Fluorescence reader

• US 9,279,768 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crimson International Assets LLC (The Carlyle Group LP (Corporate Private Equity))
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson AB (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Lindstrom, Tomas, Mendel-Hartvig, Ib, hman, Ove, Backlund, Johan, Vilhelmsson, Kennet
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyun, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/230,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20140212984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 422/82.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6465 Angular discrimination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters

Abstract

A fluorescence reader for an optical assay arrangement that includes a polymeric sample substrate having a reaction site-surface and a substrate surface. The fluorescence reader includes a light source arranged to illuminate the reaction site-surface through the substrate surface, and a detector device arranged to detect fluorescent light emitted from the reaction site-surface and transmitted through the substrate surface, the substrate surface being configured to increase transmission of emitted fluorescent light by suppression of total internal reflection.

Claims

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-surface comprises fluorophores disposed thereon,

said fluorescence reader comprising:

a light source positioned to inject exciting light rays into the substrate surface at an acute incidence angle relative to 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 relative to 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 and wherein said light-collecting body is ellipsoid-shaped.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said light-collecting body is provided with an input port for the exciting light rays.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said light-collecting body is provided with at least one output port.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the light-collecting body is placed in contact with the exterior of the substrate surface.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the light-collecting body is placed in optically wetting contact with the exterior of the substrate surface.

6. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the contact with the exterior of the substrate surface is sufficient such that no air layer is formed between said light-collecting body and the exterior of the substrate surface.

7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said light-collecting body has a refractive index that substantially corresponds to, or is larger than, the refractive index of the sample substrate.

8. A method of detecting the fluorescence of a sample substrate using a fluorescence reader, said method comprising the steps of:

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 comprising a light-collecting body disposed relative to the exterior of the substrate surface in which the light-collecting body is configured to collect and transmit light by means of total internal-reflection and wherein said light-collecting body is substantially ellipsoid-shaped.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said light-collecting body is provided with an input port for the exciting light rays.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said light-collecting body is provided with at least one output port.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the light-collecting body is placed in contact with the exterior of the substrate surface.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the light-collecting body is placed in optically wetting contact with the exterior of the substrate surface.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the contact with the exterior of the substrate surface is sufficient such that no air layer is formed between said light-collecting body and the exterior of the substrate surface.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein said light-collecting body has a refractive index that substantially corresponds to, or is larger than, the refractive index of the sample substrate.