LED or laser enabled real-time PCR system and spectrophotometer
First Claim
1. A system for conducting a polymerase chain reaction assay upon a plurality of samples by absorbance detection, said system comprising:
- a multi-well plate, said plate adapted to retain a plurality of sample wells;
a thermal cycler in thermal communication with said multi-well plate;
at least one photodetector, each said photodetector providing an output signal;
at least one light source,said light source positioned such that light emitted therefrom passes through a corresponding well retained in said multi-well plate and to a corresponding photodetector of said plurality of photodetectors; and
a means for analyzing said output signals from said at least one photodetector and determining by absorbance detection information indicative of the polymerase chain reaction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for conducting a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay upon a collection of samples is disclosed. The PCR assay is performed by absorption detection. The system includes a multi-well plate which is adapted to retain a collection of sample wells. This system includes a thermal cycler for the multi-well plate. The system additionally includes a collection of photodetectors, and a corresponding number of light sources. The light sources are positioned such that light emitted from each of the respective light sources passes through a corresponding well retained in the multi-well plate and to a corresponding photodetector. The system also includes a processor or other means for analyzing the output signals from the photodetectors. In certain versions of the system, ultra-violet light is used.
102 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for conducting a polymerase chain reaction assay upon a plurality of samples by absorbance detection, said system comprising:
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a multi-well plate, said plate adapted to retain a plurality of sample wells; a thermal cycler in thermal communication with said multi-well plate; at least one photodetector, each said photodetector providing an output signal; at least one light source, said light source positioned such that light emitted therefrom passes through a corresponding well retained in said multi-well plate and to a corresponding photodetector of said plurality of photodetectors; and a means for analyzing said output signals from said at least one photodetector and determining by absorbance detection information indicative of the polymerase chain reaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for conducting a polymerase chain reaction assay upon a plurality of samples, said system comprising:
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a multi-well plate, said plate adapted to retain a plurality of sample wells; a thermal cycler in thermal communication with said multi-well plate; a plurality of photodetectors, each said photodetector providing an output signal; at least one ultra-violet light source, said at least one ultra-violet light source positioned such that light emitted therefrom passes through a corresponding well retained in said multi-well plate and to a corresponding photodetector of said plurality of photodetectors; and a means for analyzing said out put signals from said plurality of photodetectors. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A spectrophotometer for measuring the intensity of ultra-violet light, comprising:
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a sample well adapted for retaining a liquid sample, said sample well defining a first region and a second region in fluid communication with said first region; a photodetector; a first ultra-violet light source positioned relative to said sample well and said photodetector such that ultra-violet light emitted from said first light source passes through said first region of said sample well to said photodetector; and a second ultra-violet light source positioned relative to said sample well and said photodetector such that ultra-violet light emitted from said second light source passes through said second region of said sample well to said photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of performing a polymerase chain reaction assay by absorbance detection, said method comprising:
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providing a system including (i) a multi-well plate adapted to retain a plurality of samples, (ii) a thermal cycler, (iii) a photodetector that provides an output signal, (iv) at least one light source positioned such that light emitted therefrom passes through said multi-well plate to said photodetector, and (v) a means for analyzing said output signal of said photodetector upon detecting light; obtaining samples upon which said polymerase chain reaction assay is to be performed; depositing said samples in said multi-well plate; performing a polymerase chain reaction in said samples; emitting light from said at least one light source such that said light passes through said samples and said multi-well plate to said photodetector; and analyzing said output signal of said photodetector to determine the absorbance of light and information indicative of the polymerase chain reaction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of performing a polymerase chain reaction assay, said method comprising:
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providing a system including (i) a multi-well plate adapted to retain a plurality of samples, (ii) a thermal cycler, (iii) a photodetector that provides an output signal, (iv) a plurality of ultra-violet light sources positioned such that light emitted therefrom passes through said multi-well plate to said photodetector, and (v) a means for analyzing said output signal of said photodetector upon detecting ultra-violet light; obtaining samples upon which said polymerase chain reaction assay is to be performed; depositing said samples in said multi-well plate; performing a polymerase chain reaction in said samples; emitting ultra-violet light from said plurality of ultra-violet light sources such that said light passes through said samples to said photodetector; and analyzing said output signal of said photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification