Method and apparatus for retaining and presenting at least one microsphere array to solutions and/or to optical imaging systems

• US 6,396,995 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Inventors: Dickinson, Todd Alan, Pytelewski, Richard J., Chee, Mark S., Stuelpnagel, John R., Wang, Gan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONNELLY, MICHELLE R
• Application Number:
  US09/574,962
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 385/14,52,65,83,120,129,134-137,115 248/74.2,316.1,316.5-316.7,65,67.7,70,74.1 104/200-202,214-218 264/1.1,1.21-1.29,1.31-1.38,1.6-1.8,1.9,2.1-2.7
• US Class Current: 385/136
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00648 by the use of solid beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00707 separated from the reactor apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0893 having a very large number of wells, microfabricated wells
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates

Abstract

A holder for an array of bundles containing multiple fiber optic strands provides a pattern of openings into which one each of each bundle is fit. The openings may (but need not) penetrate the full holder thickness to permit working with bundles from either bundle end. In one embodiment the holder thickness equals the bundle length, and the holder is sized similarly to a microscope slide. An alternative embodiment temporarily retains bundles in a desired registration and subjects the retained bundles to molten material such as wax that is allowed to harden around the bundles and become the holder. A modular holder comprises laminates that each contain parallel grooves sized to receive a bundle. A holder for a single bundle includes cooperating grip-like members, one of which is pivotably attached and biased toward the other member. A common form factor may be used for each holder type to facilitate retaining holders in a common docking station.

Claims

1. A holder for at least one fiber optic bundle, comprising:

a base having an upper surface and an a lower surface, spaced-apart from each other a distance T;

opening defined in said upper surface penetrating substantially perpendicularly toward said lower surface a depth Th, where Th≦

T, said opening having a cross-section sized to retain one end of said bundle; and

means, formed integrally with said base, for biasedly retaining said bundle in said holder perpendicular to a plane of said base;

wherein a bundle having a first end inserted into said opening is retained by said holder such that a longitudinal axis of said bundle is retained substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first surface.

2. The holder of claim 1, further including:

an array of openings defined in said upper surface penetrating substantially perpendicularly toward said lower surface a depth Th, where Th≦

T, each said opening having a cross-section sized to retain one end of a bundle of fiber optics;

wherein an array of bundles of fiber optics, each having a first end inserted into one said opening, is retained by said holder in registration such that a longitudinal axis of each said bundle is substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first surface.

3. The holder of claim 1, wherein Th=T, and the inserted said first end of said bundle has a bundle surface substantially flush with said second surface of said holder.

4. The holder of claim 3, wherein:

said bundle has a length L≈

T; and

a second end of the inserted said bundle has a bundle surface substantially flush with said first surface of said holder.

5. The holder of claims 1, wherein said holder is fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of (a) glass, (b) plastic, (c) stainless steel, (d) epoxy, and (e) thermosetting epoxy.

6. The holder of claim 1, wherein said holder has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said thickness T is 0.5 mm≦

T≦

1 cm, (b) said bundle has a length L, and T≧

0.1 L, (c) said opening has a transverse dimension D in a range of about 0.5 mm≦

D≦

15 cm, (d) said opening defines at least one cross-sectional shape selected from a group consisting of (i) circular, (ii) oval, (iii) rounded, (iv) square, (v) rectangular, (vi) a polygon, (vii) and a shape partially rounded and partially straight, and (d) said base is fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of (i) metal, (ii) glass, (iii) ceramic, (iv) plastic, (v) epoxy, (vi) thermosetting epoxy, and (vii) wax.

7. The holder of claim 1, wherein said opening includes a region selected from a group consisting of (a) a region that frictionally retains a portion of said bundle, (b) an enlarged annular region surrounding a portion of said bundle, (c) an enlarged region into which adhesive can be added, and (d) an enlarged region into which potting compound can be added.

8. A holder for at least one fiber optic bundle, comprising:

a base having an upper surface and an a lower surface, spaced-apart from each other a distance T;

an opening defined in said upper surface penetrating substantially perpendicularly toward said lower surface a depth Th, where Th≦

T, said opening having a cross-section sized to retain one end of said bundle; and

means for biasedly retaining said bundle in said holder perpendicular to a plane of said base, wherein said means is formed separately from said base but is attached to said base;

wherein a bundle having a first end inserted into said opening is retained by said holder such that a longitudinal axis of said bundle is retained substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first surface.

9. The holder of claim 8, further including:

array of openings defined in said upper surface penetrating substantially perpendicularly toward said lower surface a depth Th, where Th≦

T, each said opening having a cross-section sized to retain one end of a bundle of fiber optics;

wherein an array of bundles of fiber optics, each having a first end inserted into one said opening, is retained by said holder in registration such that a longitudinal axis of each said bundle is substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first surface.

10. The holder of claim 8, wherein Th=T, and the inserted said first end of said bundle has a bundle surface substantially flush with said second surface of said holder.

11. The holder of claim 10, wherein:

said bundle has a length L≈

T; and

a second end of the inserted said bundle has a bundle surface substantially flush with said first surface of said holder.

12. The holder of claim 8, wherein said holder is fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of (a) glass, (b) plastic, (c) stainless steel, (d) epoxy, and (e) thermosetting epoxy.

13. The holder of claim 8, wherein said holder has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said thickness T is 0.5 mm≦

T≦

1 cm, (b) said bundle has a length L, and T≧

0.1 L, (c) said opening has a transverse dimension D in a range of about 0.5 mm≦

D≦

15 cm, (d) said opening defines at least one cross-sectional shape selected from a group consisting of (i) circular, (ii) oval, (iii) rounded, (iv) square, (v) rectangular, (vi) a polygon, (vii) and a shape partially rounded and partially straight, and (d) said base is fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of (i) metal, (ii) glass, (iii) ceramic, (iv) plastic, (v) epoxy, (vi) thermosetting epoxy, and (vii) wax.

14. The holder of claim 8, wherein said opening includes a region selected from a group consisting of (a) a region that frictionally retains a portion of said bundle, (b) an enlarged annular region surrounding a portion of said bundle, (c) an enlarged region into which adhesive can be added, and (d) an enlarged region into which potting compound can be added.

15. A holder for at least one fiber optic bundle, comprising:

a base having an upper surface and an a lower surface, spaced-apart from each other a distance T;

an opening defined in said upper surface penetrating substantially perpendicularly toward said lower surface a depth Th, where Th≦

T, said opening having a cross-section sized to retain one end of said bundle; and

at least one bias element disposed on said first surface adjacent said opening, said bias element having at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said base and said bias element are integrally formed from injected plastic, (b) said bias element is formed separately from said base, (c) said bias element includes a metal strip a portion of which projects upright from said base, (d) said bias element includes a plastic strip a portion of which projects upright from said base;

wherein a bundle having a first end inserted into said opening is retained by said holder such that a longitudinal axis of said bundle is retained substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first surface.

16. The holder of claim 15, further including:

an array of openings defined in said upper surface penetrating substantially perpendicularly toward said lower surface a depth Th, where Th≦

T, each said opening having a cross-section sized to retain one end of a bundle of fiber optics;

wherein an array of bundles of fiber optics, each having a first end inserted into one said opening, is retained by said holder in registration such that a longitudinal axis of each said bundle is substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first surface.

17. The holder of claim 15, wherein Th=T, and the inserted said first end of said bundle has a bundle surface substantially flush with said second surface of said holder.

18. The holder of claim 17, wherein:

said bundle has a length L≈

T; and

a second end of the inserted said bundle has a bundle surface substantially flush with said first surface of said holder.

19. The holder of claim 15, wherein said holder is fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of (a) glass, (b) plastic, (c) stainless steel, (d) epoxy, and (e) thermosetting epoxy.

20. The holder of claim 15, wherein said holder has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said thickness T is 0.5 mm≦

T≦

1 cm, (b) said bundle has a length L, and T≧

0.1 L, (c) said opening has a transverse dimension D in a range of about 0.5 mm≦

D≦

15 cm, (d) said opening defines at least one cross-sectional shape selected from a group consisting of (i) circular, (ii) oval, (iii) rounded, (iv) square, (v) rectangular, (vi) a polygon, (vii) and a shape partially rounded and partially straight, and (d) said base is fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of (i) metal, (ii) glass, (iii) ceramic, (iv) plastic, (v) epoxy, (vi) thermosetting epoxy, and (vii) wax.

21. The holder of claim 15, wherein said opening includes a region selected from a group consisting of (a) a region that frictionally retains a portion of said bundle, (b) an enlarged annular region surrounding a portion of said bundle, (c) an enlarged region into which adhesive can be added, and (d) an enlarged region into which potting compound can be added.

22. A modular holder for a plurality of fiber optic bundles, said bundles having a transverse dimension D and having a length L, the modular holder comprising:

plurality of planar modules having an upper surface and an a lower surface, spaced-apart from each other a distance T, and having at least one side of length Lx≦

said L;

each of said modules defining at least two channels, each of said channels sized to retain within at least a portion of one of said bundles; and

each of said modules defining at least one through opening sized to admit a compression-creating member such that a stack of said planar modules, and said bundles retained by said channels, can be retained to form said modulator holder;

wherein said modular holder retains said bundles such that a longitudinal axis of each said bundle is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of at least one other of said bundles.

23. The modular holder of claim 22, said planar modules have at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said length 5 mm≦

L≦

200 mm, (b) said dimension 0.01 mm≦

D≦

100 mm, (c) Lx=L, (d) said planar modules are formed from a material selected from a group consisting of (i) metal, (ii) plastic, (iii) glass, (iv) epoxy, (v) thermosetting epoxy, and (d) a cross-section of said channels has a shape selected from a group consisting of (i) circular, (ii) oval, (iii) rounded, (iv) square, (v) rectangular, (vi) a polygon, and (vii) a shape partially rounded and partially straight.

24. The modular holder of claim 22, further including at least one said retaining member, wherein a length of said retaining member determines how many said planar modules are retained in said modular holder.