COMBINATION READER

• US 20070263209A1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oldham, Mark, King, Howard, Ferea, Tracy, Haga, Douwe
• Granted Patent: US 7,491,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/4406 Fluorescence spectrometry
• 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 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0627 Use of several LED's for spectral resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0633 Directed, collimated illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0634 Diffuse illumination

Abstract

An apparatus for imaging an array of a plurality of features associated with a sample tile. The apparatus includes a stage that supports the sample tile in an illumination region, and an illumination source having a plurality of LEDs adapted to emit light. At least a portion of the light illuminates the illumination region. Additionally, the apparatus includes an image collecting device adapted to selectively collect images of a signal.

Claims

1. A method for collecting images of signals using an imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

placing a sample tile on a stage of the imaging apparatus, the sample tile having an array including a plurality of features, at least a portion of the features having a marker;

flooding an entirety of the sample tile with light utilizing an illuminator of the imaging apparatus, the illuminator including a plurality of LEDs exciting the marker in the array; and

collecting images of at least a portion of the array utilizing an image collecting device of the imaging apparatus, the images selectively showing signals emitted by the markers.