US4626684A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rapid and automatic fluorescence immunoassay analyzer for multiple micro-samples
Assignee: Flow Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1983-07-13
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Granted: 1986-12-02
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Expires: 2003-07-13
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus uses a rapid and efficient method for conducting fluorescence measurements, such as immuno assay, of a plurality of samples of a substance using pulsed or continuous light energy, front-end fluorescent optics, a mechanism which allows for lateral and tranverse scanning of rows and columns of wells, and spectra emission analysis of the spectra from the excited samples.
Inventors
- 👤 Isaac J. Landa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/6452; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/12; G01J3/18; G01J3/1833; G01J3/28; G01J3/44; G01J3/4406; G01N2021/6417; G01N2021/6421; G01N2021/6463; G01N2021/6473; G01N2021/6476; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/04; G01N2201/0446
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A fluorescence measuring apparatus for identifying a substance including: excitation means for producing light energy; carrier means for holding a plurality of samples which include said substance during excitation scanning of said samples; front-end fluorescent optics for directing said excitation light energy on a path orthogonal to the surface of said substance and for receiving fluorescent emission spectra back along substantially the same path from said substance; means for scanning said front-end fluorescent optics from sample to sample of said plurality of said samples which include said substance; and spectra emission analyzing means for receiving fluorescent emission spectra from said excited samples which include said substance through said front-end fluorescent optics, said emission analyzing means having means for detecting light intensity at the measured wavelength of said fluorescent emission spectra.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A fluorescence measuring apparatus for identifying a substance including: excitation means for producing light energy; carrier means for holding a plurality of samples which include said substance during excitation scanning of said samples; front-end fluorescent optics for directing said excitation light energy on a path orthogonal to the surface of said substance and for receiving fluorescent emission spectra back along substantially the same path from said substance; means for scanning said front-end fluorescent optics from sample to sample of said plurality of said samples which include said substance; and spectra emission analyzing means for receiving fluorescent emission spectra from said excited samples which include said substance through said front-end fluorescent optics, said emission analyzing means having means for detecting light intensity at the measured wavelength of said fluorescent emission spectra.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said excitation means is a pulsed xenon lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said carrier means is a plate having a plurality of wells adapted for holding samples which include said substance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 3 wherein said scanning means causes said front-end fluorescent optics to move orthogonal to the direction of said movement of said carrier means while scanning each row of said plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front-end fluorescent optics includes a fiber optics bundle comprised of source light conductors and detection light conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 5 wherein said fiber optics bundle includes a central light source conductor surrounded by a plurality of detector light conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 5 further including a lens for focusing the exiting and entering light from and to said fiber optics bundle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said excitation means is a light source monochromator and said emission means is a detection monochromator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 8 wherein said detection monochromator is tunable continuously over the operating spectral range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 8 wherein said excitation monochromator is tunable continuously over the operating spectral range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 8 wherein the light source monochromator includes exit and entrance slits the width of which are adjustable thereby providing adjustable wavelength bandpass.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 8 wherein the detection monochromator includes exit and entrance slits the width of which are adjustable thereby providing adjustable wavelength bandpass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 8 wherein emission analyzing means further includes an electron photomultiplier tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 8 wherein said emission analyzing means further includes a solid state detector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 1 further including reference detector means for compensating light intensity variations of said excitation means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scanning means transport said front-end fluorescent optics to any one of said plurality of samples held by said carrier means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scanner means can be adjusted to vary the measurement time for each sample.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spectra emission analyzing means includes a microprocessor and a high speed sampling analyzer, said microprocessor being adapted to receive signals indicative of received fluorescent emission spectra from said high speed sampling analyzer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 18 wherein said microprocessor processes said signals to subtract background noise and stray light effects from the measurements made for each sample.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fluorescence measuring apparatus of claim 1 further including auto blank subtract means applied to the light intensity detecting means for subtracting background fluorescense from the sample fluorescence.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
122 words
A fluorescence measuring apparatus for identifying a substance including: excitation means for producing light energy; carrier means for holding a plurality of samples which include said substance during excitation scanning of said samples; front-end fluorescent optics for directing said excitation light energy on a path orthogonal to the surface of said substance and for receiving fluorescent emission spectra back along substantially the same path from said substance; means for scanning said front-end fluorescent optics from sample to sample of said plurality of said samples which include said substance; and fluorescence and phosphorescence life time measuring means for receiving fluorescent emissions from said excited samples which include said substance through said front-end fluorescent optics to determine the life time of said fluorescent phenomena.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
122 words
A fluorescence measuring apparatus for identifying a substance including: excitation means for producing light energy; carrier means for holding a plurality of samples which include said substance during excitation scanning of said samples; front-end fluorescent optics for directing said excitation light energy on a path orthogonal to the surface of said substance and for receiving fluorescent emission spectra back along substantially the same path from said substance; means for scanning said front-end fluorescent optics from sample to sample of said plurality of said samples which include said substance; and fluorescence and phosphorescence life time measuring means for receiving fluorescent emissions from said excited samples which include said substance through said front-end fluorescent optics to determine the life time of said fluorescent phenomena.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for fluorometric analysis of samples containing a substance comprising: means for emitting a tunable, substantially monochromatic beam of radiation; first fiber optic means for conducting said beam to a container of a sample to be analyzed; lens means on one end of said fiber optics means for focusing said beam on the surface of said sample in said container; second fiber optics means for detecting fluorescent radiation emitted by said substance; said second fiber optics means being aligned with said first fiber optics means such that the radiation incident on said sample is substantially parallel to the emitted radiation detected by said second fiber optic means; and means optically connected to said second fiber optic means for measuring the intensity of particular wavelength components of the emitted fluorescent radiation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for fluorometric analysis of samples containing a substance comprising: means for emitting a tunable, substantially monochromatic beam of radiation; first fiber optic means for conducting said beam to a container of a sample to be analyzed; lens means on one end of said fiber optics means for focusing said beam on the surface of said sample in said container; second fiber optics means for detecting fluorescent radiation emitted by said substance; said second fiber optics means being aligned with said first fiber optics means such that the radiation incident on said sample is substantially parallel to the emitted radiation detected by said second fiber optic means; and means optically connected to said second fiber optic means for measuring the intensity of particular wavelength components of the emitted fluorescent radiation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-01 | 1990-06-02 | 1990-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-01 | 1994-06-02 | 1994-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-01 | 1998-06-02 | 1998-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |