Ultraviolet imaging method and apparatus

• US 4,539,297 A
• Filed: 09/15/1983
• Issued: 09/03/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Wilcox, Gary, Clarke, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marantz, Sidney
• Application Number:
  US06/533,165
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 436/164, 354/20, 355/85, 355/113, 422/68
• US Class Current: 436/164
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44721 by optical means

Abstract

A method for providing an image of zones of ultraviolet absorbing material in a medium substantially transparent to ultraviolet light, such as nucleic acid in a polyacrylamide gel, comprises the steps of placing in juxtaposition to the gel standard photographic film and directing ultraviolet light to the gel such that the photographic film is in the path of light exiting the gel. The zones in the gel absorb one or more discrete wavelengths of ultraviolet light, and the film is exposed by incident ultraviolet light such that a photographic image of the nucleic acid zones is created on the photographic film. Apparatus for providing ultraviolet images of ultraviolet light absorbing material in a medium relatively transparent to ultraviolet light comprises an enclosure in which a medium with zones of ultraviolet light absorbing material is placed. The closure contains an aperture for reception of light from an ultraviolet light source and is adapted to accommodate a strip of photographic film juxtaposed to the gel. The closure may include a slot giving access to the medium to enable the zones to be cut out of the medium upon inspection of the image thereof on the film.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing an image of at least one zone of ultraviolet light absorbing material in a medium substantially transparent to ultraviolet light comprising:

a source of ultraviolet light; and

an enclosure, said enclosure defining an aperture for entrance thereinto of ultraviolet light from said ultraviolet source , said enclosure including means for holding a medium containing at least one zone of ultraviolet light absorbing material, said enclosure further including means for holding photographic film to be disposed adjacent said medium containing at least one zone of ultraviolet lights absorbing material, said means for holding said medium and said means for holding said photographic film being positioned such that ultraviolet light from said aperture passes through said medium to impinge upon said photographic film so that unfocused ultraviolet light impinging upon said film forms an approximate size duplicate image of said at least one zone of the material of said film.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said aperture in said enclosure includes a filter adjustable to ultraviolet light of at least one wavelength selected from the range of wavelengths of 240 to 400 nanometers.

3. A method for providing a congruent image of at least one zone of ultraviolet light absorbing material in a medium substantially transparent to ultraviolet light comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a medium containing at least one zone of ultraviolet light absorbing material;

(2) providing photographic film and disposing said film to form a light path with said medium;

(3) providing ultraviolet light having a wavelength within the range of 240 to 400 nanometers and directing said light through said medium to impinge upon said photographic film so that an image of said at least one zone of ultraviolet light absorbing material is formed on said photographic film, said image being approximately congruent to said at least one zone of ultraviolet light absorbing material, said image being formed through absorption of said light by said at least one zone of ultraviolet light absorbing material, and said image being formed by unfocused light from said medium impinging on said film.