Optical system and assay chip for probing, detecting and analyzing molecules
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an assay chip comprising 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 toward a sensor;
andan instrument configured to interface with the assay chip, the instrument comprising;
at least one pulsed excitation light source configured to emit excitation energy that excites the sample;
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, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is capable of detecting the detection time of the emission energy;
at least one optical element configured to direct the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors;
an optical housing having an opening; and
at least one alignment component configured to mechanically position the assay chip on the outside of the optical housing to overlap with the opening when the assay chip interfaces with the instrument.
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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.
206 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an assay chip comprising 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 toward a sensor; and an instrument configured to interface with the assay chip, the instrument comprising; at least one pulsed excitation light source configured to emit excitation energy that excites the sample; 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, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is capable of detecting the detection time of the emission energy; at least one optical element configured to direct the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors; an optical housing having an opening; and at least one alignment component configured to mechanically position the assay chip on the outside of the optical housing to overlap with the opening when the assay chip interfaces with the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification