Optical system and assay chip for probing, detecting and analyzing molecules
First Claim
1. An assay chip comprising:
- a sample well configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy;
at least one element that directs the emission energy in a particular direction, wherein the at least one element is selected from the group consisting of a refractive element, a diffractive element, a plasmonic element and a resonator;
a ferromagnetic frame configured to detachably couple to at least one magnetic component on an instrument having a sensor; and
a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well and exits a surface of the assay chip opposite to the sample well, wherein the emission energy travels toward the sensor when the ferromagnetic frame is coupled to the instrument.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.
203 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An assay chip comprising:
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a sample well configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element that directs the emission energy in a particular direction, wherein the at least one element is selected from the group consisting of a refractive element, a diffractive element, a plasmonic element and a resonator; a ferromagnetic frame configured to detachably couple to at least one magnetic component on an instrument having a sensor; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well and exits a surface of the assay chip opposite to the sample well, wherein the emission energy travels toward the sensor when the ferromagnetic frame is coupled to the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An instrument configured to interface with an assay chip comprising a plurality of sample wells, each sample well of the plurality of sample wells configured to receive a sample, the instrument comprising:
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a housing configured to detachably couple to a frame of the assay chip, wherein the housing has an opening, and the assay chip is configured to align with the opening when the frame is coupled to the housing; at least one magnetic component positioned proximate to the opening and configured to position the assay chip in alignment with the opening when the frame is coupled to the housing; at least one excitation light source configured to excite the sample of at least a portion of the plurality of sample wells; a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors corresponding to a sample well of the plurality of sample wells, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect emission energy from the sample in a respective sample well; and at least one optical element configured to direct the emission energy from each sample well of the plurality of sample wells towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus comprising:
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an assay chip comprising a frame and a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels comprising; a sample well configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction, wherein the at least one element is selected from the group consisting of a refractive element, a diffractive element, a plasmonic element and a resonator; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well and exits a surface of the assay chip opposite to the sample well; and an instrument configured to interface with the assay chip, the instrument comprising; a housing configured to detachably couple to the frame, wherein the housing has an opening, and the assay chip is configured to align with the opening when the frame is coupled to the housing; at least one magnetic component positioned proximate to the opening and configured to position the assay chip in alignment with the opening when the frame is coupled to the housing; at least one excitation light source configured to excite the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors corresponding to a respective sample well, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect emission energy from the sample in the respective sample well; and at least one optical element configured to direct the emission energy, when the frame is coupled to the instrument, from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification