High sensitivity fluorescent single particle and single molecule detection apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detection of single fluorescent particles and/or molecules in a fluid which comprises:
- means for illuminating a predetermined volume of the fluid;
means for causing particles to transit through said illuminated volume whereby fluorescent energy emitted from said volume responsive to the illumination includes background energy and bursts of energy from particles or molecules as they transit through said volume;
means for detecting said energy and providing an output signal; and
means for receiving said output signal and distinguishing bursts of energy from said particles from background energy or electronic noise and providing an indication of the detection of a particle or molecule transiting through said volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is described for ultrasensitive detection of single fluorescent particles down to the single fluorescent molecule limit in a fluid or on a substrate comprising means for illuminating a predetermined volume of the fluid or area of the substrate whereby to emit light including background light from the fluid and burst of photons from particles residing in the area. The photon burst is detected in real time to generate output representative signal. The signal is received and the burst of energy from the fluorescent particles is distinguished from the background energy to provide an indication of the number, location or concentration of the particles or molecules.
236 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detection of single fluorescent particles and/or molecules in a fluid which comprises:
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means for illuminating a predetermined volume of the fluid; means for causing particles to transit through said illuminated volume whereby fluorescent energy emitted from said volume responsive to the illumination includes background energy and bursts of energy from particles or molecules as they transit through said volume; means for detecting said energy and providing an output signal; and means for receiving said output signal and distinguishing bursts of energy from said particles from background energy or electronic noise and providing an indication of the detection of a particle or molecule transiting through said volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for detecting single fluorescent particles in a fluid comprising means for illuminating an area of said fluid to cause the fluid to emit photon energy including energy scattered from said fluid and energy from fluorescent particles in said fluid,
means for causing fluorescent particles to transit through said area whereby said particles emit bursts of energy having a duration equal to their transit time through said area, lens for receiving and focusing said energy, a detector for receiving said focused energy and providing an output signal, a spatial filter interposed between said detector and lens means to define the area from which energy is received, and means for receiving the output signal and distinguishing bursts of photon energy emitted by said particles from background energy to provide an indication of the detection of a particle transiting said area.
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16. The method of detecting single fluorescent particles in a fluid comprising the steps of
illuminating a predetermined volume of the fluid, transiting particles through said illuminated volume whereby to cause fluorescent energy to emit from said volume which includes background energy and bursts of energy from the transiting particles, and processing said emitted energy to distinguish said bursts of energy from the background energy to provide an indication of particles transiting through said volume
Specification