Scanner having spatial light modulator

• US 20060139635A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Inventors: Kersey, Alan, Moon, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,602,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/318
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/021 using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or particular reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/4406 Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6471 Special filters, filter wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0076 arrangements using fluorescence or luminescence

Abstract

The present invention features incorporating an adaptive spectral filter into a confocal scanner optical arrangement or other suitable optical device to permit real time control of the fluorescence signal spectrum being monitored. This new arrangement would allow for better balancing of the fluorescence signals in the analysis of the array.

Claims

1. An optical device or scanner for monitoring fluorescence signals of a device or medium, comprising:

an adaptive spectral filter with a spatial light modulator to permit real time control of a fluorescence signal spectrum being monitored.

2. An optical device or scanner according to claim 1, wherein the adaptive spectral filter detects the fluorescence signal spectrum provided from a device or medium used an assay process.

3. An optical device or scanner according to claim 1, wherein the adaptive spectral filter has an SLM equalization control module that equalizes intensities of the fluorescence signal spectrum across a predetermined portion of the surface of the spatial light modulator.

4. An optical device or scanner according to claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator is a Digital Micromirror Device™

(DMD™

).

5. An optical device or scanner according to claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator is either a reflective or a transmissive device.

6. An optical device or scanner according to claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator is a pixelating device, such as liquid crystal device (LCD), or a bubble jet device.

7. An optical device or scanner according to claim 1, wherein the optical device or scanner is an imaging biochip/microarray confocal scanner.

8. An optical device or scanner according to claim 1, wherein the optical device or scanner records an image using multiple fluorescence tags that indicate the degree of binding or hybridization of target biomolecules to probes immobilized on the device or medium which is used in an assay process.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator is either a reflective or a transmissive device.

9. A method comprising one or more steps for permitting real time control of a fluorescence signal spectrum being monitored by an adaptive spectral filter having a spatial light modulator.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the method includes detecting the fluorescence signal spectrum provided from a device or medium used an assay process with the adaptive spectral filter.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the method includes equalizing intensities of the fluorescence signal spectrum across a predetermined portion of the surface of the spatial light modulator with an SLM equalization control module in the adaptive spectral filter.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the spatial light modulator is a Digital Micromirror Device™

(DMD™

).

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the spatial light modulator is a pixelating device, such as liquid crystal device (LCD), or a bubble jet device.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the optical device or scanner is an imaging biochip/microarray confocal scanner.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the method includes recording an image using multiple fluorescence tags that indicate the degree of binding or hybridization of target biomolecules to probes immobilized on the device or media with the optical device or scanner.

17. An optical arrangement having an optical device or scanner for monitoring fluorescence signals from a device or medium used an assay process, comprising:

the optical device or scanner includes an adaptive spectral filter to permit real time control of the fluorescence signal spectrum being monitored.

18. An optical arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the optical arrangement is a confocal scanner optical arrangement.

19. An optical arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the optical device is a microarray or biochip.

20. An optical arrangement for monitoring fluorescence signals of an optical device, comprising:

a digital light processor (DLP) arranged between the array plane and image plane to add a 2D “

gain control”

element.