Multiwavelength transilluminator for absorbance and fluorescence detection using light emitting diodes

• US 20030230728A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BioMachines, Inc. (Clearview Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: BioMachines, Inc. (Clearview Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dai, Zhengshan, Sheridan, Richard, Wang, Xue-Feng
• Application Number:
  US10/460,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20030230728A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/458.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• 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 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0626 Use of several LED's for spatial resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0627 Use of several LED's for spectral resolution

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are provided for viewing a pattern of biological material stained with dyes capable of absorbing, scattering or fluorescing light when illuminated by light emitting diodes (LEDs). The system includes a light source containing multiple light source arrays of different LED types emitting light at different wavelengths optimized for detecting specific dyes, a diffuser, a detector or viewer, and optional optical filters to ensure that the only light reaching the detector or viewer is light produced by fluorescence of the various dyes within a specific wavelength band. The optical filters are optional for detecting or viewing absorbance and light scatter. The different arrays of LED types can be selected in any combination during illumination and their intensity is adjustable over a range from 0-100%. A system and method is also provided for comparing patterns for two or more dyes contained in a single material.

Claims

1. A transilluminator, comprising:

a first light source array, including at least a first LED operable to output light within a first range of wavelengths;

a second light source array, including at least a second LED operable to output light within a second range of wavelengths;

a control, wherein at least a selected one of said first light source array and said second light source array is operated to output light.

2. The transilluminator of claim 1, wherein said control comprises a switch.

3. The transilluminator of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to modulate an intensity of light output from said selected one of said first light source array and said second light source array.

4. The transilluminator of claim 3, wherein said control provides a pulse width modulated signal to said selected one of said first light source array and said second light source array.

5. The transilluminator of claim 1, wherein light is output from both said at least a first LED and said at least a second LED simultaneously.

6. The transilluminator of claim 1, wherein said first light source array comprises a plurality of said first LEDs and said second light source array comprises a plurality of said second LEDs.

7. The transilluminator of claim 6, wherein said first LEDs of said first light source array are interleaved with said second LEDs of said second light source array.

8. The transilluminator of claim 6, wherein said first light source array comprises said first LEDs arranged in rows, wherein said second light source array comprises said second LEDs arranged in rows, wherein each row of said first light source array is adjacent at least one row of said second light source circuit.

9. The transilluminator of claim 1, further comprising:

a diffuser, wherein light output from said first and second LEDs is diffused.

10. The transilluminator of claim 1, further comprising:

a printed circuit board, wherein said first LED of said first light source array and said second LED of said second light source array comprise circuits formed on said printed circuit board.

11. The transilluminator of claim 1, further comprising:

a third light source array comprising at least a third LED.

12. The transilluminator of claim 11, wherein said first LED produces light having a wavelength of about 470 nm, wherein said second LED produces light having a wavelength of about 525 nm, and wherein said third LED produces light having a wavelength of about 612 nm.

13. A method for illuminating biological substrates, comprising:

outputting first light having a wavelength within a first range from at least a first LED, wherein said first light is incident upon a first sample, and wherein said light at least one of a) excites a fluorescent dye within said sample, b) is absorbed by a dye within said sample, and c) is scattered by a dye within said sample;

outputting second light having a wavelength within a second range from at least a second LED, wherein said second light is incident upon at least one of said first sample and a second sample, and wherein said light at least one of a) excites a fluorescent dye within said sample, b) is absorbed by a dye within said sample, and c) is scattered by a dye within said sample;

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

varying an intensity of at least one of said first light and said second light.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein varying an intensity of said at least one of said first light and said second light comprises providing a pulse width modulated signal to said at least one of said first LED and said second LED.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of outputting first light comprises outputting light from a plurality of LEDs.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of outputting second light comprises outputting light from a plurality of LEDs.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

passing said first light and said second light through a diff-user before said first and second light is incident upon at least said first sample.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising passing said first light that at least one of a) excites a fluorescent dye within said sample, b) is absorbed by a dye within said sample, and c) is scattered by a dye within said sample through a first filter.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

passing said first light that at least one of a) excites a fluorescent dye within said sample, b) is absorbed by a dye within said sample, and c) is scattered by a dye within said sample through a first filter;

passing said second light that at least one of at least one of;

a) excites a fluorescent dye within said sample, b) is absorbed by a dye within said sample, and c) is scattered by a dye within said sample through a second filter.

21. A transilluminator, comprising:

means for generating light having a first wavelength, wherein said means for generating light having a first wavelength includes at least a first LED;

means for generating light having a second wavelength, wherein said means for generating light having a second wavelength includes at least a second LED;

means for positioning a sample of biological material within said light having said first wavelength and said light having a second wavelength.

22. The transilluminator of claim 21, further comprising:

means for controlling an intensity of at least one of said light having a first wavelength and said light having a second wavelength.

23. The transilluminator of claim 21, further comprising:

means for detecting at least one of fluorescence, scattering, and absorption of at least one of said light having a first wavelength and said light having a second wavelength.

24. The transilluminator of claim 21, further comprising:

means for diffusing said light having a first wavelength and said light having a second wavelength.

25. The transilluminator of claim 21, further comprising:

means for positioning a sample of biological material comprises means for positioning a number of samples of biological material.