Assay plates, reader systems and methods for luminescence test measurements

• US 9,034,263 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Wohlstadter, Jacob N., Glezer, Eli, Wilbur, James, Sigal, George, Johnson, Kent, Clinton, Charles, Kishbaugh, Alan, Jeffrey-Coker, Bandele, Debad, Jeff D., Fischer, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, MELANIE YU
• Application Number:
  US13/439,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20120190590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.01
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/50 Clamping means, tongs in general F16B2/06
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/56 Means for indicating position of a recipient or sample in an array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/042 moved independently, e.g. by fork manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0494 Detecting or compensating piositioning errors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/66 electrically excited, e.g. electroluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/69 specially adapted for fluids , e.g. molten metal
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes

Abstract

Luminescence test measurements are conducted using an assay module having integrated electrodes with a reader apparatus adapted to receive assay modules, induce luminescence, preferably electrode induced luminescence, in the wells or assay regions of the assay modules and measure the induced luminescence.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring luminescence from a multi-well assay plate having a plurality of wells, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an imaging system comprising a photodetector, the imaging system configured to image one or more sectors of said plurality of wells in said multi-well assay plate and measure luminescence emitted therefrom; and

(b) a plurality of electrical connectors adapted to connect a source of electrical energy to said one or more sectors of said plurality of wells, wherein said electrical connectors are positioned on an electrical connector surface and configured to align said plurality of electrical connectors with a bottom surface of said multi-well assay plate and contact said bottom surface of said multi-well plate, thereby aligning said plurality of electrical connectors, said one or more sectors of said plurality of wells and said imaging system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising two or more electrical connectors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising between three and twenty electrical connectors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising six electrical connectors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a multi-well plate holder and said electrical connectors are positioned on a top surface of said plate holder.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrical connectors comprise one or more working electrical connectors and two or more counter electrical connectors.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising seven electrical connectors.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 comprising a linear array of seven electrical connectors.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said linear array comprises four working electrical connectors and three counter electrical connectors.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein bottom surface comprises one or more contact surfaces and said plurality of electrical connectors are configured to contact said plate bottom at said one or more contact surfaces.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an imaging system comprising a photodetector, wherein said imaging system is configured to image one or more sectors of wells in said multi-well plate and thereby measure luminescence emitted therefrom.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said imaging system further comprises a mounting system for positioning the photodetector relative to said one or more sectors of said plate.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said photodetector comprises an imaging surface and said mounting system is configured to maintain said imaging surface perpendicular to said plate within plus or minus 5 degrees.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said mounting system is configured to maintain said imaging surface perpendicular to said plate within plus or minus 3 degrees.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said mounting system is configured to maintain said imaging surface perpendicular to said plate within plus or minus 2 degrees.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said mounting system is configured to maintain said imaging surface perpendicular to said plate within plus or minus 1 degree.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more additional subsystems including:

(i) a plate translation subsystem;

(ii) a plate shaking subsystem;

(iii) a plate storage subsystem;

(iv) a reagent handling subsystem;

(v) a reagent delivery subsystem; and

(vi) combinations thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said photodetector is a camera, photodiode, avalanche photodiode, CCD chip, CCD camera, photomultiplier tube, CMOS detector, film, phosphorescent material, or intensifier.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said photodetector is a CCD camera or chip.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said photodetector is a photodiode or avalanche photodiode.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said photodetector comprises an array of photodiodes.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical connectors are spring-loaded.