Multiplex fluorescence detection device having removable optical modules

• US 20060223169A1
• Filed: 07/05/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diasorin Italia SPA
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bedingham, William, Robole, Barry W., Ludowise, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,507,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6419 Excitation at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6441 with two or more labels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/024 Modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk

Abstract

Techniques are described for the detection of multiple target species in real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). For example, a system comprises a data acquisition device and a detection device coupled to the data acquisition device. The detection device includes a rotating disk having a plurality of process chambers having a plurality of species that emit fluorescent light at different wavelengths. The device further includes a plurality of removable optical modules. Each of the removable optical modules is optically configured to excite the species and capture fluorescent light emitted by the species at different wavelengths. A fiber optic bundle coupled to the plurality of removable optical modules conveys the fluorescent light from the optical modules to a single detector.

Claims

26. A detection system comprising.

a data acquisition device;

and

a detection device coupled to the data acquisition device, wherein the detection device comprises;

a motor to rotate a disk having a plurality of process chambers each holding a respective sample and one or more fluorescent dyes;

a plurality of optical modules, and

a housing having a plurality of locations adapted to receive the optical modules;

wherein each of the optical modules includes an optical channel having a light source selected for a different one of the dyes and a lens to capture fluorescent light emitted from the disk.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a detector; and

a fiber optic bundle coupled to the plurality of optical modules to convey the fluorescent light from the multiple optical modules to the detector.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of optical modules are removable from the locations of the housing.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein each of the locations includes a set of one or more electrical contacts, and wherein each optical module has a set of one or more electrical contacts for electronically coupling to the electrical contacts of the locations when inserted into the housing.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein each optical module includes an optical output port for coupling to a leg of the fiber optic bundle.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the optical output port has a slidable connection that allows the leg of the fiber optic bundle to be slidably engaged and disengaged from the optical output port of the optical module.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a bias member associated with the slidable connection to force the fiber optic bundle against the optical output port.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the optical output port has a threaded end for engaging a threaded connector of the leg of the fiber optic bundle.

34. The system of claim 26, further comprising a slot sensor trigger to provide an output signal for synchronization of rotation of the disk with the captured fluorescent light emitted from the disk.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a control unit which uses the slot sensor trigger output signal to compute a time offset between the modules, controls the light source within each of the optical modules and processes data from the captured fluorescent light emitted from the disk based on the time offset.

36. The system of claim 26, further comprising a laser valve control system electrically coupled to one of the plurality of optical modules.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the laser valve control system controls a laser within one of the optical modules to selectively open a valve separating a process chamber from a holding chamber on the disk.

38. A method comprising:

rotating a disk having a plurality of process chambers each having one or more species that emit fluorescent light at different wavelengths;

exciting the disk with a plurality of light beams to produce a plurality of emitted fluorescent light beams; and

capturing the fluorescent light beams with a plurality of different removable optical modules, wherein the removable optical modules are optically configured for the different wavelengths and contained within a housing.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising

conveying the fluorescent light beams from the plurality of modules to a single detector with a fiber optic bundle;

and

outputting a signal from the detector representative of the fluorescent light beams.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the housing includes a plurality of locations adapted to receive the optical modules.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising inserting one or more of the plurality of removable optical modules into the housing.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising removing one or more of the plurality of modules from the housing.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising electronically coupling each of the plurality of modules to one or more electrical contacts connected to a control unit.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein exciting the disk with a plurality of light beams may be accomplished by sending the light beams through an excitation filter and capturing the fluorescent light beams may be accomplished by sending the fluorescent light beams through a detection filter.

45. The method of claim 39, further comprising providing an output signal from a slot sensor trigger for synchronization of rotation of the disk with captured fluorescence light.

46. The method of claim 39, further comprising opening a valve separating a process chamber from a holding chamber with a laser valve control system.

47. The method of claim 39, further comprising selecting a wavelength for each of the plurality of light beams for exciting the different species of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) utilizing fluorescence detection at multiple wavelengths

48. A removable optical module for a detection device comprising:

an optical channel having a light source selected for a different one of a plurality of fluorescent dyes and a lens to capture fluorescent light emitted from a disk;

a set of one or more optical module electrical contacts for electronically coupling to a set of one or more housing electrical contacts within a housing; and

an attachment mechanism to attach the optical module to the housing.

49. The removable optical module of claim 48, further comprising an excitation and a detection filter.

50. The removable optical module of claim 48, further comprising an optical output port for coupling to a leg of a fiber optic bundle attached to a detector.

51. The removable optical module of claim 48, further comprising a plurality of guides which mate to a plurality of tracks within a location of the housing.

52. The removable optical module of claim 48, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a lever, a pivot pin, a spring, a latch or a screw.

53. A removable dual optical channel optical module for a detection device comprising:

a first optical channel having a light source selected for a first fluorescent dye and a lens to capture fluorescent light of a first wavelength emitted from a disk;

a second optical channel having a light source selected for a second fluorescent dye and a lens to capture fluorescent light of a second wavelength emitted from the disk;

a set of one or more optical module electrical contacts for electronically coupling to a set of one or more housing electrical contacts within a housing; and

an attachment mechanism to attach the optical module to the housing.

1. A detection device comprising:

a motor to rotate a disk having a plurality of process chambers each holding a respective sample and one or more fluorescent dyes;

a plurality of optical modules, and

a housing having a plurality of locations adapted to receive the optical modules;

wherein each of the optical modules includes an optical channel having a light source selected for a different one of the dyes and a lens to capture fluorescent light emitted from the disk.

2. The detection device of claim 1, further comprising:

a detector; and

a fiber optic bundle coupled to the plurality of optical modules to convey the fluorescent light from the multiple optical modules to a detector.

3. The detection device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical modules are removable from the locations of the housing.

4. The detection device of claim 3, further comprising an attachment mechanism to attach each optical module to the housing.

5. The detection device of claim 3, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a lever, a pivot pin, a spring, a latch or a screw.

6. The detection device of claim 3, wherein each of the locations includes a set of one or more electrical contacts, and wherein each optical module has a set of one or more electrical contacts for electronically coupling to the electrical contacts of the locations when inserted into the housing.

7. The detection device of claim 6, further comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the light source within each of the optical modules via the electrical contacts.

8. The detection device of claim 7, wherein each of the optical modules includes an electrical component that communicates with the control unit via the electrical contacts.

9. The detection device of claim 7, wherein the electrical contacts include a flex circuit connection.

10. The detection device of claim 8, wherein the electrical component of each of the optical modules outputs unique identification information for the respective optical module

11. The detection device of claim 8, wherein the electrical component of each of the optical modules outputs information describing at least one optical characteristics of an optical component contained within the optical module.

12. The detection device of claim 8, wherein the electrical component includes programmable read-only memory (PROM), Flash, an internal storage medium or a removable storage medium.

13. The detection device of claim 8, wherein the electrical component include a laser source that emits a laser to open a valve separating a process chamber from a holding chamber on the disk.

14. The detection device of claim 8, wherein one or more of the optical modules includes a microprocessor.

15. The detection device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical modules further comprises an excitation filter and a detection filter.

16. The detection device of claim 1, wherein one or more optical modules may be combined to form one large optical module.

17. The detection device of claim 1, further comprising a laser valve control system electrically coupled to one of the plurality of optical modules.

18. The detection device of claim 17, wherein the laser valve control system controls a laser within one of the optical modules to selectively open a valve separating a process chamber from a holding chamber on the disk.

19. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the light sources of the optical modules comprise light emitting diodes or laser diodes.

20. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the light sources are selected for detection of different species of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) utilizing fluorescence detection at multiple wavelengths.

21. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the device includes at least two optical modules.

22. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical modules are aligned around the disk to sequentially interrogate one or more process chambers.

23. The detection device of claim 1, wherein two or more optical modules interrogate one or more process chambers without stopping the rotation of the disk.

24. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical modules are arranged so that each optical module detects samples at its associated radial position on the disk.

25. The detection device of claim 24, wherein at least two of the plurality of optical modules are positioned over different radial positions of the disk.

54. The optical module of claim 53, further comprising a first excitation filter, a first detection filter, a second excitation filter and a second detection filter.

55. The optical module of claim 53, further comprising a plurality of guides which mate to a plurality of tracks within a location of the housing.

56. The optical module of claim 53, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a lever, a pivot pin, a spring, a latch or a screw.

54-1. The optical module of claim 53, further comprising a first optical output port for coupling to a first leg of a fiber optic bundle attached to a detector and a second optical output port for coupling to a second leg of a fiber optic bundle attached to the detector.

57. A removable optical module having an optical channel and a laser source for a detection device comprising:

an optical channel having a light source selected for a different one of a plurality of fluorescent dyes and a lens to capture fluorescent light emitted from a disk;

a laser source;

a set of one or more optical module electrical contacts for electronically coupling to a set of one or more housing electrical contacts within a housing; and

an attachment mechanism to attach the optical module to the housing.

58. The optical module of claim 57, further comprising an excitation and a detection filter.

59. The optical module of claim 57, further comprising an optical output port for coupling to a leg of a fiber optic bundle attached to a detector.

60. The optical module of claim 57, wherein the laser source is controlled by a laser valve control system to selectively open a valve separating a process chamber from a holding chamber on a disk.

61. The removable optical module of claim 57, further comprising a plurality of guides which mate to a plurality of tracks within a location of the housing.

62. The removable optical module of claim 57, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a lever, a pivot pin, a spring, a latch or a screw.

63. A detection device comprising:

a motor to rotate a disk having a plurality of process chambers each holding a respective sample and one or more fluorescent dyes;

one or more optical modules, and

a housing having a location adapted to receive one optical module;

wherein each of the optical modules includes an optical channel having a light source selected for a different one of the dyes and a lens to capture fluorescent light emitted from the disk.