Compact optical module for fluorescence excitation and detection

• US 20070194247A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stratagene Califoria
• Original Assignee: Stratagene California (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Roger, Reid, Taylor
• Application Number:
  US11/510,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20070194247A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/458.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0642 Light traps; baffles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/101 Scanning measuring head
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48472 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area also being a wedge bond, i.e. wedge-to-wedge
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/10253 Silicon [Si]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3025 Electromagnetic shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/167 the light sources and the devices sensitive to radiation all being semiconductor devices characterised by potential barriers

Abstract

A compact optical module for fluorescence excitation and detection and methods for using same are disclosed. An apparatus for detecting fluorescence includes a substrate base, a detector adjacent to the substrate base for determining the amount of fluorescence, an emission filter adjacent to the detector, a light source for emitting an excitation light, the light source engaging the emission filter, and a cover formed over the detector, the emission filter, and the light source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting fluorescence comprising:

a substrate base;

a detector adjacent to the substrate base for determining the amount of fluorescence;

an emission filter adjacent to the detector;

a light source for emitting an excitation light, the light source engaging the emission filter; and

a cover formed over the detector, the emission filter, and the light source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is an unpackaged light emitting diode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is a packaged light emitting diode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser diode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of light sources that are light emitting diodes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising electrical connections between the light source and the substrate base.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising electrical connections between the detector and the substrate base.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector is a photodiode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector is an avalanche photodiode.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector is a charge-coupled device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate base is a printed circuit board having pads.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover is a non-conductive encapsulant material.

13. A detection system for detecting fluorescence from a plurality of samples comprising:

a detection aperture for receiving fluorescent light;

a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting an excitation light, the plurality of light emitting diodes located around the detection aperture; and

a detector adjacent to the detection aperture for determining the amount of fluorescence.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising an excitation filter adjacent to the plurality of light emitting diodes.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising an illumination baffling adjacent to the plurality of light emitting diodes.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising an emission filter adjacent to the detector.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the detection aperture is a hollow tube.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are located outside the detection aperture.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the detector is a photodiode.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the detector is an avalanche photodiode.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the detector is a charge-coupled device.

22. A method for detecting fluorescence comprising:

emitting an excitation light from a plurality of light sources located around a detection aperture;

directing the excitation light to an excitation filter;

illuminating a sample with the excitation light to generate an emission light; and

detecting the optical characteristics of the emission light using a detector located at the end of the detection aperture.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the plurality of light sources are light emitting diodes.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the plurality of light sources are laser diodes.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the plurality of light sources are located outside the detection aperture.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the detector is a photodiode.