Methods and apparatus for measuring optical properties of biological and chemical substances
First Claim
1. A method of measuring optical properties of optically detectable substances, including the steps of:
- providing a surface;
forming reference marks on said surface, including selecting areas on said surface and interspersing said reference marks among said selected areas, said step of forming reference marks further including selecting known spacings therebetween;
forming a plurality of test spots by disposing said optically detectable substances upon said selected areas;
selectively illuminating portions of said surface with light, forming a light spot thereon, said light spot illuminating at least some of said test spots and said reference marks;
detecting an optical property of each of a plurality of said test spots and said reference marks, including for each detection the substeps of recording said optical property and recording the time of said detection; and
computing positions of said test spots on said surface based upon said recorded times of detection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical measurement system includes a test surface having disposed thereon a plurality reference markings and a plurality of test spots containing chemical and biological substances. Molecules of interest contained in the chemical and biological substances are tagged with optically detectable labels. A light source generates a beam of light which is then directed by a deflecting sub-system across the test surface, thereby individually impinging the test spots and the reference markings. Optical signals resulting from the impingement are detected by a detection means, which records such detection and the time of the detection. The reference markings have optically unique signatures to distinguish the markings from the optical signatures of the signals emitted from the chemical and biological substances in the test spots. The reference markings are spaced apart at known distances and serve to provide a constant calibration of the scan speed of the beam of light. In one embodiment, a Winston concentrator directs the light emanating from the test surface to the detector. In another embodiment, an off-axis parabolic mirror arrangement directs the light to the detector.
237 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of measuring optical properties of optically detectable substances, including the steps of:
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providing a surface; forming reference marks on said surface, including selecting areas on said surface and interspersing said reference marks among said selected areas, said step of forming reference marks further including selecting known spacings therebetween; forming a plurality of test spots by disposing said optically detectable substances upon said selected areas; selectively illuminating portions of said surface with light, forming a light spot thereon, said light spot illuminating at least some of said test spots and said reference marks; detecting an optical property of each of a plurality of said test spots and said reference marks, including for each detection the substeps of recording said optical property and recording the time of said detection; and computing positions of said test spots on said surface based upon said recorded times of detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An optical detection system for detecting a plurality of optically tagged biological and chemical materials, including:
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a source of collimated light; a surface onto which said optically tagged biological and chemical materials are disposed; a plurality of reference marks disposed on said surface, said reference marks being spaced apart by known amounts, said reference marks being optically distinguishable from said optically tagged biological and chemical materials; raster means for directing said collimated light across said surface in raster fashion so that said collimated light impinges upon said optically tagged biological and chemical materials and said reference marks, wherein impingement by said collimated light gives rise to optical signals; means for detecting said optical signals, including means for storing a parameter of said optical signals and means for storing the time of each detection of said optical signals; and computing means, in communication with said means for storing the time of detection, for determining positions of said optically tagged biological and chemical materials. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An optical detection system for measuring optical tags attached to selected molecules in chemical and biological specimens, including:
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a laser beam source for generating a beam of light; means for deflecting said beam of light; an optically transparent plate having a front surface onto which said chemical and biological specimens are disposed, said transparent plate having a rear surface opposite said front surface, said front surface having optically identifiable reference marks formed thereon, said reference marks having known measures of separation therebetween; electromagnetic energy (EM) detection means for generating output signals in response to detection of electromagnetic energy; a parabolic concentrator having a central axis and further having at least two parabolic reflective surfaces symmetrically arranged about said central axis, said at least two parabolic reflective surfaces defining an entry aperture formed at a first end of said concentrator and further defining an exit aperture formed at an end opposite said first end, foci of said two parabolic reflective surfaces being proximate said exit aperture; and computation means for computing positions of said chemical and biological specimens disposed upon said front surface, including memory means for storing said output signals generated by said EM detection means and for storing a time value indicating the time at which said EM detection means generates said output; said optically transparent plate being received in said entry aperture of said concentrator such that said front surface is directed toward said exit aperture; said EM detection means being received in said exit aperture of said concentrator; said beam of light being scanned across said rear surface of said optically transparent plate by said means for deflecting, said beam of light passing through said optically transparent plate to impinge upon said chemical and biological specimens and said reference marks; wherein impingement of said beam of light results in electromagnetic energy emissions from each of said chemical and biological specimens and said reference marks, said emissions being directed by said concentrator to said EM detection means, thereby generating output signals from said EM detection means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification