SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FILTER BASED SPECTROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

• US 20030227628A1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David I. Kreimer, Oleg A. Yevin, Robert L. Weber
• Original Assignee: David I. Kreimer, Oleg A. Yevin, Robert L. Weber
• Inventors: Weber, Robert, Yevin, Oleg A., Kreimer, David I.
• Granted Patent: US 6,707,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1213 Filters in general, e.g. dichroic, band
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0205 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/024 using means for illuminating a slit efficiently (e.g. entrance slit of a spectrometer or entrance face of fiber)
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0294 Multi-channel spectroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/32 Investigating bands of a spectrum in sequence by a single detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3137 with selection of wavelengths after the sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3177 Use of spatially separated filters in simultaneous way
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/656 Raman microprobe
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• 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 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/658 enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons

Abstract

Systems and methods for filter based spectrographic analysis are provided that permit rapid analysis of bioanalytes. Systems include devices for illuminating a sample with electromagnetic radiation and capturing radiation emitted from the sample. Emitted radiation can be collected by a plurality of waveguides each associated with a filter for a particular wavelength of radiation. Focusing devices are associated with filters and waveguides in certain embodiments. Radiation captured by waveguides can then be transmitted to a remote detector, which can determine the intensity of radiation for each waveguide. The use of a plurality of filters having different, band pass characteristics can permits the simultaneous detection of a plurality of different wavelengths of radiation emitted by a sample, thereby providing spectrographic information about the sample under study. Systems can include computers for storing acquired spectrographic information, addressable arrays of samples, and information security measures. Spectrographic information of samples can be diagnostic tools for identifying and quantifying a variety of different materials, including bioanalytes.

Claims

1. A device for obtaining spectrographic information, comprising:

(a) a plurality of filters, each having a defined range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that can pass therethrough; and

(b) a plurality of detectors, wherein each of said plurality of detectors is associated with at least one of said filters.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a memory device for storing said spectrographic information.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a computer.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display device.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising an AC-DC converter.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said memory device has at least one protected data area.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein said computer has at least one trusted computing space.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of waveguides, wherein each of said filters is associated with at least one of said waveguides.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said plurality of waveguides is arranged in a fiber bundle.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said waveguides have circular cross-section.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said waveguides have rectangular cross-section.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein said waveguides have triangular cross-section.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein said waveguides are arranged in a square array.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein said waveguides are arranged in a hexagonal array.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein said waveguides have different diameters.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein said fiber bundle is adapted to be positioned relative to a predetermined location on a substrate.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one waveguide.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said at least one waveguide is associated with a focusing device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said focusing device is a lens.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said focusing device focuses electromagnetic radiation emitted from a sample onto a tip of said waveguide.

61. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of detectors comprises a charge coupled device (CCD).

21. An array reader comprising:

(a) a source of electromagnetic radiation;

(b) a plurality of probes, each comprising;

(i) a plurality of filters, each having a defined range of wavelengths that can pass therethrough; and

(ii) a plurality of detectors, wherein each of said plurality of detectors is associated with at least one of said filters;

(c) a memory device capable of storing spectrographic information;

(d) a computer; and

(e) an output device.

22. The array reader of claim 21, further comprising an AC-DC converter.

23. The array reader of claim 21, wherein said memory device has at least one protected data area.

24. The array reader of claim 21, wherein said computer has at least one trusted computing space.

25. The array reader of claim 21, wherein said memory device has at least one protected date area and wherein said computer has at least one trusted computing space.

26. The array reader of claim 21, wherein said source of electromagnetic radiation is a laser.

27. The array reader of claim 21, adapted to be positioned relative to a preselected location on a substrate.

28. The array reader of claim 21, adapted to detect Raman radiation emitted by a sample.

29. The array reader of claim 21, adapted to detect fluorescent radiation emitted by a sample.

58. The array reader of claim 21 adapted to detect luminescent radiation.

59. The array reader of claim 21 adapted to detect chemiluminescent radiation.

60. The array reader of claim 21 adapted to detect bioluminescent radiation.

30. A system for spectrographic analysis of a sample, comprising:

(a) a source of electromagnetic radiation;

(b) a plurality of probes, each comprising;

(i) a plurality of filters, each having a defined range of wavelengths that can pass therethrough; and

(ii) a plurality of detectors, wherein each of said plurality of detectors is associated with at least one of said filters;

(c) a memory device capable of storing spectrographic information;

(d) a computer;

(e) an output device; and

(f) a sample.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said sample comprises a surface enhancing substrate.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said surface enhancing substrate further comprises an analyte receptor.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising an analyte bound to said analyte receptor.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein said sample is on a substrate having a plurality of samples thereon.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein at least one of said plurality of said samples is different from other of said plurality of samples.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein said plurality of samples is arranged in an addressable array

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said addressable array is a one-dimensional array.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein said addressable array is a two-dimensional array.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein said substrate is substantially planar.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein said substrate is flexible.

41. The system of claim 34, where each of said samples is associated with an address on said array.

42. The system of claim 30, wherein said sample is substantially circular.

43. The system of claim 30, wherein said sample is oblong.

44. The system of claim 30, wherein said sample is substantially rectangular.

45. A method for obtaining spectrographic information from a sample on a substrate, comprising the steps of:

(a) illuminating said sample with incident electromagnetic radiation; and

(b) observing electromagnetic radiation emitted by said sample using a probe, said probe comprising;

(i) a plurality of filters, each having a defined range of wavelengths that can pass therethrough; and

(ii) a plurality of detectors, wherein each of said plurality of detectors is associated with at least one of said filters.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising storing said spectrographic information in a memory device.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising analyzing said spectrographic information using a computer.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said memory device has at least one protected data area and said step of storing comprises storing said information in said at least one protected data area.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said computer has at least one trusted computing space and said step of analyzing comprises analyzing said spectrographic information in said trusted computing space.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein said substrate has a Raman enhancing structure thereon.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said sample is near said Raman enhancing structure.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein said Raman enhancing structure has an analyte receptor bound thereto.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said sample is an analyte bound to said analyte receptor.

54. A device for obtaining spectrographic information, comprising:

(a) a plurality of filters, each having a defined range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that can pass therethrough;

(b) a plurality of detectors, wherein each of said plurality of detectors is associated with at least one of said filters; and

(c) a plurality of waveguides, wherein each of said plurality of waveguides is associated with at least one of said filters and at least one of said detectors.

55. A system for spectrographic analysis, comprising:

(a) a substrate having an addressable array of samples thereon, each sample having a unique address in said array;

(b) a spectrographic probe that is moveable in at least two dimensions; and

(c) a servomechanism adapted to move said probe to a preselected address on said array.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein each of said addresses is identified positionally.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein each of said addresses is identified using a chemical marker.