Electroluminescent illumination source for optical detection systems

• US 20050244952A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohen, David Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/66 electrically excited, e.g. electroluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence

Abstract

An optical detection system that utilizes an electroluminescent (EL) illumination source is provided. Unlike illumination sources used with some conventional optical detection systems, an EL device is relatively homogeneous and diffuse, and thus may provide uniform illumination to the test sample. In addition, the emitted light intensity of the EL device may be easily controlled by simply varying the voltage or the frequency of the applied current. The relatively flexibility of EL devices may also allow them to be readily incorporated into a chromatographic-based assay device for detecting the presence or absence of an analyte within a test sample.

Claims

1. An optical detection system for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte within a test sample, said system comprising an electroluminescent illumination source that provides electromagnetic radiation, said electromagnetic radiation being capable of causing the production of a detection signal that correlates to the presence or quantity of the analyte.

2. The optical detection system of claim 1, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source is a dispersion or thin-film device.

3. The optical detection system of claim 1, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source contains a luminescent layer sandwiched between at least two electrodes.

4. The optical detection system of claim 3, wherein at least one of said electrodes contains carbon.

5. The optical detection system of claim 3, wherein at least one of said electrodes contains a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, iridium, and alloys thereof.

6. The optical detection system of claim 3, wherein at least one of said electrodes contains an inorganic oxide.

7. The optical detection system of claim 6, wherein said inorganic oxide is selected from the group consisting of indium oxide, indium tin oxide, tin oxide, antimony tin oxide, and combinations thereof.

8. The optical detection system of claim 7, further comprising a dielectric layer positioned between said luminescent layer and at least one of said electrodes.

9. The optical detection system of claim 3, wherein said luminescent layer contains phosphor particles.

10. The optical detection system of claim 1, further comprising:

an assay device that includes a chromatographic medium in communication with detection probes, said detection probes being capable of producing said detection signal; and

a detector capable of registering said detection signal produced by said detection probes.

11. The optical detection system of claim 10, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source and said detector are positioned on the same side of said assay device.

12. The optical detection system of claim 10, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source and said detector are positioned on opposing sides of said assay device so that said chromatographic medium is positioned in the electromagnetic radiation path defined between said electroluminescent illumination source and said detector.

13. The optical detection system of claim 10, wherein said chromatographic medium is a porous membrane.

14. The optical detection system of claim 10, wherein said chromatographic medium includes a fluidic channel.

15. The optical detection system of claim 10, wherein a receptive material is immobilized within a detection zone defined by said chromatographic medium, said receptive material being configured to bind to at least a portion of said detection probes or complexes thereof.

16. The optical detection system of claim 10, wherein said chromatographic medium is carried by said electroluminescent illumination source.

17. The optical detection system of claim 16, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source is laminated to a support for said chromatographic medium.

18. The optical detection system of claim 16, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source is laminated to said chromatographic medium.

19. The optical detection system of claim 16, wherein an optically transparent adhesive is used to laminate said electroluminescent illumination source to said chromatographic medium, to a support for said chromatographic medium, or combinations thereof.

20. The optical detection system of claim 10, wherein said assay device is contained within a sample holder.

21. The optical detection system of claim 20, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source is also positioned within said sample holder.

22. The optical detection system of claim 21, further comprising a cartridge that contains leads for said electroluminescent illumination source, said cartridge defining a port that receives said sample holder.

23. An optical detection system for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte within a test sample, said system comprising:

an assay device that includes a porous membrane in communication with detection probes, said detection probes being capable of producing a detection signal;

an electroluminescent illumination source capable of providing electromagnetic radiation that causes said detection probes to produce said detection signal; and

a detector capable of registering said detection signal produced by said detection probes.

24. The optical detection system of claim 23, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source is a dispersion or thin-film device.

25. The optical detection system of claim 23, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source contains a luminescent layer sandwiched between at least two electrodes.

26. The optical detection system of claim 23, further comprising a dielectric layer positioned between said luminescent layer and at least one of said electrodes.

27. The optical detection system of claim 23, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source and said detector are positioned on the same side of said assay device.

28. The optical detection system of claim 23, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source and said detector are positioned on opposing sides of said assay device so that said chromatographic medium is positioned in the electromagnetic radiation path defined between said electroluminescent illumination source and said detector.

29. The optical detection system of claim 23, wherein said porous membrane is carried by said electroluminescent illumination source.