Automated analyzer using light diffraction
First Claim
1. An analyzer for performing chemical, biochemical or biological assays using diffraction of light, comprising;
- a disposable sensor including at least one sample well and at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors bound to a surface of said at least one sample well;
at least one sensor station for receiving said disposable sensor;
fluid holding sample container for holding assay fluids used in performing said assays and samples being tested for presence or absence of analytes which bind to said analyte-specific receptors;
a fluid flow and handling system in flow communication with said at least one sensor, sources of said samples and sources of said assay fluids used in performing said assays configured to deliver said samples and fluids to said at least one well in said disposable sensor and said fluid holding sample container, said fluid flow and handling system including fluid pump means configured to pump fluids and samples from their respective sources to said disposable sensor, to said fluid holding sample container and to fluid waste containers, said fluid flow and handling system including fluid dispensing means configured to dispense samples and fluids to said fluid holding sample container and to dispense samples and assay fluids from said fluid holding sample container to said at least one sensor;
a robotic manipulator connected to said fluid holding sample container configured to pre-position said fluid holding sample container with respect to said fluid dispensing means;
a temperature control means for controlling a temperature of an interior of the analyzer;
an optical system for producing and directing a coherent beam of light toward said at least one sensor station to impinge on said surface of said at least one sample well containing said at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors bound thereto, said optical system including a first optical detector configured to measure diffracted light signals from said at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors;
a scanning mechanism for scanning said coherent beam of light with respect to said at least one sample well containing said at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors bound thereto; and
microprocessor control means connected to said a temperature control means configured to control the temperature in said analyser, said robotic manipulator configured to pre-position said fluid holding sample container with respect to said fluid dispensing means, said fluid control system configured to control sample and assay fluid flow routes through said fluid control system, said optical system configured to control parameters of said coherent light beam, said optical detector configured to analyse said measured diffracted light signals from said at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors for determining a presence or absence of analytes in said sample, and said scanning mechanism configured scan said coherent light beam across said surface in a controlled manner; and
said microprocessor control means including a user interface enabling interaction between the analyzer and an operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an automated analyzer system for performing chemical, biochemical or biological assays using changes/no changes in diffraction of light by the presence/absence of analytes which may or may not be present in a sample binding to their analyte specific receptors laid out in a preselected pattern in a disposable sensor. The analyzer is a modular, bench-top instrument that compactly integrates subsystems for sample dispensing, liquid handling, and optical generation of laser light beams and detectors for detecting for diffracted light. An internal processor is included for automating the instrument, and a user interface to provide communication with the operator.
32 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An analyzer for performing chemical, biochemical or biological assays using diffraction of light, comprising;
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a disposable sensor including at least one sample well and at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors bound to a surface of said at least one sample well;
at least one sensor station for receiving said disposable sensor;
fluid holding sample container for holding assay fluids used in performing said assays and samples being tested for presence or absence of analytes which bind to said analyte-specific receptors;
a fluid flow and handling system in flow communication with said at least one sensor, sources of said samples and sources of said assay fluids used in performing said assays configured to deliver said samples and fluids to said at least one well in said disposable sensor and said fluid holding sample container, said fluid flow and handling system including fluid pump means configured to pump fluids and samples from their respective sources to said disposable sensor, to said fluid holding sample container and to fluid waste containers, said fluid flow and handling system including fluid dispensing means configured to dispense samples and fluids to said fluid holding sample container and to dispense samples and assay fluids from said fluid holding sample container to said at least one sensor;
a robotic manipulator connected to said fluid holding sample container configured to pre-position said fluid holding sample container with respect to said fluid dispensing means;
a temperature control means for controlling a temperature of an interior of the analyzer;
an optical system for producing and directing a coherent beam of light toward said at least one sensor station to impinge on said surface of said at least one sample well containing said at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors bound thereto, said optical system including a first optical detector configured to measure diffracted light signals from said at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors;
a scanning mechanism for scanning said coherent beam of light with respect to said at least one sample well containing said at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors bound thereto; and
microprocessor control means connected to said a temperature control means configured to control the temperature in said analyser, said robotic manipulator configured to pre-position said fluid holding sample container with respect to said fluid dispensing means, said fluid control system configured to control sample and assay fluid flow routes through said fluid control system, said optical system configured to control parameters of said coherent light beam, said optical detector configured to analyse said measured diffracted light signals from said at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors for determining a presence or absence of analytes in said sample, and said scanning mechanism configured scan said coherent light beam across said surface in a controlled manner; and
said microprocessor control means including a user interface enabling interaction between the analyzer and an operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification