Evanescent field illumination devices and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microplate for holding a plurality of samples, the microplate comprising:
- a frame; and
a plurality of sample wells disposed in the frame, at least one sample well having a wall capable of transmitting light, a portion of the wall having an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, wherein the inner and outer surfaces are not parallel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are disclosed comprising providing a sample holder having a plurality of sample wells. Inner and outer surfaces of at least one well are configured for total internal reflection of incident light.
-
Citations
50 Claims
-
1. A microplate for holding a plurality of samples, the microplate comprising:
-
a frame; and
a plurality of sample wells disposed in the frame, at least one sample well having a wall capable of transmitting light, a portion of the wall having an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, wherein the inner and outer surfaces are not parallel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for detecting luminescence emitted by a sample, the method comprising:
-
providing a microplate having a plurality of sample wells, at least one sample well having a wall capable of transmitting light, the wall having an inner surface configured to contact a sample held within the sample well and an opposing outer surface that is not parallel to the inner surface;
directing excitation light through the outer surface so that it impinges on the inner surface at an angle sufficient for total internal reflection, so that an evanescent field is created in the sample well; and
detecting luminescence emitted by a sample within the sample well in response to excitation by the evanescent field. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
-
47. A system for detecting luminescence emitted by a sample, the system comprising:
-
a sample holder having a frame and a plurality of sample wells disposed in the frame, each sample well configured to hold a fluid sample; and
an optical device having an examination site, a light source positioned to deliver light to the examination site, and a detector positioned to receive light transmitted from the examination site;
wherein the sample holder and optical device are configured so that when the sample holder is positioned in the examination site, the optical device is capable of exciting and detecting luminescence substantially exclusively from a sensed volume adjacent an inner surface of at least one sample well in the sample holder.
-
-
48. A system for detecting luminescence emitted by a sample, the system comprising:
-
a sample holder having a frame and a plurality of sample wells disposed in the frame, each sample well configured to hold a fluid sample; and
an optical device having an examination site, a light source positioned to deliver excitation light to the examination site, and a detector positioned to receive emission light transmitted from the examination site;
wherein the sample holder and optical device are configured so that when the sample holder is positioned in the examination site, the optical device is capable of exciting and detecting luminescence from the sample substantially without carrying light energy into a sample well.
-
-
49. A method for detecting luminescence emitted by a sample, the method comprising:
-
directing light substantially normal to an exterior surface of a microplate well sample container;
totally internally reflecting the light from an internal surface of the container; and
detecting luminescence emitted by a sample within the sample well in response to excitation by the evanescent field.
-
-
50. A microplate for holding a plurality of samples, the microplate comprising:
-
a frame; and
a plurality of sample wells disposed in the frame, at least one sample well having a wall capable of transmitting light, the wall having a nonuniform thickness that provides an optimal angle of incidence of incoming light through an outer surface of the well and total internal reflection at an opposing internal interface in the well.
-
Specification