Microarray reader based on evanescent wave detection and method of reading a microarray

• US 8,124,944 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Zheng, Yuan, Xu, Leon, Sun, Zhenhong
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANINGCO, MARCUS H
• Application Number:
  US12/522,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20100148092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 250/458.1, 250/459.1, 435/5, 435/6
• US Class Current: 250/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/648 using evanescent coupling or surface plasmon coupling for the excitation of fluorescence

Abstract

A microarray reader (100) comprises a light source (102), beam shaping elements (104) positioned near the light source (102), a moving stage (124) supporting one or more of the light source (102) and beam shaping elements (104), an optical substrate (112) supporting an immobilized microarray, a reaction chamber (116) in contact with the optical substrate (112) and encapsulating buffer solution, a heating/cooling component (118) in contact with the reaction chamber (116), a synchronization circuit, an optical filter (108) and an imaging sensor (106) positioned near the optical filter (108).

Claims

1. A microarray-reader, comprising:

a light source;

beam shaping elements, positioned near the light source;

a moving stage, supporting one or more of the light source and beam shaping elements;

an optical substrate, supporting an immobilized microarray;

a reaction chamber, in contact with the optical substrate and encapsulating a buffer solution;

a heating/cooling component, in contact with the reaction chamber;

a synchronization circuit;

an optical filter; and

an imaging sensor, positioned near the optical filter;

wherein the substrate is at least partially contacted with a multilayer reflective or absorptive coating that acts as a position marker.

2. The microarray reader of claim 1, wherein the buffer solution supports a PCR reaction.

3. The microarray reader of claim 1, wherein the substrate is an optical density media.

4. The microarray reader of claim 1, wherein the substrate is about 1 mm to about 3 mm in thickness.

5. The microarray reader of claim 1, wherein the imaging sensor comprises a CCD camera.

6. The microarray-reader of claim 1, wherein light from the beam shaping elements strikes the optical substrate directly, and the light source, the beam shaping elements, and the moving stage make up a line scanning excitation system to apply line scanning.

7. The microarray reader of claim 1, wherein the line scanning is uniform.