Lumencor, Inc.

Claudia B Jaffe

Steven M Jaffe

Arlie R Conner

George S Tylinski

Michieal L Jones

David Larsen

Michieal Jones

An integrated fluorescence scanning system is provided. The integrated fluorescence scanner combines an embedded computer, light engine, microscope, and motion stage into a compact rack-mountable network appliance that allows for automation of fluorescence microscopy. In an embodiment, the integrated fluorescence scanner includes a solid-state light engine which can provide intense, pure, and stable light across the spectrum required for imaging of all fluorophores of interest. The embedded computer allows for autonomous operation, and network appliance features including synchronous multi-scanner operation and monitoring, multisite operation via a single control terminal, and calibration for inter and intra instrument consistency.

Integrated fluorescence scanning system

A system and method for metered dosage illumination in a bioanalysis or other system. In accordance with an embodiment, an illumination system or subsystem is described that can provide optimized amounts of excitation light within the short exposure times necessary to measure fast biological activity. The amount of light can be precisely measured to provide quantitative results. The light flux can also be precisely controlled to generate only a prescribed minimum amount of light, in order to reduce adverse lighting effects on both fluors and samples. Although the examples herein illustrate the providing of metered dosage illumination in the context of a bioanalysis system, the techniques can be similarly used to provide metered dosage illumination in the context of other types of system. In accordance with various embodiments, the technique is particularly useful in any quality-control, analysis, or assessment-based environment. Typical research and development applications can include quality control, instrument calibration, and light output standardization; while clinical and diagnostics applications can include clinical monitoring, bioassay calibration and control for diagnostics, treatment and or therapeutic evaluation.

System and method for controlled intensity illumination in a bioanalysis or other system

A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. The white light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and is suitable for imaging all the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins. In embodiments, an LED light pipe engine is used to generate a portion of the spectral content of the white light output.

Solid state continuous white light source

A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in life sciences including, microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. In an embodiment, the solid state illumination system is coupled to a microscope using a liquid light guide. The liquid light guide is coupled to a microscope using an adjustable collimator which optimizes the light output for input to the optical train of the microscope.

Adjustable collimator for coupling a light guide to a microscope

A system and method for controlled illumination in a bioanalysis or other system where excitation of fluorescent molecules is desirable. In an embodiment, an illumination system is described which can provide excitation light at a controlled intensity to provide quantitative results. In an embodiment, a solid state light engine is described which includes a plurality of color channels each providing light output suitable for exciting a fluorescent molecule, a light to frequency converter which receives a portion of the light output, a counter which maintains a count of a signal from the light to frequency converter, and a light intensity circuit, responsive to the counter, which adjusts the color channels to control the intensity of the light output.

A compact passively-cooled solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for photocuring applications. The solid state illumination system utilizes LED modules to generate high intensity light output suitable for photocuring. The light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 530 nm and is suitable for photocuring using a wide range of photoinitiators. A touchscreen interface allows programming of spectral output, intensity and duration. Output can be initiated using the touchscreen interface and/or a foot pedal.

Solid state light source for photocuring

A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in life sciences including, microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. The white light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and is suitable for imaging all the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins. In embodiments, an LED light pipe engine is used to generate a portion of the spectral content of the white light output. In alternative embodiments the solid state illumination system produces light output of a selectable color.

The invention relates to a light source for irradiating molecules present in a detection volume with one or more selected wavelengths of light and directing the fluorescence, absorbance, transmittance, scattering onto one or more detectors. Molecular interactions with the light allow for the identification and quantitation of participating chemical moieties in reactions utilizing physical or chemical tags, most typically fluorescent and chromophore labels. The invention can also use the light source to separately and simultaneously irradiate a plurality of capillaries or other flow confining structures with one or more selected wavelengths of light and separately and simultaneously detect fluorescence produced within the capillaries or other flow confining structures. In various embodiments, the flow confining structures can allow separation or transportation of molecules and include capillary, micro bore and milli bore flow systems. The capillaries are used to separate molecules that are chemically tagged with appropriate fluorescent or chromophore groups.

Bioanalytical instrumentation using a light source subsystem

A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon light sources for applications in microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The illumination system includes hybrid optical and electrical control of output intensity in which the light output of one or more of the light sources is attenuated optically such that it is not necessary to reduce the electrical drive power/current of the LEDs at a level where the spectral power distribution is variable. One or more fixed, selectable, or variable neutral density filters is interposed in the output beam of one or more sources to achieve optical attenuation of the light output. The hybrid optical and electrical control of output intensity allows greater dynamic range of intensity to be achieved than could be achieved with electrical control of the LEDs alone while maintaining the desired spectral power distribution.

Solid state light source with hybrid optical and electrical intensity control

The invention relates to a plurality of light sources to power a variety of applications including microarray readers, microplate scanners, microfluidic analyzers, sensors, sequencers, Q-PCR and a host of other bioanalytical tools that drive today's commercial, academic and clinical biotech labs.

Lighting design of high quality biomedical devices

A system and method for metered dosage illumination in a bioanalysis or other system includes an illumination system or subsystem that can provide optimized amounts of excitation light within the short exposure times necessary to measure fast biological activity. The amount of light can be precisely measured to provide quantitative results. The light flux can be precisely controlled to generate a prescribed minimum amount of light, in order to reduce adverse lighting effects on both fluors and samples. The system and method is particularly useful in any quality-control, analysis, or assessment-based environment. Typical research and development applications can include quality control, instrument calibration, and light output standardization; while clinical and diagnostics applications can include clinical monitoring, bioassay calibration and control for diagnostics, treatment and or therapeutic evaluation.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Claudia B Jaffe