Test piece and system for reading out image information from the test piece

• US 6,670,198 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Toshihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kartic
• Application Number:
  US09/850,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20010024834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/68.1, 536/23.1, 536/24.1, 536/24.3, 536/24.31, 536/24.33, 536/25.3, 436/164, 436/172, 436/501, 436/518, 436/524, 436/528, 436/805, 435/6, 435/7.1, 435/7.2, 435/7.4, 435/7.5, 435/7.6, 435/7.7, 435/7.71, 435/7.72, 435/7.8, 435/7.9, 435/7.92, 435/91.1, 435/91.2, 435/174, 435/176, 435/177, 435/181, 435/287.1, 435/287.2, 435/287.8, 435/287.9, 435/288.3, 435/288.7, 435/808, 435/810, 435/969, 435/973
• US Class Current: 436/518
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0893 having a very large number of wells, microfabricated wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/34 Microscope slides, e.g. mounting specimens on microscope slides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/808 Optical sensing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 Packaged device or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/969 Multiple layering of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/973 Simultaneous determination of more than one analyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 Optical property

Abstract

A test piece for use in biological analyses includes a plurality of different known specific binding substances disposed in predetermined positions on a substrate. The specific binding substances are disposed on a plurality of surfaces provided by the substrate and arranged in the direction of thickness of the substrate.

Claims

1. An image information read-out system, comprising:

a test piece holder portion which holds a test piece having specific binding substances which have been hybridized with an organism-originating substance labeled with fluorescent dye, the specific binding substances being disposed on a plurality of surfaces of the test piece;

an exciting light source which emits exciting light for exciting the fluorescent dye;

photoelectric read-out means which photoelectrically reads out fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye upon exposure to the exciting light;

scanning means which has an optical head for projecting the exciting light onto the test piece, for leading fluorescence, which is emitted from the fluorescent dye and travels back towards the exciting light being projected onto the test piece, to the photoelectric read-out means, and for causing the exciting light to scan the test piece; and

a controller which controls the exciting light source, the photoelectric read-out means, and the scanning means so that fluorescence, emitted from the specific binding substances upon exposure to the exciting light, is detected for each of the plurality of surfaces of the test piece wherein the plurality of surfaces are arranged in a direction of thickness of a substrate of the test piece, and wherein the specific binding substances are positioned such that they do not interfere with each other.

2. An image information read-out system, comprising:

a test piece holder which holds a test piece having a plurality of surfaces on which are provided specific binding substances which have been hybridized with an organism-originating substance labeled with fluorescent dye;

an exciting light source which emits exciting light for exciting the fluorescent dye;

a photodetector operative to photoelectrically read out fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye upon exposure to the exciting light;

an optical head operative to project the exciting light onto the test piece, to direct fluorescence, which is emitted from the fluorescent dye and which travels back towards the exciting light being projected onto the test piece, to the photodetector, and to cause the exciting light to scan the test piece; and

a controller operative to control the exciting light source, the photodetector, and the optical head so that fluorescence, emitted from the specific binding substances upon exposure to the exciting light, is detected for each of a plurality of surfaces of the test piece wherein the plurality of surfaces are arranged in a direction of thickness of a substrate of the test piece, and wherein the specific binding substances are positioned such that they do not interfere with each other.