US6071748A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light detection device
Assignee: Molecular Devices LLC
•
Filing: 1998-04-17
•
Granted: 2000-06-06
•
Expires: 2018-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A high-throughput light detection instrument and method are described. Confocal optics structure enables exclusive light detection from a sensed volume in a composition.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas N. Modlin
- 👤 Glenn R. Edwards
- 👤 Michael T. Taylor
- 👤 Samuel A. Marquiss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/75; G01N21/76; B; B01; B01L; B01L9/00; B01L9/52; B01L9/523; B82; B82Y; B82Y15/00; B01J; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00274; B01J2219/00277; B01J2219/00279; B01J2219/00306; B01J2219/00313; B01J2219/00315; B01J2219/00317; B01J2219/00583; B01J2219/00603; B01J2219/00605; B01J2219/0061; B01J2219/00612; B01J2219/00659; B01J2219/0068; B01J2219/00686; B01J2219/00691; B01J2219/00702; B01J2219/00707; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0809; B01L2300/0829; C; C40; C40B; C40B60/00; C40B60/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/807; Y10S436/809; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/113332; Y10T436/114165; Y10T436/115831; Y10T436/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 84
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising: a stage for supporting a composition in an examination site, the composition being contained in a spatial volume lying between boundary interfaces located at different points along a Z-axis, wherein the Z-axis is substantially perpendicular to tie stage; an automated registration device that automatically brings successive compositions and the examination site into register for successive analysis of the compositions; a light source positioned to deliver light to the composition in the examination site; a detector positioned to receive light transmitted from the composition in the examination site; an optical relay structure located between the light source and the detector, the optical relay structure being capable of transmitting light substantially exclusively from a sensed volume of the composition, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from at least one of the boundary interfaces of the composition; and a Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising: a stage for supporting a composition in an examination site, the composition being contained in a spatial volume lying between boundary interfaces located at different points along a Z-axis, wherein the Z-axis is substantially perpendicular to tie stage; an automated registration device that automatically brings successive compositions and the examination site into register for successive analysis of the compositions; a light source positioned to deliver light to the composition in the examination site; a detector positioned to receive light transmitted from the composition in the examination site; an optical relay structure located between the light source and the detector, the optical relay structure being capable of transmitting light substantially exclusively from a sensed volume of the composition, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from at least one of the boundary interfaces of the composition; and a Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical relay structure includes confocal optics elements substantially contained within an optics head positioned above or below the stage, the Z-axis optical adjustment device including a drive mechanism that moves the optics head relative to the Z-axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein X, Y-axes are defined perpendicular to each other, perpendicular to the Z-axis and parallel to the stage, further comprising an X, Y-axes adjustment device that automatically adjusts the relative positions of the sensed volume and the composition along the X and Y axes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the X, Y-axes adjustment device can be programmed to convey successive compositions to the examination site.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the successive compositions are contained in wells of a microplate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from all the boundary interfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensed volume has a waist region in a sample plane, and a Z-pick-up, the diameter of the waist region being approximately half the dimension of the Z-pick-up.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical relay structure includes an aperture substantially centered about the Z-axis and contained in an image plane conjugate to a sample plane intersecting the sensed volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is capable of detecting light in at least two of the following types of assays: luminescence intensity, photoluminescence polarization, chemiluminescence, photoluminescence lifetime absorbance, luminescence resonance energy transfer, and luminescence imaging.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects light of longer wavelength than the light delivered to the composition from the light source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an automated registration device controller for preprogramming the relative movement into registration of successive compositions and the examination site.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is a lamp, or a light-emitting diode, or a laser, or a flash lamp, or a particle accelerator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is one of a plurality of light sources positioned at a source station, and further comprising a switching mechanism for interchangeably connecting different light sources to the optical relay structure for different applications.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the switching mechanism includes a shuttle having one side connected to a fiber optic element leading toward the stage, and a second side substantially facing the light sources, the shuttle being movable relative to the light sources, so that different light sources can be selectively transmitted through the fiber optic element to a composition at the examination site.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a filter wheel connected to the source station, the filter wheel containing a plurality of filters and being rotatable about a rotational axis so that a given filter can be interchangeably interposed between different light sources and the optical relay structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector is a photomultiplier tube, or a photodiode, or a charge-coupled device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein successive compositions are held in adjacent wells in a microplate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the number of wells in the microplate is 96, or 384, or 1536.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical relay structure simultaneously transmits light to the detector from compositions contained in a plurality of microplate wells.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical relay structure delivers light from the light source at an angle relative to the Z-axis exceeding the critical angle for establishing an evanescent field in the composition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical relay structure delivers light from the light source at an angle relative to the Z-axis below the critical angle for establishing an evanescent field in the composition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensed volume is diffraction limited.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source produces high-intensity, high-color temperature light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the light source is a xenon arc lamp.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automated registration device includes a transporter having a mechanism that releasably grips and moves a sample container to and from the examination site.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the transporter is dimensioned to grip and carry a microplate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the transporter is the stage.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a housing, the transporter being movable along a path running between a loading position and the examination site, the loading position being substantially outside the housing, so that compositions can be easily loaded on and unloaded from the transporter when the transporter is in the loading position, and the transporter can deliver compositions to and from the examination site inside the housing before and after analysis.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a stacking unit mounted next to the loading position outside the housing, the stacking unit being configured to hold a plurality of sample containers, and to feed sample containers to the transporter one at a time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the sample containers are croplates.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the transporter is open in the enter so that when the transporter is in the examination site, light can be transmitted rom below the stage to a composition in the examination site.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical relay structure includes a first aperture and a first lens positioned along a light path between the light source and the examination site or between the detector and the examination site.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the optical relay structure includes a second aperture and a second lens, the first aperture and the first lens being positioned along a light path between the light source and the examination site, the second aperture and the second lens being positioned along a light path between the detector and the examination site so that light is transmitted substantially exclusively to and from the same sensed volume in a composition at the examination site.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the optical relay structure cludes at least one fiber optic element, the first aperture being defined by the dimension of an end of the fiber optic element.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first aperture is defined in a ask structure at an end of a fiber optic element.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the optical relay structure includes a second aperture, the first and second apeitures having different dimensions, and an aperture switching mechanism for interchangeably positioning a selected aperture in the light path leading to or from a sensed volume in a composition at the examination site, so that the size of the sensed volume can be altered by switching between the first and second apertures.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the diameter of the first aperture is adjustable.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first aperture and the first lens are contained in a first optics head positioned near the stage.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first optics head is positioned above the stage.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first optics head is positioned below the stage.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first optics head has a light entrance port optically connected to the light source, and a light exit port optically connected to the detector, so that illumination and detection of light transmitted from a composition in the examination site can be carried out fiom the same side of the stage.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the light entrance port and the light exist port are configured to transmit light in directions that are substantially perpendicular to each other.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first optics head includes a planar beam splitter oriented at 45 degree angles to the directions of light transmission.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the optical relay structure includes a second optics head positioned below the stage, each optics head having a light entrance port optically connected to the light source, and a light exit port optically connected to the detector, and a switch control mechanism capable of interchangeably configuring any one of the following light transmission routes to and from a sensed volume in a composition located at the examination site: (a) top-illumination and top-detection, (b) top-illumination and bottom-detection, (c) bottom-illumination and top-detection, and (d) bottom-illumination and bottom-detection.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising: a stage for supporting a composition in a spatial volume having boundary interfaces located along surfaces in a microplate well; a light source positioned to deliver light from the light source into the composition; a detector; an optical relay structure that is capable of transmitting light substantially exclusively from a sensed volume of the composition to the detector, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from the boundary interfaces of the composition; and a Z-axis optical adjustment device, wherein a Z-axis is defined perpendicular to the stage, the Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions the sensed volume along the Z-axis in the composition between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising: a stage for supporting a composition in a spatial volume having boundary interfaces located along surfaces in a microplate well; a light source positioned to deliver light from the light source into the composition; a detector; an optical relay structure that is capable of transmitting light substantially exclusively from a sensed volume of the composition to the detector, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from the boundary interfaces of the composition; and a Z-axis optical adjustment device, wherein a Z-axis is defined perpendicular to the stage, the Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions the sensed volume along the Z-axis in the composition between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein X, Y-axes are defined perpendicular to each other, perpendicular to the Z-axis and parallel to the stage, further comprising an X, Y-axes adjustment device that automatically adjusts the relative positions of the sensed volume and the composition along the X and Y-axes.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein a Z-axis is defined substantially perpendicular to the stage of an examination site, the optical relay structure including an aperture substantially centered about the Z-axis and contained in an image plane conjugate to a sample plane intersecting the sensed volume.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the apparatus is capable of detecting light in at least two of the following types of assays: luminescence intensity, photoluminescence polarization, cheiniluminescence, photoluminescence lifetime absorbance, luminescence resonance energy transfer, luminescence imaging.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the detector detects light of longer wavelength than the light delivered to the composition from the light source.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the light source is a lamp, or a light-emitting diode, or a laser, or a flash lamp, or a particle accelerator.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the detector is a photomultiplier tube, or a photodiode, or a charge-coupled device.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the microplate well is contained in a microplate, wherein the number of wells in the microplate is 96, or 384, or 1536.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the microplate well containing the composition is located at an examination site, the optical relay structure including a first aperture and a first lens positioned along a light path between the detector and the examination site.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the optical relay structure includes a second aperture and a second lens positioned along a light path running between the light source and the examination site.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the optical relay structure includes at least one fiber optic element, the first aperture being defined by the dimension of an end of the fiber optic element.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the first aperture is defined in a mask structure at an end of a fiber optic element.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the optical relay structure includes a second aperture, the first and second apertures having different dimensions, and an aperture switching mechanism for interchangeably positioning a selected aperture in the light path leading to or from a sensed volume in a composition at the examination site, so that the size of the sensed volume can be altered by switching between the first and second apertures.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the first aperture and the first lens are contained in a first optics head positioned near the stage.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the first optics head is positioned above the stage.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the first optics head is positioned below the stage.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the first optics head has a light entrance port optically connected to the light source, and a light exit port optically connected to the detector, so that illumination and detection of light transmitted from a composition in the examination site can be carried out fiom the same side of the stage.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the light entrance port and the light exit port are configured to transmit light in directions that are substantially perpendicular to each other.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the first optics head includes a planar beamsplitter oriented at 45-degree angles to the directions of light transmission.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the optical relay structure includes a second optics head positioned below the stage, each optics head having a light entrance port optically connected to the light source, and a light exit port optically connected to the detector, and a switch control mechanism capable of interchangeably configuring any one of the following light transmission routes to and from a sensed volume in a composition located at the examination site: (a) top-illumination and top-detection, (b) top-illumination and bottom-detection, (c) bottom-illumination and top-detection, and (d) bottom-illumination and bottom-detection.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising: a stage for suppoing a composition in a spatial volume having boundary interfaces located along surfaces in a microplate well; a light source; an optical relay structure that is capable of delivering light from the light source substantially exclusively to a sensed volume of the composition, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from the boundary interfaces of the composition; a detector positioned to receive light transmitted from the sensed volume of the composition; and a Z-axis optical adjustment device, wherein a Z-axis is defined perpendicular to the stage, the Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces of the composition.
Claim 68
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for detecting light transmitted from a composition, the apparatus comprising: a stage for suppoing a composition in a spatial volume having boundary interfaces located along surfaces in a microplate well; a light source; an optical relay structure that is capable of delivering light from the light source substantially exclusively to a sensed volume of the composition, wherein the sensed volume is spaced substantially away from the boundary interfaces of the composition; a detector positioned to receive light transmitted from the sensed volume of the composition; and a Z-axis optical adjustment device, wherein a Z-axis is defined perpendicular to the stage, the Z-axis optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces of the composition.
Claim 69
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for detecting photoluminescence emitted by a sample, the apparatus comprising: a stage configured to hold a microplate having an array of sample wells; a light source located at one end of a first light path leading toward the stage and configured to deliver light to induce photoluminescence in a sample contained within boundary interfaces in at least one of the sample wells along a Z-axis perpendicular to the stage; a detector located at one end of a second light path leading toward the stage and configured to detect photolumiescence emitted by the sample; a confocal optics element operatively positioned along the first light path or the second light pat, and configured substantially to prevent light from focusing outside a pre-selected sensed volume inside the sample, or configured substantially to prevent detection of photoluminescence originating outside the sensed volume; and an optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis inside the sample between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 70
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for detecting photoluminescence emitted by a sample, the apparatus comprising: a stage configured to hold a microplate having an array of sample wells; a light source located at one end of a first light path leading toward the stage and configured to deliver light to induce photoluminescence in a sample contained within boundary interfaces in at least one of the sample wells along a Z-axis perpendicular to the stage; a detector located at one end of a second light path leading toward the stage and configured to detect photolumiescence emitted by the sample; a confocal optics element operatively positioned along the first light path or the second light pat, and configured substantially to prevent light from focusing outside a pre-selected sensed volume inside the sample, or configured substantially to prevent detection of photoluminescence originating outside the sensed volume; and an optical adjustment device that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis inside the sample between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 71
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for detecting luminescence emitted by a sample, the apparatus comprising: a stage configured to hold a sample inside boundary interfaces along a Z-axis perpendicular to the stage at an examination site for analysis; an alignment device configured to adjust the relative positions of the stage and the examination site, so that the sample and the examination site can be brought into alignment before detection of luninescence, and removed from alignment after such detection; an alignment device controller configured automatically to control the alignment device, so that successive samples can be thought into alignment with the examination site for detection of luminescence; an optical focusing structure configured sequentially to focus luminescence from the portion of the sample positioned in a sample plane into a series of image planes, wherein the image planes include at least one intermediate image plane and one terminal image plane; a detector configured to detect luminescence emitted by the sample, wherein the detector is positioned substantially in the terminal image plane; an emission confocal optics element configured substantially to prevent detection of luminescence originating outside a sensed volume intersecting the sample plane, wherein the emission confocal optics element is positioned between the sample and the detector substantially in an intermediate image plane; and a sensed volume positioning mechanism that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis inside the sample between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 72
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for detecting luminescence emitted by a sample, the apparatus comprising: a stage configured to hold a sample inside boundary interfaces along a Z-axis perpendicular to the stage at an examination site for analysis; an alignment device configured to adjust the relative positions of the stage and the examination site, so that the sample and the examination site can be brought into alignment before detection of luninescence, and removed from alignment after such detection; an alignment device controller configured automatically to control the alignment device, so that successive samples can be thought into alignment with the examination site for detection of luminescence; an optical focusing structure configured sequentially to focus luminescence from the portion of the sample positioned in a sample plane into a series of image planes, wherein the image planes include at least one intermediate image plane and one terminal image plane; a detector configured to detect luminescence emitted by the sample, wherein the detector is positioned substantially in the terminal image plane; an emission confocal optics element configured substantially to prevent detection of luminescence originating outside a sensed volume intersecting the sample plane, wherein the emission confocal optics element is positioned between the sample and the detector substantially in an intermediate image plane; and a sensed volume positioning mechanism that automatically adjusts positions of the sensed volume along the Z-axis inside the sample between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the optical focusing structure includes at least one lens positioned along a light path leading from the sample plane to the detector.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the emission confocal optics element defines an aperture.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the aperture is adjustable.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising: a light source configured to deliver light to induce luminescence in the sample; and an excitation confocal optics element configured substantially to prevent light from the light source from focusing outside the portion of the sample plane contained in the sensed volume; wherein the excitation confocal optics element is positioned substantially in an intermediate image plane located between the light source and the sample; and wherein there are at least two intermediate image planes, with the emission confocal optics element and the excitation confocal optics element positioned in different image planes.
Claim 77
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of detecting light transmitted from a composition, the method comprising: automatically bringing into register a succession of compositions and an examination site for successive analysis of the compositions, wherein each composition is contained between top, bottom, and side boundary interfaces located at different points along a Z-axis; transmitting light into a composition at the examination site; autmatically adjusting the position of a sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces; and detecting light substantially exclusively from the sensed volume in the composition.
Claim 78
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of detecting light transmitted from a composition, the method comprising: automatically bringing into register a succession of compositions and an examination site for successive analysis of the compositions, wherein each composition is contained between top, bottom, and side boundary interfaces located at different points along a Z-axis; transmitting light into a composition at the examination site; autmatically adjusting the position of a sensed volume along the Z-axis between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces; and detecting light substantially exclusively from the sensed volume in the composition.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
140 words
A high-throughput method of detecting light transmitted from a succession of samples, the method comprising: automatically and sequentially aligning a succession of samples with a Z-axis at an examination site, a sample being contained within boundary interfaces; for each sample, focusing light originating from the waist region of a sensed volume into a series of image planes, beginning with at least one intermediate image plane and terminating with a terminal image plane; positioning a detector in the terminal image plane to detect light transmitted by the sample; positionng an emission confocal optics element in an intermediate image plane, wherein the emission confocal optics element is configured substantially to prevent detection of light originating outside the sensed volume; and automatically adjusting the position of the sensed volume along the Z-axis inside the sample between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
140 words
A high-throughput method of detecting light transmitted from a succession of samples, the method comprising: automatically and sequentially aligning a succession of samples with a Z-axis at an examination site, a sample being contained within boundary interfaces; for each sample, focusing light originating from the waist region of a sensed volume into a series of image planes, beginning with at least one intermediate image plane and terminating with a terminal image plane; positioning a detector in the terminal image plane to detect light transmitted by the sample; positionng an emission confocal optics element in an intermediate image plane, wherein the emission confocal optics element is configured substantially to prevent detection of light originating outside the sensed volume; and automatically adjusting the position of the sensed volume along the Z-axis inside the sample between and spaced away from the boundary interfaces.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
58 words
The high-throughout method of claim 73, further comprising: positioning a light source to induce emission of light by the sample; and positioning an excitation confocal optics element in an intermediate image plane, wherein the excitation confocal optics element is configured substantially to prevent light from the light source from focusing outside the waist region of the sensed volume.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 72 further comprising the step of spacing the sensed volume away from at least one of the boundary interfaces.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 72 further comprising the step of spacing the sensed volume away from both of the top and bottom boundary interfaces.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 44, wherein each optics head is independently adjustable along the Z-axis.
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US5593867A
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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) | 2003-06-06 | 2003-12-06 | 2004-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-06 | 2007-12-06 | 2008-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-06 | 2011-12-06 | 2012-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |