DETECTION OF THE ENERGY OF PHOTONS FROM BIOLOGICAL ASSAYS

• US 20100032568A1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Leicester
• Original Assignee: University of Leicester
• Inventors: Schwarzacher, Gertrude Maria, Heslop-Harrison, John Seymour, Holland, Andrew David, Fraser, George William
• Application Number:
  US12/539,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20100032568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/336.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6441 with two or more labels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging

Abstract

A cryogenic detector is used for detection in a biological assay.

Claims

1. A method of detecting photons in a biological assay comprising

(a) transmitting photons to a cryogenic detector using an optical fibre, said cryogenic detector comprising said optical fibre and a photon capture element operating close to or below that temperature at which said photon capture element exhibits superconducting properties, and

(b) detecting said photons with said cryogenic detector

wherein the detector detects light absorbance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern of absorption of photons is modified by use of a label.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the photons are detected across a spectrum.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein absorbance is detected from in a range of wavelengths covering ultraviolet light to infra-red light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the label is a DNA probe and the biological assay further comprises an immobilized nucleic acid.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the immobilized nucleic acid hybridises with the DNA probe.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the detector has a single detector element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detector has two or more detector elements.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the biological assay incorporates two or more labels.

10. A method of bioimaging forming a bioimage comprising:

(a) transmitting photons to a cryogenic detector using an optical fibre, said cryogenic detector comprising said optical fibre and a photon capture element operating close to or below that temperature at which said photon capture element exhibits superconducting properties, and

(b) detecting said photons with the cryogenic detector and generating photon data and forming a bioimage,

wherein the detector detects light absorbance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said photon data is evaluated.

12. A method of quantitative multicolour bioimaging

comprising:

(a) transmitting photons to a cryogenic detector using an optical fibre, said cryogenic detector comprising said optical fibre and a photon capture element operating close to or below a temperature at which said photon capture element exhibits superconducting properties, and

(b) detecting said photons with the cryogenic detector, and

(c) generating photon data and forming a bioimage which is quantitated,

wherein the detector detects light absorbance.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the detector generates absorbance data which is acquired and evaluated.