Systems and methods for monitoring the amplification and dissociation behavior of DNA molecules

• US 9,732,380 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon US Life Sciences Inc (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon US Life Sciences Inc (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Keady, John P., Hasson, Kenton C., Dale, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Turk, Neil N
• Application Number:
  US14/665,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20160017404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6454 using an integrated detector array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/146 Imager structures

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules.

Claims

1. A DNA analysis system, comprising:

a chip comprising a microchannel for receiving a sample of solution comprising nucleic acid and for providing a path for the sample to traverse;

an image sensor having a pixel array, wherein at least a portion of the microchannel is within a field of view of the pixel array; and

an image sensor controller configured to change an area of the pixel array for (a) reading a first area of the pixel array at a time when the sample is within a field of view of the first area, thereby producing first image data, and for (b) reading a second area of the pixel array at a time when the sample is within a field of view of the second area, wherein a center of the first area is spatially separated from a center of the second area, wherein

the image sensor controller is configured to use the first data to determine the size of the second area and the size of the second area is less than the size of the first area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image sensor controller is configured to process the first image data to determine whether the amount of light received at a pixel located at an edge of the first area exceeds or equals a predetermined threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first sample sensor positioned to detect the sample when the sample enters or is about to enter the field of view of the image sensor and configured to output a signal in response to detecting the sample.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a second sample sensor positioned to detect the sample when the sample leaves or is about to leave the field of view of the image sensor and configured to output a signal in response to detecting the sample.

5. A DNA analysis device, comprising:

an image sensor having a pixel array, wherein at least a portion of a microchannel providing a path for a sample of solution comprising nucleic acid to traverse is within a field of view of the pixel array; and

an image sensor controller configured to change an area of the pixel array for (a) reading a first area of the pixel array at a time when the sample is within a field of view of the first area, thereby producing first image data, and for (b) reading a second area of the pixel array at a time when the sample is within a field of view of the second area, wherein a center of the first area is spatially separated from a center of the second area, wherein

the image sensor controller is configured to use the first data to determine the size of the second area and the size of the second area is less than the size of the first area.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the image sensor controller is configured to process the first image data to determine whether the amount of light received at a pixel located at an edge of the first area exceeds or equals a predetermined threshold.

7. The device of claim 5, further comprising a first sample sensor positioned to detect the sample when the sample enters or is about to enter the field of view of the image sensor and configured to output a signal in response to detecting the sample.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a second sample sensor positioned to detect the sample when the sample leaves or is about to leave the field of view of the image sensor and configured to output a signal in response to detecting the sample.