Ultra high throughput microfluidic analytical systems and methods
First Claim
1. An illumination and detection system for use in illuminating a plurality of samples in a plurality of microchannels located in a detection region on a microfluidic device, and for detecting radiation emitted from the detection region, wherein the microchannels are substantially parallel along a first direction within the detection region, the system comprising:
- an illumination source for providing an excitation beam having two or more excitation wavelengths;
focussing optics for focussing the excitation beam onto a first plane defined by the plurality of microchannels in the detection region such that the focussed excitation beam is elongated, having a major axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the excitation beam impinges upon the detection region at a non-normal angle of incidence relative to the first plane, and wherein the excitation beam simultaneously excites the samples in at least two of the microchannels so as to cause the excited samples to emit radiation;
two or more detectors, wherein each detector detects a specific range of radiation wavelengths; and
detection optics for directing radiation from the samples toward the detectors such that the wavelengths of the emitted radiation within each specific radiation wavelength range are directed toward the corresponding detector.
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Abstract
Analytical systems and methods that use a modular interface structure for providing an interface between a sample substrate and an analytical unit, where the analytical unit typically has a particular interface arrangement for implementing various analytical and control functions. Using a number of variants for each module of the modular interface structure advantageously provides cost effective and efficient ways to perform numerous tests using a particular substrate or class of substrates with a particular analytical and control systems interface arrangement. Improved optical illumination and detection system for simultaneously analyzing reactions or conditions in multiple parallel microchannels are also provided. Increased throughput and improved emissions detection is provided by the present invention by simultaneously illuminating multiple parallel microchannels at a non-normal incidence using an excitation beam including multiple excitation frequencies, and simultaneously detecting emissions from the substances in the microchannels in a direction normal to the substrate using a detection module with multiple detectors.
134 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An illumination and detection system for use in illuminating a plurality of samples in a plurality of microchannels located in a detection region on a microfluidic device, and for detecting radiation emitted from the detection region, wherein the microchannels are substantially parallel along a first direction within the detection region, the system comprising:
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an illumination source for providing an excitation beam having two or more excitation wavelengths;
focussing optics for focussing the excitation beam onto a first plane defined by the plurality of microchannels in the detection region such that the focussed excitation beam is elongated, having a major axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the excitation beam impinges upon the detection region at a non-normal angle of incidence relative to the first plane, and wherein the excitation beam simultaneously excites the samples in at least two of the microchannels so as to cause the excited samples to emit radiation;
two or more detectors, wherein each detector detects a specific range of radiation wavelengths; and
detection optics for directing radiation from the samples toward the detectors such that the wavelengths of the emitted radiation within each specific radiation wavelength range are directed toward the corresponding detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An analytical system comprising:
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an analysis chip having a plurality of microchannels disposed thereon, wherein at least two of the plurality of microchannels are located in a detection region;
an optical illumination and detection subsystem including;
an illumination source for illuminating the at least two microchannels in the detection region with an excitation beam at a non-normal angle of incidence, said excitation beam having at least two excitation wavelengths, wherein the excitation beam simultaneously excites samples in the at least two microchannels in the detection region; and
at least two detectors, wherein each detector detects a specific range of wavelengths;
an instrument array including a plurality of interface components for providing control of analyses performed on the chip;
ana modular interface structure, including at least one module, for holding the chip and for interfacing the chip with the instrument array, wherein the at least one module is configured to interface with at least one of the interface components.
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17. An illumination and detection system for use in illuminating a plurality of samples in a plurality of microchannels located in a detection region on a microfluidic device, and for detecting radiation emitted from the detection region, wherein the microchannels are substantially parallel along a first direction within the detection region, the system comprising:
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an illumination source for providing an excitation beam, wherein the illumination source is configured so that excitation beam impinges at a non-normal angle of incidence onto a first plane defined by the plurality of microchannels in the detection region, wherein on the first plane the excitation beam is elongated, having a major axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the excitation beam simultaneously excites the samples in at least two of the microchannels so as to cause the excited samples to emit radiation;
one or more detectors, wherein each detector detects a specific range of radiation wavelengths; and
detection optics for directing radiation from the samples toward the one or more detectors such that the wavelengths of the emitted radiation within each specific radiation wavelength range are directed toward the corresponding detector.
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18. An illumination and detection system for use in illuminating a plurality of samples in a plurality of microchannels located in a detection region on a microfluidic device, and for detecting radiation emitted from the detection region, wherein the microchannels are substantially parallel along a first direction within the detection region, the system comprising:
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an illumination source for providing an excitation beam having two or more excitation wavelengths;
focussing optics for focussing the excitation beam onto a first plane defined by the plurality of microchannels in the detection region such that the focussed excitation beam is elongated, having a major axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the excitation beam impinges upon the detection region at a non-normal angle of incidence relative to the first plane, and wherein the excitation beam simultaneously excites the samples in at least two of the microchannels so as to cause the excited samples to emit radiation;
two or more detectors, wherein each detector detects a specific range of radiation wavelengths and a specific polarization; and
detection optics for directing radiation from the samples toward the detectors such that the emitted radiation having both the specific polarization and wavelengths within the specific radiation wavelength range are directed toward the corresponding detector. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification