Fluorescence reader
First Claim
1. In combination, a fluorescence reader and a sample substrate, said substrate having a reaction site-surface and a substrate surface opposed to said reaction site-surface wherein the reaction site comprises disposed thereon,said fluorescence reader comprising:
- a light source positioned to inject exciting light rays into the substrate surface; and
a detector device positioned to detect fluorescent light emitted from the fluorophores disposed on the reaction site-surface and transmitted through the substrate surface, wherein said substrate surface is provided with a total-internal-reflection-suppressing means located in an optical path of the emitted fluorescent light for increasing transmission through the substrate surface for detection by the detector device, said total-internal-reflection-suppressing means being arranged to release emitted fluorescent light trapped within the sample substrate and comprising a surface relief structured exit-section on said substrate surface, said exit-section having a faceted surface designed to either diffract or refract the emitted fluorescent light out of the substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluorescence reader for an optical assay arrangement includes a polymeric sample substrate having a reaction site-surface and a substrate surface. A light source is arranged to illuminate the reaction site-surface through the substrate surface, and a detector device is arranged to detect fluorescent light emitted from the reaction site-surface and transmitted through the substrate surface, the substrate surface provided, for example, as a light-collecting body to allow fluorescent light rays exceeding a critical emission angle for total internal reflection to escape the substrate and enter the body.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. In combination, a fluorescence reader and a sample substrate, said substrate having a reaction site-surface and a substrate surface opposed to said reaction site-surface wherein the reaction site comprises disposed thereon,
said fluorescence reader comprising: -
a light source positioned to inject exciting light rays into the substrate surface; and a detector device positioned to detect fluorescent light emitted from the fluorophores disposed on the reaction site-surface and transmitted through the substrate surface, wherein said substrate surface is provided with a total-internal-reflection-suppressing means located in an optical path of the emitted fluorescent light for increasing transmission through the substrate surface for detection by the detector device, said total-internal-reflection-suppressing means being arranged to release emitted fluorescent light trapped within the sample substrate and comprising a surface relief structured exit-section on said substrate surface, said exit-section having a faceted surface designed to either diffract or refract the emitted fluorescent light out of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In combination, a fluorescence reader and a sample substrate, said substrate having a reaction site-surface and a substrate surface opposed to said reaction site-surface wherein the reaction site-surface comprises fluorophores disposed thereon,
said fluorescence reader comprising: -
a light source positioned to inject exciting light rays into the substrate surface; and a detector device positioned to detect fluorescent light emitted from the fluorophores disposed on the reaction site-surface and transmitted through the substrate surface, wherein said substrate surface is provided with a total-internal-reflection-suppressing means located in an optical path of the emitted fluorescent light for increasing transmission through the substrate surface for detection by the detector device wherein said total-internal-reflection-suppressing means comprises a light-collecting body positioned in optically wetting contact with the exterior of said substrate surface, said contact being sufficient such that no air layer is formed between said light-collecting body and the exterior of said substrate surface and in which the light-collecting body is designed to collect and transmit light by means of total internal-reflection. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. In combination, a fluorescence reader and a sample substrate, said substrate having a reaction site-surface and a substrate surface opposed to said reaction site-surface wherein the reaction site-surface comprises fluorophores disposed thereon,
said fluorescence reader comprising: -
a light source positioned to inject exciting light rays into the substrate surface; and a detector device positioned to detect fluorescent light emitted from the fluorophores disposed on the reaction site-surface and transmitted through the substrate surface, wherein said substrate surface is provided with a total-internal-reflection-suppressing means located in an optical path of the emitted fluorescent light for increasing transmission through the substrate surface for detection by the detector device, wherein said total-internal-reflection-suppressing means comprises an optically wetting layer having a suitable refractive index, said optically wetting layer being in sufficient physical contact with the exterior of said substrate surface such that no air layer is formed between said wetting layer and said substrate surface and wherein at least a portion of the optically wetting layer is attached to a lens device arranged to focus the emitted fluorescent light on the detector device and wherein the optically wetting layer has a refractive index that is higher than the refractive index of the substrate surface and lower than the refractive index of the lens device. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method of detecting the fluorescence of a sample substrate using a fluorescence reader, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) injecting exciting light rays into a substrate surface with a light source positioned to inject exciting light rays into the substrate surface wherein said substrate surface is opposed to a reaction site-surface; b) detecting fluorescent light emitted by fluorophores disposed on the reaction-site surface with a detector device positioned to detect the fluorescent light which is emitted by said fluorophores from the reaction site-surface and transmitted through the substrate surface; c) providing said substrate surface with a total-internal-reflection-suppressing means located in an optical path of the fluorescent light for increasing transmission through the substrate surface for detection by the detector device, said total-reflection-suppressing means providing step including the step of machining a surface relief exit-section including a faceted surface into said substrate surface designed to either diffract or refract emitted fluorescent light from said fluorophores and in which said fluorescence reader is positioned in an optical assay arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification