Methods and systems for monitoring multiple optical signals from a single source
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting optical signals, comprising:
- simultaneously illuminating over time each of a plurality of fluid confinements on a substrate with an excitation radiation to produce at least first and second optical signals from each fluid confinement;
the at least first and second optical signals produced during the occurrence of different reactions of chemical species, wherein at least one of the chemical species is immobilized on the substrate within each fluid confinement and a chemical species with which it reacts is fluid borne, and the first and second optical signals occurring at different times within each fluid confinement wherein the first optical signal comprises a wavelength different from a wavelength of the at least second optical signal;
passing the at least first and second optical signals through an optical train that transmits the first and second optical signals in divergent paths;
receiving the first and second optical signals at different locations on one optical detector.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for monitoring a plurality of different optical signals from a single source of such signals, where each such different optical signal is spatially separated from other such signals and directed to different detectors or locations upon a single detector, which direction is generally accomplished through the use of a small number of optical components and/or manipulations.
97 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of detecting optical signals, comprising:
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simultaneously illuminating over time each of a plurality of fluid confinements on a substrate with an excitation radiation to produce at least first and second optical signals from each fluid confinement;
the at least first and second optical signals produced during the occurrence of different reactions of chemical species, wherein at least one of the chemical species is immobilized on the substrate within each fluid confinement and a chemical species with which it reacts is fluid borne, and the first and second optical signals occurring at different times within each fluid confinement wherein the first optical signal comprises a wavelength different from a wavelength of the at least second optical signal;passing the at least first and second optical signals through an optical train that transmits the first and second optical signals in divergent paths; receiving the first and second optical signals at different locations on one optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An analytical system, comprising:
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a plurality of confined reaction regions on a substrate for containing a reaction mixture that each produce at least first and second optical signals by illumination with excitation light of different reactions of chemical species within each confined reaction region, wherein at least one of the chemical species is immobilized on the substrate within the confined reaction region and the a chemical species with which it reacts is fluid borne, such optical signals produced during the reactions, and occurring at different times, wherein the first optical signal comprises a wavelength different from a wavelength of the at least second optical signal; an excitation light source; and an optical train in optical communication with the confined reaction regions, for simultaneously directing excitation light from the light source to the plurality of confined reaction regions over time, and receiving the first and second optical signals from the plurality of confined reaction regions and spatially separating the first and second optical signals and directing them to different locations on an optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An analytical system, comprising:
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a plurality of confined reaction regions on a substrate for containing a reaction mixture that produces in each confined region at least first and second optical signals resulting from the illumination of different reactions of chemical species occurring in each confined region, wherein at least one of the chemical species is immobilized on the substrate within the confined reaction region and a chemical species with which it reacts is fluid borne, such optical signals produced during the reactions, and occurring at different times, wherein the first optical signal comprises a wavelength different from a wavelength of the at least second optical signal; an optical train in optical communication with the confined reaction region, for simultaneously illuminating over time each of the plurality of confined reaction regions, and for receiving the first and second optical signals from the plurality of confined reaction regions and spatially separating the first and second optical signals and directing them to different locations on an optical detector, wherein said optical train comprises a replaceable modular optical component that spatially separates the first and second optical signals passing therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of detecting optical signals, comprising:
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simultaneously illuminating a plurality of fluid confinements on a substrate over time to produce first and second optical signals from each fluid confinement; the first and second optical signals produced during different reactions of chemical species in each fluid confinement, and occurring at different times within each fluid confinement, wherein at least one of the chemical species is immobilized on the substrate within the fluid confinement and a chemical species with which it reacts is fluid borne, and wherein the first optical signal comprises an optical characteristic different from an optical characteristic of the at least second optical signal; passing optical signals through an optical train that transmits the first and second optical signals in divergent paths; and receiving the first and second optical signals from each of the plurality of fluid confinement at different locations on one optical detector.
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38. A method of detecting optical signals, comprising:
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simultaneously illuminating a plurality of fluid confinements on a substrate over time to produce first and second optical signals from each fluid confinement; the at least first and second optical signals produced during different reactions of chemical species in each fluid confinement, wherein at least one of the chemical species is immobilized to the substrate within the fluid confinement and a chemical species with which it reacts is fluid borne, and the at least first and second optical signals occurring at different times within the fluid confinements, wherein the first optical signal comprises a wavelength different from a wavelength of the at least second optical signal; and directing the first and second optical signals from each of the plurality of fluid confinements to different locations on one optical detector.
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39. A method of detecting optical signals, comprising:
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simultaneously illuminating a plurality of fluid confinements on a substrate over time to produce first and second optical signals from each fluid confinements; wherein each different optical signal is produced from the illumination of a different reaction of chemical species in each fluid confinements, wherein at least one of the chemical species is immobilized on the substrate within each fluid confinement and a chemical species with which it reacts is fluid borne, such optical signals produced during the reactions, and occurring at a different time and comprises a wavelength different from each other optical signal; and spatially separating the plurality of different optical signals from each of the plurality of fluid confinements and directing them to discrete locations on one optical detector.
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40. A method of detecting optical signals, comprising:
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illuminating a fluid confinements on a substrate continuously over time to produce at least first and second optical signals; the at least first and second optical signals produced from the illumination of different reactions of chemical species, wherein at least one of the chemical species is immobilized on the substrate within each fluid confinement and a chemical species with which it reacts is fluid borne, such optical signals produced during the reactions, and occurring at different times, and wherein the first optical signal comprises a wavelength different from a wavelength of the at least second optical signal; and spatially separating the first and second optical signals and directing the first and second optical signals to first and second different locations on a first optical detector.
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Specification