US5166813A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical evaluation using a hologram barrier filter
Assignee: Nygene Corp
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Filing: 1990-07-11
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Granted: 1992-11-24
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Expires: 2010-07-11
Abstract
Abstract Optical detection apparatus and process which, in its optimum configuration, utilizes holographic optical elements both as a dichroic beamsplitter and as a selective notch-type barrier filter to enhance the amount of light to reach the detector while barring undesirable wavelengths from reaching the detector. The apparatus, when incorporated into a fluorescent-light detecting process, has the advantage of minimizing loss of light suffered because of a small Stokes shift, which shift occurs between the wavelength of the light transmitted to a sample target area and the increased wavelength of fluorescent light emitted from the sample for collection by a detection device. This advantage which is allowed by sharper cut-on of optical transmission properties relative to wavelength by a barrier filter (or filters) comprised of holographic optical element (or elements) provides an important increase in the fluorescence-collecting capacity of the apparatus and the sensitivity of detection processes carried out with the apparatus. Those optical detection systems which use a dichroic beamsplitter benefit by using a holographic optical element which can serve multiple purposes by acting as an exciter filter, selecting the wavelength band from the input light, as a highly efficient mirror to enhance the amount of light reaching the sample and, also, as a barrier filter as described above.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael H. Metz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/6428; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/32; G01N2021/6463; G01N2021/6471; G01N2021/6473; G01N2021/6476; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having a beamsplitter for directing light within a first wavelength or wavelength band from a light source to the target area to stimulate a sample, wherein the light emitted from the sample contains the first wavelength or wavelength band and a second wavelength or wavelength band characteristic of the sample; and a barrier filter for limiting the wavelengths of light to be returned from the target area or sample to a photodetector; the improvement wherein: a) said beamsplitter and said barrier filter comprise at least one volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter and which rejects all or a substantial portion of the first wavelength or wavelength band which is undesired to be passed to said photodetector, and passes all or a substantial part of the second wavelength or wavelength band or a third wavelength or wavelength band comprised of a portion of the second wavelength or wavelength band which is desired to be incident upon said photodetector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having a beamsplitter for directing light within a first wavelength or wavelength band from a light source to the target area to stimulate a sample, wherein the light emitted from the sample contains the first wavelength or wavelength band and a second wavelength or wavelength band characteristic of the sample; and a barrier filter for limiting the wavelengths of light to be returned from the target area or sample to a photodetector; the improvement wherein: a) said beamsplitter and said barrier filter comprise at least one volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter and which rejects all or a substantial portion of the first wavelength or wavelength band which is undesired to be passed to said photodetector, and passes all or a substantial part of the second wavelength or wavelength band or a third wavelength or wavelength band comprised of a portion of the second wavelength or wavelength band which is desired to be incident upon said photodetector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
151 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having a beamsplitter for directing light within a first wavelength or wavelength band from a light source to the target area to stimulate a sample, wherein light emitted from the target area or sample contains the first wavelength or wavelength band and a second wavelength or wavelength band characteristic of the sample; and for limiting the wavelengths of light to be returned from the target area or sample to a photodetector; the improvement wherein: a) said beamsplitter is a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter which rejects all or a substantial portion of the first wavelength or wavelength band which is undesired to be passed to said photodetector, and passes all or a substantial part of the second wavelength or wavelength band which is desired to be incident upon said photodetector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
151 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having a beamsplitter for directing light within a first wavelength or wavelength band from a light source to the target area to stimulate a sample, wherein light emitted from the target area or sample contains the first wavelength or wavelength band and a second wavelength or wavelength band characteristic of the sample; and for limiting the wavelengths of light to be returned from the target area or sample to a photodetector; the improvement wherein: a) said beamsplitter is a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter which rejects all or a substantial portion of the first wavelength or wavelength band which is undesired to be passed to said photodetector, and passes all or a substantial part of the second wavelength or wavelength band which is desired to be incident upon said photodetector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
228 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having an exciter filter for limiting the wavelength or wavelength band emitted from a light source to a first wavelength or wavelength band to be incident upon a target area to stimulate a sample, a beamsplitter for directing light within said first wavelength or wavelength band from a light source to a target area to stimulate said sample, wherein light emitted from the sample contains all or part of the first wavelength or wavelength band and a second wavelength or wavelength band characteristic of the sample; and a barrier filter for limiting the wavelengths of light to be returned from the target area or sample to a photodetector; the improvement wherein: a) said exciter filter is a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter; and b) said beamsplitter and said barrier filter comprise at least one volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter which rejects all or a substantial portion of the first wavelength or wavelength band which is undesired to be passed to said photodetector, and passes all or a substantial part of the second wavelength or wavelength band or a third wavelength or wavelength band comprised of a portion of the second wavelength or wavelength band which is desired to be incident upon said photodetector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
228 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having an exciter filter for limiting the wavelength or wavelength band emitted from a light source to a first wavelength or wavelength band to be incident upon a target area to stimulate a sample, a beamsplitter for directing light within said first wavelength or wavelength band from a light source to a target area to stimulate said sample, wherein light emitted from the sample contains all or part of the first wavelength or wavelength band and a second wavelength or wavelength band characteristic of the sample; and a barrier filter for limiting the wavelengths of light to be returned from the target area or sample to a photodetector; the improvement wherein: a) said exciter filter is a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter; and b) said beamsplitter and said barrier filter comprise at least one volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter which rejects all or a substantial portion of the first wavelength or wavelength band which is undesired to be passed to said photodetector, and passes all or a substantial part of the second wavelength or wavelength band or a third wavelength or wavelength band comprised of a portion of the second wavelength or wavelength band which is desired to be incident upon said photodetector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said light from said light source comprises light to stimulate the emission of fluorescence in an analyte within said target area and wherein said beamsplitter hologram selectively reflects said light to stimulate emission of fluorescence and selectively allows transmission of said emitted fluorescence from said target area to said photodetector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having a barrier filter for limiting the wavelengths of light returned from a sample to a photodetector, said sample which has been stimulated by light from a light source, said light within a first wavelength or wavelength band and light emitted from said sample contains said first wavelength or wavelength band and a second wavelength or wavelength band; the improvement wherein: a) said barrier filter is a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter which rejects all or a substantial portion of the first wavelength or wavelength band which is undesired to be passed to said photodetector and passes all or a substantial portion of said second wavelength or wavelength band or a third wavelength or wavelength band comprised of a portion of the second wavelength or wavelength band which is desired to be incident upon said photodetector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
157 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having a barrier filter for limiting the wavelengths of light returned from a sample to a photodetector, said sample which has been stimulated by light from a light source, said light within a first wavelength or wavelength band and light emitted from said sample contains said first wavelength or wavelength band and a second wavelength or wavelength band; the improvement wherein: a) said barrier filter is a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter which rejects all or a substantial portion of the first wavelength or wavelength band which is undesired to be passed to said photodetector and passes all or a substantial portion of said second wavelength or wavelength band or a third wavelength or wavelength band comprised of a portion of the second wavelength or wavelength band which is desired to be incident upon said photodetector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 1, 3 or 5 wherein said light from said light source comprises light to stimulate the emission of fluorescence in the sample within said target area and wherein said barrier filter is a hologram which selectively reflects remaining undesired light which has reached said barrier filter and selectively allows transmission of desired light of said emitted fluorescence to said photodetector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said barrier filter hologram reflects two or more non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands from said fluorescence to be detected by a photodetector or photodetectors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said barrier filter hologram transmits two or more non-contiguous wavelength or wavelength bands.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein two or more hologram barrier filters are cascaded to selectively allow two or more non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands from said fluorescence to be detected by a photodetector or photodetectors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein two or more of said hologram barrier filters are cascaded to selectively reflect two or more contiguous or overlapping wavelengths or wavelength bands to reduce the width of the wavelength band to be transmitted for detection by a photodetector or photodetectors, and thus allow a wider rejection wavelength bandwidth to be achieved than would ordinarily be practicable to be achieved from said volume reflection hologram.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said barrier filter forms means to allow transmission of a substantial portion of light emitted from said target area, which emitted light has been subjected to a Stokes shift from a wavelength of light incident on said target area, to said photodetector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein said beamsplitter hologram is of sufficient efficiency to function as both a beamsplitter and a barrier filter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said beamsplitter hologram functions as a beamsplitter, a barrier filter, and an exciter filter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 or 13 wherein said beamsplitter hologram reflects two or more non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands to stimulate the emission of fluorescence from said sample with emission peaks at two or more wavelengths.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 or 13 wherein said beamsplitter hologram transmits two or more non-contiguous wavelength or wavelength bands.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 or 13 wherein two or more of said hologram beamsplitters are cascaded to selectively allow two or more non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands to impinge upon said target area to stimulate said sample.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 or 13 wherein two or more of said hologram beamsplitters are cascaded to selectively allow two or more contiguous or overlapping wavelengths or wavelength bands to impinge upon said target area to stimulate said sample, thus allowing a wider illuminating wavelength bandwidth to be achieved than would ordinarily be practicable to be achieved from said volume reflection hologram; or to selectively reject a wider wavelength bandwidth than would ordinarily be practicable to be achieved from said volume reflection hologram.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 or 13 wherein two or more hologram beamsplitters are cascaded to selectively allow two or more non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands to be transmitted for detection by one or more of said photodetectors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 1, 2, 3, and 13 wherein said beamsplitter forms means to allow transmission of a substantial portion of light emitted from said target area, which emitted light has been subjected to a Stokes shift from a wavelength or wavelength band of light incident on said target area, to said photodetector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 2 or 3 wherein said beamsplitter hologram functions as both a beamsplitter and an exciter filter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claims 2 or 3 wherein said volume reflection holograms are arranged to form an optical path between said target area and said detector to allow epireflection of a selected portion of light impinging on said sample in said target area and emitted from said sample or target area to be returned to said photodetector or photodetector.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
90 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having an exciter filter for limiting the wavelength or wavelength band emitted from a light source to be incident upon a target area to stimulate a sample and a barrier filter for limiting the wavelengths of light to be returned from the target area or sample to a photodetector; the improvement wherein: a) said exciter filter and said barrier filter comprise at least one volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
An optical detection apparatus for use in measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area having an exciter filter for limiting the wavelength or wavelength band emitted from a light source to be incident upon a target area to stimulate a sample and a barrier filter for limiting the wavelengths of light to be returned from the target area or sample to a photodetector; the improvement wherein: a) said exciter filter and said barrier filter comprise at least one volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said hologram functions as both an exciter filter and a barrier filter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said hologram reflects two or more non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands to allow separated wavelengths or wavelength bands to illuminate said sample and/or allow separated wavelengths or wavelength bands from said fluorescence to be detected by a photodetector.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said hologram transmits two or more non-contiguous wavelength or wavelength bands.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein two or more of said volume reflection holograms are cascaded to selectively allow two or more non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands to illuminate said sample and/or allow two or more non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands from said fluorescence to be detected by a photodetector or photodetectors.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein two or more of said holograms are cascaded to selectively reflect two or more contiguous or overlapping wavelengths or wavelength bands to increase the bandwidth of the light illuminating said sample, and/or to reduce the width of the wavelength band to be transmitted for detection by a photodetector or photodetectors, and thus allow a wider rejection wavelength bandwidth to be achieved than would ordinarily be practicable to be achieved from said volume reflection hologram.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area which includes: directing light from a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter from a light source to a target area to stimulate a sample, said hologram, causing light in one or more contiguous or non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands to stimulate said sample and emitting light from said target area or sample said light containing one or more wavelengths or wavelength bands and an additional contiguous or non-contiguous one or more wavelengths or wavelength bands, said additional wavelengths or wavelength bands being characteristic of the excited sample.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area which includes: directing light from a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter from a light source to a target area to stimulate a sample, said hologram, causing light in one or more contiguous or non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands to stimulate said sample and emitting light from said target area or sample said light containing one or more wavelengths or wavelength bands and an additional contiguous or non-contiguous one or more wavelengths or wavelength bands, said additional wavelengths or wavelength bands being characteristic of the excited sample.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area wherein the light returned from said target area is comprised of one or more contiguous or non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands of those used to stimulate said sample and one or more contiguous or non-contiguous additional wavelengths or wavelength bands characteristic of the sample; which includes: rejecting selectively the undesired light wavelengths or wavelength bands returned to said target area or sample with a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter and passing selectively the desired light wavelengths or wavelength bands to be incident upon a photodetector or photodetectors.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for measuring fluorescence emitted from a sample in a target area wherein the light returned from said target area is comprised of one or more contiguous or non-contiguous wavelengths or wavelength bands of those used to stimulate said sample and one or more contiguous or non-contiguous additional wavelengths or wavelength bands characteristic of the sample; which includes: rejecting selectively the undesired light wavelengths or wavelength bands returned to said target area or sample with a volume reflection hologram which functions as a chromatic beamsplitter and passing selectively the desired light wavelengths or wavelength bands to be incident upon a photodetector or photodetectors.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
71 words
A method as defined in claims 28 or 29 which further includes stimulating a sample within the target area; rejecting selectively undesired light returned from said target area wherein one or more of said volume reflection holograms which direct light to stimulate a sample in a target area, and one or more of said holograms which reject undesired light returned from said sample or target area are one and the same.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 30 which further includes: rejecting selectively the undesired light wavelengths or wavelength bands returned from said target area or sample with a volume reflection hologram, the desired light wavelengths or wavelength bands to be incident upon a photodetector.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 30 which further includes: effecting the directing of the light and the selective rejection of the undesired light with a single volume reflection hologram.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-24 | 1996-05-25 | 1996-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-24 | 2000-05-25 | 2000-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-24 | 2004-05-25 | 2004-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |