Light detection device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising:
- a stage for supporting a composition in an examination site, the composition being contained in a spatial volume lying between boundary interfaces located at different points along a Z-axis, wherein the Z-axis is substantially perpendicular to tie stage;
an automated registration device that automatically brings successive compositions and the examination site into register for successive analysis of the compositions;
a light source positioned to deliver light to the composition in the examination site;
a detector positioned to receive light transmitted from the composition in the examination site;
an optical relay structure located between the light source and the detector, the optical relay structure being capable of transmitting light substantially exclusively from a sensed volume of the composition, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from at least one of the boundary interfaces of the composition; and
a Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
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Abstract
A high-throughput light detection instrument and method are described. Confocal optics structure enables exclusive light detection from a sensed volume in a composition.
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Citations
77 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising:
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a stage for supporting a composition in an examination site, the composition being contained in a spatial volume lying between boundary interfaces located at different points along a Z-axis, wherein the Z-axis is substantially perpendicular to tie stage; an automated registration device that automatically brings successive compositions and the examination site into register for successive analysis of the compositions; a light source positioned to deliver light to the composition in the examination site; a detector positioned to receive light transmitted from the composition in the examination site; an optical relay structure located between the light source and the detector, the optical relay structure being capable of transmitting light substantially exclusively from a sensed volume of the composition, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from at least one of the boundary interfaces of the composition; and a Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 77)
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45. An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising:
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a stage for supporting a composition in a spatial volume having boundary interfaces located along surfaces in a microplate well; a light source positioned to deliver light from the light source into the composition; a detector; an optical relay structure that is capable of transmitting light substantially exclusively from a sensed volume of the composition to the detector, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from the boundary interfaces of the composition; and a Z-axis optical adjustment device, wherein a Z-axis is defined perpendicular to the stage, the Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions the sensed volume along the Z-axis in the composition between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising:
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a stage for suppoing a composition in a spatial volume having boundary interfaces located along surfaces in a microplate well; a light source; an optical relay structure that is capable of delivering light from the light source substantially exclusively to a sensed volume of the composition, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from the boundary interfaces of the composition; a detector positioned to receive light transmitted from the sensed volume of the composition; and a Z-axis optical adjustment device, wherein a Z-axis is defined perpendicular to the stage, the Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces of the composition.
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66. An apparatus for detecting photoluminescence emitted by a sample, the apparatus comprising:
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a stage configured to hold a microplate having an array of sample wells; a light source located at one end of a first light path leading toward the stage and configured to deliver light to induce photoluminescence in a sample contained within boundary interfaces in at least one of the sample wells along a Z-axis perpendicular to the stage; a detector located at one end of a second light path leading toward the stage and configured to detect photolumiescence emitted by the sample; a confocal optics element operatively positioned along the first light path or the second light pat, and configured substantially to prevent light from focusing outside a pre-selected sensed volume inside the sample, or configured substantially to prevent detection of photoluminescence originating outside the sensed volume; and an optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis inside the sample between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
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67. An apparatus for detecting luminescence emitted by a sample, the apparatus comprising:
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a stage configured to hold a sample inside boundary interfaces along a Z-axis perpendicular to the stage at an examination site for analysis; an alignment device configured to adjust the relative positions of the stage and the examination site, so that the sample and the examination site can be brought into alignment before detection of luninescence, and removed from alignment after such detection; an alignment device controller configured automatically to control the alignment device, so that successive samples can be thought into alignment with the examination site for detection of luminescence; an optical focusing structure configured sequentially to focus luminescence from the portion of the sample positioned in a sample plane into a series of image planes, wherein the image planes include at least one intermediate image plane and one terminal image plane; a detector configured to detect luminescence emitted by the sample, wherein the detector is positioned substantially in the terminal image plane; an emission confocal optics element configured substantially to prevent detection of luminescence originating outside a sensed volume intersecting the sample plane, wherein the emission confocal optics element is positioned between the sample and the detector substantially in an intermediate image plane; and a sensed volume positioning mechanism that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis inside the sample between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method of detecting light transmitted from a composition, the method comprising:
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automatically bringing into register a succession of compositions and an examination site for successive analysis of the compositions, wherein each composition is contained between top, bottom, and side boundary interfaces located at different points along a Z-axis; transmitting light into a composition at the examination site; autmatically adjusting the position of a sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces; and detecting light substantially exclusively from the sensed volume in the composition. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76)
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73. A high-throughput method of detecting light transmitted from a succession of samples, the method comprising:
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automatically and sequentially aligning a succession of samples with a Z-axis at an examination site, a sample being contained within boundary interfaces; for each sample, focusing light originating from the waist region of a sensed volume into a series of image planes, beginning with at least one intermediate image plane and terminating with a terminal image plane; positioning a detector in the terminal image plane to detect light transmitted by the sample; positionng an emission confocal optics element in an intermediate image plane, wherein the emission confocal optics element is configured substantially to prevent detection of light originating outside the sensed volume; and automatically adjusting the position of the sensed volume along the Z-axis inside the sample between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (74)
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Specification