Multi-functional photometer with movable linkage for routing light-transmitting paths using reflective surfaces

• US 5,946,431 A
• Filed: 07/24/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Healthcare UK Limited (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Molecular Dynamics Limited
• Inventors: Fernandes, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/900,087
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15, 385/16, 385/22, 385/24, 385/25, 385/18, 385/19, 385/20, 385/21, 385/59, 385/31, 385/33, 356/73, 356/318, 356/417, 356/418, 356/436, 356/440, 250/227.23, 250/227.26, 250/458.1, 250/459.1, 250/461.1, 250/462.2
• US Class Current: 385/25
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00

Abstract

A multi-functional photometer includes a scanning mechanism having a housing that bears a movable linkage. The linkage is coupled to an optical scanning head and incorporates light-transmitting paths with at least one reflective surface for transmitting radiant energy to and from the scanning head. The arm comprises a C-shaped elbow member, pivotally attached to a shoulder member. In turn, the shoulder member of the arm is pivotally connected to the housing. In one embodiment the reflective surfaces are optically coupled and are mounted onto the housing, shoulder member and elbow member, such that the shapes of the light-transmitting paths remain fixed regardless of the orientation of the arm. The housing further incorporates a Cartesian-coordinate table for positioning the scanning head with respect to a microplate that contains a plurality of analyte samples.

Claims

1. A photometer utilizing light-transmitting paths for analyzing optical properties of at least one analyte sample, said photometer comprising:

an optical system; and

a scanner for reading said at least one analyte sample, said scanner being optically coupled with said optical system by said light-transmitting paths including at least one reflective surface, said light-transmitting paths having fixed individual shapes, said scanner including a movable arm supportingly routing said light-transmitting paths and maintaining said fixed individual shapes of said light-transmitting paths as said scanner scans said at least one analyte sample and wherein said light-transmitting paths and said at least one reflective surface move in space as said scanner scans.

2. The photometer of claim 1 further includes a logic device which controls said scanner and said optical system.

3. The photometer of claim 2 wherein said logic device comprises a computer.

4. The photometer of claim 1 wherein said scanner further comprises:

a housing capable of supporting a structure for holding said at least one analyte sample;

a positioning device; and

a first optical scanning element coupled to said positioning device, said first optical scanning element optically coupled with said optical system by a first arrangement of said light-transmitting paths, said positioning device capable of imparting scanning movements to said first optical scanning element in order to scan said at least one analyte sample.

5. The photometer of claim 4 wherein said positioning device is a Cartesian-coordinate positioning table controlled by a computer.

6. The photometer of claim 4 wherein said movable arm comprises:

a first rigid member pivotally attached to said housing at a first axis;

a second rigid member pivotally attached to said first rigid member at a second axis and having a first beam, said first optical scanning element attached to said first beam;

couplings for optically and pivotally interconnecting said light-transmitting paths, said couplings disposed along said first and said second axes on said first and said second rigid members.

7. The photometer of claim 6 wherein said second rigid member further includes a second beam, said scanner further comprising a second optical scanning element coupled to said second beam, said first and said second optical scanning elements sharing an optical axis.

8. The photometer of claim 7 wherein said second optical scanning element comprises a photodetector.

9. The photometer of claim 7 wherein said second optical scanning element is optically coupled to a light-dispersing device by second arrangement of said light-transmitting paths having fixed individual shapes, said second arrangement of said light-transmitting paths supported by said movable arm and optically-interconnected by said couplings.

10. The photometer of claim 9 wherein said light-dispersing device comprises a beam splitter.

11. The photometer of claim 9 wherein said second optical scanning element comprises a lens.

12. The photometer of claim 6 wherein said couplings include pairs of reflective surfaces being collinear and optically interconnecting said light-transmitting paths.

13. The photometer of claim 6 wherein said couplings include conduit couplers arranged in pairs and reflective surfaces arranged in pairs, each of said conduit couplers having a through aperture, each of said through apertures housing an end of one of said light-transmitting paths, the through apertures of each of said pairs of conduit couplers being collinear and optically interconnecting the ends of the light-transmitting paths inserted therein, each of said reflective surfaces being collinear and optically interconnecting said light-transmitting paths.

14. The photometer of claim 6 wherein said couplings include conduit couplers arranged in pairs and at least one coupling comprising one of said conduit couplers paired with a reflective surface, each of said conduit couplers having a through aperture, each of said through apertures housing an end of one of said light-transmitting paths, the through apertures of each of said pairs of conduit couplers being collinear and optically interconnecting the ends of the light-transmitting paths inserted therein, wherein said reflective surface and said through aperture being collinear and optically interconnecting said light-transmitting paths.

15. The photometer of claim 4 wherein said first optical scanning element includes a body having a cavity wherein said cavity houses at least one of said light-transmitting paths.

16. The photometer of claim 12 said cavity further houses a lens.

17. The photometer of claim 1 wherein said optical system further includes:

a light source; and

a power supply for energizing said light source, said power supply being controlled by a computer.

18. The photometer of claim 17 wherein said light-source is a xenon arc lamp.

19. The photometer of claim 17 wherein said power supply is a direct-current power supply.

20. The photometer of claim 17 wherein said light-source is a laser.

21. The photometer of claim 1 wherein said optical properties are at least one of absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence.

22. The photometer of claim 1 wherein said light-transmitting paths further include at least one optical fiber optically coupled to said at least one reflective surface of said light-transmitting paths.

23. The photometer of claim 1 wherein said light-transmitting paths further includes a plurality of reflective surfaces.

24. A photometer for measuring optical properties of at least one analyte sample, said photometer comprising:

an optical system having a plurality of lenses; and

a scanning mechanism comprising;

a housing capable of supporting a structure for holding said at least one analyte sample;

a positioning device;

a first optical scanning element coupled to said positioning device, said first optical scanning element being optically coupled to said optical system by light-transmitting paths including at least one reflective surface, said light-transmitting paths having fixed individual shapes, said positioning device capable of imparting scanning movements to said first optical scanning element in order to scan said at least one analyte sample; and

a movable linkage coupled to said first optical scanning element, said movable linkage supportingly routing said light-transmitting paths and maintaining said fixed individual shapes of said light-transmitting paths as said scanning mechanism scans and wherein said light-transmitting paths and said at least one reflective surface move in space as said scanning mechanism scans.

25. The photometer of claim 24 further including a microprocessor for controlling said positioning device and for monitoring said optical system.

26. The photometer of claim 24 wherein said optical system further includes a light source energized by a computer-controlled power supply.

27. The photometer of claim 26 wherein said light source is a xenon arc lamp.

28. The photometer of claim 26 wherein said light source is a laser.

29. The photometer of claim 26 wherein said computer-controlled power supply is a direct-current power supply.

30. The photometer of claim 24 wherein said light-transmitting paths further include at least one optical fiber optically coupled to said at least one reflective surface of said light-transmitting paths.

31. The photometer of claim 24 wherein said movable linkage comprises:

a rigid shoulder member pivotally attached to said housing at a first axis; and

a rigid elbow member pivotally attached to said rigid shoulder member at a second axis and having a first beam, said first optical scanning element attached to said first beam.

32. The photometer of claim 31 wherein said light-transmitting paths further include:

a first optical input coupling arranged collinearly with said first axis, said first optical input coupling optically coupled to said first optical scanning element by a second optical input coupling, said second optical input coupling arranged collinearly with said second axis, said first optical input coupling optically coupled to said optical system; and

a first optical pick-up coupling arranged collinearly with said first axis, said first optical pick-up coupling optically coupled to said first optical scanning element by a second optical pick-up coupling, said second optical pick-up coupling arranged collinearly with said second axis, said first optical pick-up coupling optically coupled to said optical system.

33. The photometer of claim 32 where in said rigid elbow member further includes a second beam bearing a second optical scanning element, said first and second optical scanning elements sharing an optical axis.

34. The photometer of claim 33 wherein said second optical scanning element comprises a photodetector.

35. The photometer of claim 33 wherein said second optical scanning element is optically coupled to a light dispersing device.

36. The photometer of claim 33 wherein said second optical scanning element comprises a lens.

37. The photometer of claim 24 wherein said first optical scanning element further includes:

a body having a symmetry axis;

a cavity disposed within said body;

a scanning element reflective surface disposed within said cavity, said scanning element reflective surface arranged collinearly with said symmetry axis; and

a lens disposed within said cavity, said lens being collinear with said symmetry axis.

38. The photometer of claim 37 wherein the first optical scanning element further includes:

a photodetector disposed within said cavity; and

a beam splitter disposed within said cavity, said beam splitter arranged collinearly with said symmetry axis and angularly disposed between said scanning element reflective surface and said lens, said beam splitter optically coupling said photodetector to said scanning element reflective surface.

39. The photometer of claim 32 wherein:

said first optical input coupling comprises a first housing reflective surface and a first shoulder reflective surface, said first housing reflective surface optically connecting said first shoulder reflective surface to said optical system by providing a light path therebetween;

said first optical pick-up coupling comprises a second housing reflective surface and a second shoulder reflective surface;

said second housing reflective surface optically connecting said second shoulder reflective surface to said optical system by providing a light path therebetween;

said second optical input coupling comprises a third shoulder reflective surface and a first elbow reflective surface;

said third shoulder reflective surface optically connecting said first shoulder reflective surface to said first elbow reflective surface by providing a light path therebetween, said first elbow reflective surface optically connecting said third shoulder reflective surface to said scanning element reflective surface of said first optical scanning element by providing a light path therebetween;

said second optical pick-up coupling comprises a fourth shoulder reflective surface and a second elbow reflective surface;

said fourth shoulder reflective surface optically connecting said second shoulder reflective surface to said second elbow reflective surface by providing a light path therebetween, said second elbow reflective surface optically connecting said fourth shoulder reflective surface to said beam splitter of said first optical scanning element by providing a light path therebetween.

40. The photometer of claim 24 wherein said optical properties are at least one of absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence.

41. The photometer of claim 24 wherein said positioning device comprises a Cartesian-coordinate positioning table.