INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ANALYTES

• US 20120295268A1
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Furlan, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,482,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6.12
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3174 Filter wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6441 with two or more labels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6471 Special filters, filter wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/272 for following a reaction, e.g. for determining photometrically a reaction rate (photometric cinetic analysis)
• 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 21/6486 Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0423 with rotating optics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0668 Multiple paths; optimisable path length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/006 Filter holders

Abstract

The present disclosure provides instruments and methods for detecting an analyte which are capable of exciting a plurality of luminescence labels and detecting light emitted therefrom. The instrument includes a filter carrier adapted for carrying a plurality of filter portion pairs, each pair related to a luminescence label and comprising a first filter portion for transmitting excitation light, and a second filter portion for transmitting emitted light. The first filter portion of a pair comprises a second filter portion of another pair. Also, the filter portions are arranged such that a pair can be brought into an operative condition whereby a first filter portion is in the excitation beam path and a second filter portion is in the emission beam path. The filter carrier and beam paths may be moved with respect to each other by a moving mechanism so as to bring a pair into operative condition.

Claims

1. An instrument for detecting an analyte in a sample, comprising:

a light source capable of generating an excitation light for exciting a plurality of luminescence labels;

an excitation beam path extending between said light source and said sample for propagation of said excitation light;

a detector capable of detecting an emission light emitted from said one of said plurality of luminescence labels;

an emission beam path extending between said sample and said detector for propagation of said emission light;

a filter carrier comprising a plurality of filter portion pairs, each pair relating to one of said plurality of luminescence labels and comprising a first filter portion, adapted to transmit said excitation light for exciting the related luminescence label, and a second filter portion, adapted to transmit said emission light emitted by said related luminescence label, said first filter portion of one of said plurality of pairs comprising said second filter portion of another of said plurality of pairs, said filter portions being arranged in a manner such that one of said plurality of pairs can be brought into an operative orientation in which said first filter portion is in said excitation beam path and said second filter portion is in said emission beam path, said filter carrier and said beam paths being movable with respect to each other by a moving mechanism so as to bring one of said plurality of pairs in said operative orientation; and

a mount configured for one of holding a sample carrier and accommodating a substrate.

2. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein said moving mechanism is adapted to rotate said filter carrier in distinct positions with respect to said beam paths being stationary so as to rotate one of said plurality of pairs of first and second filter portions in said operative orientation.

3. The instrument according to claim 2, wherein said filter portions are arranged in a manner that one of said plurality of pairs of said first and second filter portions can be moved in said operative orientation by moving said filter carrier by equal moving steps with respect to said beam paths being stationary.

4. The instrument according to claim 2, wherein said moving mechanism comprises a carrier drive for moving said filter carrier in distinct positions relative to said excitation and emission beam paths.

5. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein said moving mechanism is adapted to translate said filter carrier in distinct positions with respect to said beam paths being stationary so as to translate one of said plurality of pairs of first and second filter portions in said operative orientation.

6. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein said moving mechanism is adapted to move said excitation and emission beam paths in distinct positions with respect to said filter carrier being stationary so as to bring one of said plurality of pairs of said first and second filter portions in said operative orientation.

7. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein said filter carrier includes at least one opaque region, adapted to inhibit the transmission of said emission light emitted by one of said plurality of luminescence labels, said opaque region arranged to be within in said emission beam path.

8. The instrument according to claim 1, comprising a one-piece filter for providing said first and second filter portions.

9. The instrument according to claim 8, wherein said one-piece filter has a discrete transmission spectrum.

10. A method for detecting an analyte in a sample, comprising the steps of:

generating an excitation light, said excitation light propagating along an excitation beam path towards said sample;

detecting an emission light emitted from a luminescence label, said emission light propagating along an emission beam path;

moving a first pair of a plurality of pairs of filter portions comprising a first and a second filter portion related to said luminescence label and said excitation and emission beam paths with respect to each other so that said pair of filter portions is in an operative orientation in which said first filter portion, adapted to transmit said excitation light for exciting said related luminescence label, is in said excitation beam path and said second filter portion, adapted to transmit said emission light emitted by said related luminescence label, is in said emission beam path; and

moving a second pair of said plurality of pairs of filter portions relating to a second luminescence label; and

moving said beam paths with respect to each other so that said second pair is in said operative orientation, wherein the first filter portion of said first pair of filter portions comprises the second filter portion of the second pair of filter portions.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a filter carrier carrying said first and second filter portions is rotated in distinct rotating positions relative to said excitation and emission beam paths kept stationary so as to move one of said first and second pairs of filter portions in said operative orientation.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said filter carrier is moved by equal moving steps.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein a filter carrier carrying said first and second filter portions is translated in distinct translating positions relative to said excitation and emission beam paths kept stationary so as to translate one of said first and second pairs of filter portions in said operative orientation.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said excitation and emission beam paths are moved in distinct positions with respect to said filter portions kept stationary so as to bring one of said first and second pairs of first and second filter portions in said operative orientation.

15. A system for analyzing a sample, comprising:

a temperature-controlled block for heating said sample;

a light source capable of generating an excitation light for exciting at least one of a plurality of luminescence labels;

an excitation beam path extending between said light source and said sample for propagating said excitation light;

a detector capable of detecting an emission light emitted from one of said plurality of luminescence labels;

an emission beam path extending between said sample and said detector for propagating said emission light;

a filter carrier carrying two or more pairs of filter portions, each pair of filter portions being related to one luminescence label and comprising a first filter portion, adapted to transmit excitation light for exciting said related luminescence label, and a second filter portion, adapted to transmit said emission light emitted by said related luminescence label, wherein said first filter portion of one pair is said second filter portion of another pair, said filter carrier being movable with respect to said excitation and emission beam paths by a moving mechanism so as to bring one of said pairs in an operative orientation in which said first filter portion is in said excitation beam path and said second filter portion is in said emission beam path;

a carrier drive for moving said filter carrier in distinct positions relative to said excitation and emission beam paths;

a controller configured to control activity of said carrier drive in a manner to move one of said pairs of said first and second filter portions in said operative orientation; and

a mount for at least one of holding a sample carrier and accommodating a substrate.