Patent EP0217632A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0217632A2
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EP
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Improved single source multi-site photometric measurement system
Assignee: Molecular Devices LLC
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Filing: 1986-09-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A multibeam photometric measuring device includes a light assembly (12) comprising a single modulated light source along with a filter assembly (19) for passing only a desired band of wavelengths and an optical system for suitably focusing light from the light source. A fiber rotor arrangement (24) is provided for sequentially connecting the collimated light source to each of the plurality of fibers (34) disposed in a distributor (32). Light passing through the wells of the sample plate (40) is captured by discrete photodetector cells (44) disposed on a one-to-one correspondence opposite the wells of the plate. A reference fiber links (52) light from the light source to a separate photodetector (45) to provide a reference light signal with which the sensed photodetector signals are compared. The sensed signals are suitably multiplexed and processed by circuitry which allows control over the accuracy with which the signals are processed on the basis of their instantaneous strengths as well as reference readings taken during system initialization. Enhancement of colour distribution resulting from chromogenic reactions is provided by automatic agitation by mechanism (54) of the reacting agents within the sample wells before a reading is taken at each of the sampling intervals of a kinetic measurement sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 Calvin Y.H. Chow
- 👤 Michael M. Lacy
- 👤 Gillian M. Humphries
- 👤 John Wallace Parce
- 👤 Viola T. Kung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/251; G01N21/253; B; B01; B01J; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00274; B01J2219/00583; B01J2219/00603; B01J2219/00605; B01J2219/0061; B01J2219/00614; B01J2219/00621; B01J2219/00659; B01J2219/0068; B01J2219/00702; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/04; G01N2201/0438; G01N2201/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A multibeam photometric kinetic measurement device for measuring optical density of reacting samples contained in a plurality of sample sites disposed on a multi-site assay plate by performing a series of readings upon the the sites, said device comprising: a single light source adapted through coupling means to be selectively focused, according to a predetermined sequence, through selected ones of a plurality of light transmitting means for to selected ones of said sample sites; a plurality of photodetector means disposed on a detector-board and positioned in relation to said assay plate in such a way that light transmitted through each of said sites is received by a corresponding photodetector; means for imparting oscillatory movement to said assay plate for a pre-determined time before a reading is performed on a sample site in order to agitate the sample therein; and means for analyzing the output of said photodetector means to determine and indicate the optical density of said sites.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A multibeam photometric kinetic measurement device for measuring optical density of reacting samples contained in a plurality of sample sites disposed on a multi-site assay plate by performing a series of readings upon the the sites, said device comprising: a single light source adapted through coupling means to be selectively focused, according to a predetermined sequence, through selected ones of a plurality of light transmitting means for to selected ones of said sample sites; a plurality of photodetector means disposed on a detector-board and positioned in relation to said assay plate in such a way that light transmitted through each of said sites is received by a corresponding photodetector; means for imparting oscillatory movement to said assay plate for a pre-determined time before a reading is performed on a sample site in order to agitate the sample therein; and means for analyzing the output of said photodetector means to determine and indicate the optical density of said sites.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
148 words
The kinetic measurement device of claim 1 wherein said light transmitting means are optical transmission fibers and said coupling means comprises: means for modulating the light source at a predetermined rate, means for filtering light of a desired wavelength from said light source and focusing it at a desired point, a fiber rotor including an optical fiber receiving substantially all of said filtered and focused light at an input end and transmitting it to an output end, and a fiber distributor including said plurality of optical fibers disposed in a manner allowing each of said fibers to be selectively coupled to the light coming out of the output end of said rotor fiber, said rotor capable of being displaced in such a way that said optical fiber couples light from said source to successive ones of said distributor fibers and hence to successive ones of said sample site.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The kinetic measurement device of claim 2 further including a first reference optical fiber directly coupling said focused light to a first reference photodetector disposed on said detector board and functioning as light referencing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The kinetic measurement device of claim 3 wherein said distributor also contains a second reference optical fiber directly coupling said focused light to a second reference photodetector on the detector board, said second reference fiber functioning as light referencing means and as a means for referencing the relative positioning of the fiber rotor and the distributor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which includes a drive motor for advancing and retracting said assay plate relative to said detector-board, and for imparting said oscillatory movement to said assay plate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for measuring the transmittance of a plurality of sample sites on a multi-site assay plate comprising the steps of: selectively focusing light from a single light source through a plurality of light transmitting means upon selected ones of said sample sites, for each sample site, measuring, at a succession of time intervals, the intensity of light passing through the reacting sample in the sample site by using photodetecting means, oscillating said assay plate for a first fixed time duration in order to agitate the samples contained therein and allowing the agitated samples to settle for a second fixed time duration before performing each of said successive measurements, measuring the intensity of light when coupled directly from said light transmitting means to said photodetecting means, measuring the intensity of light when coupled from said light transmitting means to said photodetecting means, through the sample site when it contains no reacting sample, using said measurements to calculate the optical density of said sample sites.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for measuring the transmittance of a plurality of sample sites on a multi-site assay plate comprising the steps of: selectively focusing light from a single light source through a plurality of light transmitting means upon selected ones of said sample sites, for each sample site, measuring, at a succession of time intervals, the intensity of light passing through the reacting sample in the sample site by using photodetecting means, oscillating said assay plate for a first fixed time duration in order to agitate the samples contained therein and allowing the agitated samples to settle for a second fixed time duration before performing each of said successive measurements, measuring the intensity of light when coupled directly from said light transmitting means to said photodetecting means, measuring the intensity of light when coupled from said light transmitting means to said photodetecting means, through the sample site when it contains no reacting sample, using said measurements to calculate the optical density of said sample sites.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A multibeam photometer for measuring the transmittance of a plurality of sample sites on a multi-site assay solid support comprising: a plurality of means transmitting light to said sample sites, each of said light-transmitting means being adapted to transmit light to substantially only one of said sample sites; photodetector means positioned in relation to said solid support such that light is received at a plurality of different sites on the surface of said photodetector means; support means for orienting said solid support in fixed orientation to said photodetector means; and means for sequencing said plurality of light-transmitting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
A multibeam photometer for measuring the transmittance of a plurality of sample sites on a multi-site assay solid support comprising: a plurality of means transmitting light to said sample sites, each of said light-transmitting means being adapted to transmit light to substantially only one of said sample sites; photodetector means positioned in relation to said solid support such that light is received at a plurality of different sites on the surface of said photodetector means; support means for orienting said solid support in fixed orientation to said photodetector means; and means for sequencing said plurality of light-transmitting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said photodetector means comprises at least one silicon photodetector having a surface area of at least an area occupied by a plurality of sample sites on said multi-assay solid support.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for taking measurements of the transmittance of a plurality of sample sites on a multi-site assay support, comprising the steps of: measuring the photosignal generated by light shining through an airspace in the absence of a sample to give a first air transmission photosignal value; measuring the photosignal generated by light shining through an airspace in the absence of said support to give a second air transmission photosignal value; adjusting said relationship to compensate for a difference between said first air photosignal value and said second air photosignal value.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for taking measurements of the transmittance of a plurality of sample sites on a multi-site assay support, comprising the steps of: measuring the photosignal generated by light shining through an airspace in the absence of a sample to give a first air transmission photosignal value; measuring the photosignal generated by light shining through an airspace in the absence of said support to give a second air transmission photosignal value; adjusting said relationship to compensate for a difference between said first air photosignal value and said second air photosignal value.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for determining a colorimetric assay utilizing a multibeam photometer having a photodetector means positioned in relation to a multi-site solid such that light is received at a plurality of different sites on the surface of said photodetector means, said method comprising the following steps: measuring the photosignal generated by light shining through an airspace in the absence of a sample support to give a first air transmission photosignal value; measuring the photosignal generated by light shining through an airspace in he absence of said support to give a second air transmission photosignal value; adjusting said relationship to compensate for a difference between said first air photosignal value and said second air photosignal value.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for determining a colorimetric assay utilizing a multibeam photometer having a photodetector means positioned in relation to a multi-site solid such that light is received at a plurality of different sites on the surface of said photodetector means, said method comprising the following steps: measuring the photosignal generated by light shining through an airspace in the absence of a sample support to give a first air transmission photosignal value; measuring the photosignal generated by light shining through an airspace in he absence of said support to give a second air transmission photosignal value; adjusting said relationship to compensate for a difference between said first air photosignal value and said second air photosignal value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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