Analyzing biological probes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An analyzer for reading probes comprising:
- a housing;
a slide carriage mounted for movement within the housing;
a slide disposed on the slide carriage;
a plurality of probes disposed on the slide in a probe pattern, each probe for generating a probe signal to indicate prior exposure to a predetermined substance or for not generating a probe signal to indicate the absence of prior exposure to the predetermined substance;
a detector for detecting probe signals from a plurality of probes located in a first pattern on the slide;
the probe pattern being denser than the first pattern and being configured in a shape corresponding to the probe pattern so that the detector can sense multiple subsets of the probes within a probe pattern on the slide; and
a drive mechanism for producing relative movement between the detector and the slide, the slide and detector moving relatively from a first position, in which the detector reads a first subset of probes within a probe pattern, to a second position in which the detector reads a second subset of probes within the probe pattern.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An analyzer reads biological probes arranged in a probe pattern on a slide carried by a slide carriage. Each probe may or may not generate a probe signal, which is typically fluorescent light, to indicate prior exposure to a predetermined substance or absence of such prior exposure. A detector includes sensors arranged in a first pattern. The probe pattern is denser than the first pattern and includes plurality of first patterns. The detector can sense multiple subsets of the probes within a probe pattern. The probes are contained in wells configured to facilitate reading of the probes, and alignment indicia may be used to check alignment of the slide with the detector.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. An analyzer for reading probes comprising:
-
a housing;
a slide carriage mounted for movement within the housing;
a slide disposed on the slide carriage;
a plurality of probes disposed on the slide in a probe pattern, each probe for generating a probe signal to indicate prior exposure to a predetermined substance or for not generating a probe signal to indicate the absence of prior exposure to the predetermined substance;
a detector for detecting probe signals from a plurality of probes located in a first pattern on the slide;
the probe pattern being denser than the first pattern and being configured in a shape corresponding to the probe pattern so that the detector can sense multiple subsets of the probes within a probe pattern on the slide; and
a drive mechanism for producing relative movement between the detector and the slide, the slide and detector moving relatively from a first position, in which the detector reads a first subset of probes within a probe pattern, to a second position in which the detector reads a second subset of probes within the probe pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An analyzer for reading probes comprising:
-
a housing;
a slide carriage mounted for movement within the housing;
a slide disposed on the slide carriage;
a plurality of probes disposed on the slide in a probe pattern, each probe for generating a probe signal to indicate prior exposure to a predetermined substance or for not generating a probe signal to indicate the absence of prior exposure to the predetermined substance;
a detector for detecting probe signals from a plurality of probes located in a first pattern on the slide and generating detection of signals corresponding to the probe signals;
the probe pattern being denser than the first pattern and being configured in a shape corresponding to the first pattern so that the detector can sense multiple subsets of the probes within a probe pattern on the slide;
a drive mechanisms for moving the slide carriage and the slide from a first position, in which the detector reads a first subset of probes within a probe pattern, to a second position in which the detector reads a second a subset of probes within the probe pattern; and
a data processor connected to the drive mechanism and the detector for receiving the detection signals and for issuing command signals for controlling the drive mechanism based in part upon the detection signals. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. An analyzer for reading biological probes comprising:
-
a housing having a front wall and an opening through the front wall;
a cassette mounted within the housing for extending at least partially out of the housing through the opening in the front wall and for retracting at least partially into the housing through the opening;
cassette drive mechanism for moving of the cassette to the first and second positions of the cassette;
a user input for generating user commands in response to a user;
a display for displaying information to a user;
a slide carriage mounted on the cassette for movement with respect to the cassette;
a slide disposed on the slide carriage;
a plurality of probes disposed on the slide in a probe pattern, each probe for generating a probe signal to indicate prior exposure to a predetermined substance or for not generating a probe signal to indicate the absence of prior exposure to the predetermined substance;
a detector for detecting probe signals from a plurality of probes located in a first pattern on the slide and producing detection of signals corresponding to the probe signals;
a plurality of sensors disposed on the detector in the first pattern;
the probe pattern being more dense than the first pattern and being configured in a shape corresponding to a plurality of first patterns so that the detector can sense multiple subsets of the probes within a probe pattern on the slide; and
carriage drive mechanism for moving the slide carriage and the slide from a first position, in which the detector reads a first subset of probes within a probe pattern, to a second position in which the detector reads a second subset of probes within the probe pattern;
a data processor connected to the display, user input, detector, cassette drive mechanism, carriage drive mechanism, and an information output, said data processor for receiving a user commands from the user input, for transmitting information to the display and displaying information to the user on the display, for transmitting information causing the cassette drive mechanism to move the cassette between the first and second positions of the cassette, for transmitting commands to the carriage drive mechanism causing movement of the slide relative to the detector, for receiving detection signals and for sending information corresponding to the detection signals through the information output. - View Dependent Claims (26)
-
Specification