Apparatus and method for carrying out analysis of samples using radiation detector output ratios

• US 7,110,094 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vindur Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Burstein Technologies, Inc., Nagaoka & Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Gordon, John Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Lauchman, Layla G.
• Application Number:
  US09/991,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 356 72- 73, 356436-437, 422/42.05, 422/82.09, 422/50, 422/82.08, 436164-165, 436/809
• US Class Current: 356/73
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00536 in the shape of disks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0458 Multiple concentric rows of wells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/64 Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes

Abstract

A system for conducting an optical inspection of a biological, chemical, or biochemical sample supported by an optically transparent disc. The disc is mounted for rotation about its central axis while a light source and a plurality of radiation detectors are provided for scanning optically readable portions and tracking information encoded to the disc and scanning the sample. The source is arranged above the disc and the detectors are arranged above and below the disc. The optical properties of the sample can be automatically and rapidly inspected by analyzing the output of the light detectors including the use of a ratio of first and second detector output. A third detector output also may be used in the analysis.

Claims

1. A method of conducting an optical inspection of a specimen in association with an optical disc and at least one optical reader, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a specimen support surface associated with said optical disc;

providing a first optical detector and a second optical detector wherein said first and second ontical detectors are positioned in operable proximity to opposite sides of the optical disc;

providing optically readable encoded information in association with said optical disc;

reading said encoded information with said at least one optical reader;

optically inspecting said specimen using a light source; and

separately measuring a first output from said first optical detector and a second output from said second optical detector.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of optically inspecting said specimen includes the use of three light detectors.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a third optical detector; and

separately measuring a third output from said third optical detector.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 or 4 wherein said first optical detector reads reflected light modulated by said encoded information on said optical disc.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said second optical detector reads light transmitted through said optical disc.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said second optical detector reads light transmitted through said encoded information after interaction of said transmitted light with said specimen.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said third optical detector reads light transmitted through said encoded information after interaction of said transmitted light with said specimen.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein an analysis of said specimen uses said third output only when said second output or the ratio of said first output relative to said second output exceeds a predetermined value.

4. A method of conducting an optical inspection of a specimen in association with an optical disc and at least one optical reader, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a specimen support surface associated with said optical disc;

providing a first optical detector and a second optical detector;

providing optically readable encoded information in association with said optical disc;

reading said encoded information with said at least one optical reader;

optically inspecting said specimen using a light source;

separately measuring a first output from said first optical detector and a second output from said second optical detector; and

comparing said first output and said second output to produce a ratio thereof.

5. The method of claim 4 including using said first output and said ratio in an analysis of the inspection of said specimen.

11. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

providing a third optical detector; and

separately measuring a third output from said third optical detector.

12. The method of claim 11 including using said third output in said analysis.

13. The method of any one of claims 4, 5, or 12 wherein said first and second optical detectors are positioned on opposite sides of said optical disc.

14. A method of conducting an optical inspection of a specimen in association with an optical disc and at least one optical reader, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a specimen support surface associated with said optical disc;

providing a first optical detector located in operable proximity to one side of said optical disc, a second optical detector, and a third optical detector, wherein the second and third optical detectors are located in operable proximity to an opposite side of said optical disc relative to said first detector;

providing optically readable encoded information in association with said optical disc;

reading said encoded information with said at least one optical reader;

optically inspecting said specimen using a light source; and

separately measuring a first output from said first optical detector and a second output from said second optical detector.

15. A method for carrying out an optical inspection and analysis of a biological specimen in association with a computer, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an optically readable encoded information in conjunction with an optical disc capable of being scanned and read by an optical reader associated with said computer,

providing a sample support surface associated with said optical disc;

placing a biological specimen within said sample support surface;

optically inspecting said specimen with a light source and a detector system and producing a first data stream suitable for input to said computer; and

optically reading the encoded information on said optical disc and producing a second data stream suitable for input to said computer, said detector system for optically inspecting said specimen including a first detector on one side of said optical disc and a second detector on an opposite side of said optical disc.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said encoded information is provided in a partially light reflective and partially light-transmissive layer within said optical disc.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein a first output of said first detector and a second output of said second detector are compared in a ratio which is used in producing said first data stream.

18. The method of either claim 16 or 17 wherein said first detector reads reflected light modulated by said encoded information and said first output is used in producing said second data stream.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein a third detector is provided on said opposite side of said optical disc.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said third detector is used in producing said first data stream.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said third detector is provided to be used when said second output or a ratio of said first and second output exceed a predetermined value.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said third detector is provided to increase the resolution with which the surface of the disc is read relative to that of said second detector.

23. A method of conducting an optical inspection of a specimen in association with an optical disc, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a specimen support surface associated with said optical disc;

providing optically readable encoded information in a partially light-reflective and partially light-transmissive layer within said optical disc;

optically inspecting said specimen using a light source, a first detector and a second detector; and

separately measuring a first output from said first detector and a second output from said second detector.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein said first output and said second output are compared in a ratio to produce a first data stream.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein said first detector reads reflected light modulated by said optically readable encoded information and said first detector is used to produce a second data stream.

26. The method according to claim 25 further comprising the step of providing a third detector on the same side of said optical disc as said second detector and on the opposite side of said optical disc from said first detector.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein said third detector is used in producing said first data stream.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein said third detector is provided to be used when said second output or a ratio of said first output and said second output exceed a predetermined value.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein said third detector is provided to increase the resolution with which the surface of the disc is read relative to that of said second detector.

30. A method of conducting an optical inspection of a specimen in association with an optical disc, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a specimen support surface associated with said optical disc;

optically inspecting said specimen using a light source, a first detector located in operable proximity to a first side of said optical disc and a second detector located in operable proximity to a second side of said optical disc; and

separately measuring an output from said first detector and an output from said second detector.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein said first output and said second output are compared in a ratio to produce a first data stream.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein said first detector reads reflected light modulated by said optically readable encoded information and said first detector is used to produce a second data stream.

33. The method according to claim 32 further comprising the step of providing a third detector on the same side of said optical disc as said second detector and on the opposite side of said optical disc from said first detector.

34. The method according to claim 33 wherein said third detector is used in producing said first data stream.

35. The method according to claim 34 wherein said third detector is provided to be used when said second output or a ratio of said first output and said second output exceed a predetermined value.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein said third detector is provided to increase the resolution with which the surface of the disc is read relative to that of said second detector.