelength ranges to a respective one of the detectors, wherein the detectors and the second set of filters are rigidly fixed in the second housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19)
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16. A system for independently thermally controlling and optically interrogating a plurality of reaction mixtures, the system comprising:
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a) a plurality of reaction vessels, wherein each of the vessels has a reaction chamber for holding one of the mixtures, and wherein each of the vessels includes first and second optically transmissive walls defining a portion of its chamber;
b) a corresponding plurality of heat-exchanging modules for receiving the vessels, wherein each of the modules comprises;
i) opposing plates positioned to receive one of the vessels between them;
ii) at least one heating element coupled to at least one of the plates for heating the reaction mixture contained in the vessel; and
iii) first and second optics assemblies positioned such that when the vessel is placed between the plates, the first and second optics assemblies are in optical communication with the first and second optically transmissive walls of the vessel, respectively;
the first optics assembly comprising;
a first housing having a first optical window;
at least two light sources for transmitting excitation beams to the reaction mixture through the first window; and
a first set of filters for filtering the excitation beams such that each of the beams transmitted to the reaction mixture has a substantially distinct excitation wavelength range, wherein the light sources and the first set of filters are rigidly fixed in the first housing;
and the second optics assembly comprising;
i) a second housing having a second optical window for receiving light emitted from the vessel;
ii) at least two detectors for detecting the emitted light; and
iii) a second set of filters for separating the emitted light into at least two emission wavelength ranges and for directing the emitted light in each of the emission wavelength ranges to a respective one of the detectors, wherein the detectors and the second set of filters are rigidly fixed in the second housing; and
c) a base instrument for receiving the heat-exchanging modules, wherein the base instrument includes processing electronics for controlling the operation of each module.
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20. An apparatus for optically interrogating a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel having first and second optically transmissive walls, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a slot for receiving the vessel; and
b) first and second optics assemblies positioned such that when the vessel is placed in the slot, the first and second optics assemblies are in optical communication with the first and second optically transmissive walls of the vessel, respectively;
wherein the first optics assembly comprises;
i) a first housing having a first optical window;
ii) at least two light sources for transmitting excitation beams to the reaction mixture through the first window; and
iii) a first set of filters for filtering the excitation beams such that each of the beams transmitted to the reaction mixture has a substantially distinct excitation wavelength range, wherein the light sources and the first set of filters are rigidly fixed in the first housing;
and wherein the second optics assembly comprises;
i) a second housing having a second optical window for receiving light emitted from the mixture;
ii) at least two detectors for detecting the emitted light; and
iii) a second set of filters for separating the emitted light into at least two emission wavelength ranges and for directing the emitted light in each of the emission wavelength ranges to a respective one of the detectors, wherein the detectors and the second set of filters are rigidly fixed in the second housing. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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29. An apparatus for thermally controlling and optically interrogating a reaction mixture, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a reaction vessel having a chamber for holding the mixture, wherein the vessel includes first and second optically transmissive walls;
b) opposing plates positioned to receive the vessel between them;
c) at least one heating element coupled to at least one of the plates for heating the reaction mixture; and
d) first and second optics assemblies positioned such that when the vessel is placed between the plates, the first and second optics assemblies are in optical communication with the first and second optically transmissive walls, respectively;
the first optics assembly comprising;
i) a first housing having a first optical window;
ii) a first light source for transmitting a first excitation beam to the reaction mixture through the first window;
iii) a first detector for receiving light emitted from the chamber through the first window; and
iv) a first set of filters arranged in the first housing for filtering portions of the first excitation beam outside of a first excitation wavelength range, for filtering portions of the emitted light outside of a first emission wavelength range, and for directing the emitted light in the first emission wavelength range to the first detector, wherein the first light source, the first set of filters, and the first detector are rigidly fixed in the first housing;
and the second optics assembly comprising;
i) a second housing having a second optical window;
ii) a second light source for transmitting a second excitation beam to the reaction mixture through the second window;
iii) a second detector for receiving light emitted from the chamber through the second window; and
iv) a second set of filters arranged in the second housing for filtering portions of the second excitation beam outside of a second excitation wavelength range different than the first excitation wavelength range, for filtering portions of the emitted light outside of a second emission wavelength range different than the first emission wavelength range, and for directing the emitted light in the second emission wavelength range to the second detector, wherein the second light source, the second set of filters, and the second detector are rigidly fixed in the second housing.
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40. A system for independently thermally controlling and optically interrogating a plurality of reaction mixtures, the system comprising:
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a) a plurality of reaction vessels, wherein each of the vessels has a reaction chamber for holding one of the mixtures, and wherein each of the vessels includes first and second optically transmissive walls defining a portion of its chamber;
b) a corresponding plurality of heat-exchanging modules for receiving the vessels, wherein each of the modules comprises;
i) opposing plates positioned to receive one of the vessels between them;
ii) at least one heating element coupled to at least one of the plates for heating the reaction mixture contained in the vessel; and
iii) first and second optics assemblies positioned such that when the vessel is placed between the plates, the first and second optics assemblies are in optical communication with the first and second optically transmissive walls of the vessel, respectively;
the first optics assembly comprising;
a first housing having a first optical window;
a first light source for transmitting a first excitation beam to the reaction mixture contained in the vessel through the first window;
a first detector for receiving light emitted from the chamber through the first window; and
a first set of filters arranged in the first housing for filtering portions of the first excitation beam outside of a first excitation wavelength range, for filtering portions of the emitted light outside of a first emission wavelength range, and for directing the emitted light in the first emission wavelength range to the first detector, wherein the first light source, the first set of filters, and the first detector are rigidly fixed in the first housing;
and the second optics assembly comprising;
a second housing having a second optical window;
a second light source for transmitting a second excitation beam to the reaction mixture through the second window;
a second detector for receiving light emitted from the chamber through the second window; and
a second set of filters arranged in the second housing for filtering portions of the second excitation beam outside of a second excitation wavelength range different than the first excitation wavelength range, for filtering portions of the emitted light outside of a second emission wavelength range different than the first emission wavelength range, and for directing the emitted light in the second emission wavelength range to the second detector, wherein the second light source, the second set of filters, and the second detector are rigidly fixed in the second housing; and
c) a base instrument for receiving the heat-exchanging modules, wherein the base instrument includes processing electronics for independently controlling the operation of each module. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. An apparatus for optically interrogating a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel, wherein the vessel includes first and second optically transmissive walls, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a slot for receiving the vessel; and
b) first and second optics assemblies positioned such that when the vessel is placed in the slot, the first and second optics assemblies are in optical communication with the first and second optically transmissive walls of the vessel, respectively;
wherein the first optics assembly comprises;
i) a first housing having a first optical window;
ii) a first light source for transmitting a first excitation beam to the reaction mixture through the first window;
iii) a first detector for receiving light emitted from the chamber through the first window; and
iv) a first set of filters arranged in the first housing for filtering portions of the first excitation beam outside of a first excitation wavelength range, for filtering portions of the emitted light outside of a first emission wavelength range, and for directing the emitted light in the first emission wavelength range to the first detector, wherein the first light source, the first set of filters, and the first detector are rigidly fixed in the first housing;
and wherein the second optics assembly comprises;
i) a second housing having a second optical window;
ii) a second light source for transmitting a second excitation beam to the reaction mixture through the second window;
iii) a second detector for receiving light emitted from the chamber through the second window; and
iv) a second set of filters arranged in the second housing for filtering portions of the second excitation beam outside of a second excitation wavelength range different than the first excitation wavelength range, for filtering portions of the emitted light outside of a second emission wavelength range different than the first emission wavelength range, and for directing the emitted light in the second emission wavelength range to the second detector, wherein the second light source, the second set of filters, and the second detector are rigidly fixed in the second housing. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification