Bio-rad Laboratories, Inc.

David E Waldbeser

James W Hillendahl

Harry R Naghieh

Biochemical assays of samples in receptacles, in gels, in blots, in arrays and the like, and that utilize excitation and light emission as labels for detection are enhanced by an illumination and detection system that supplies excitation light through an optical fiber that transmits excitation light from an excitation light source to the sample. Emission light produced by the excitation is then collected by a lens and converted to a signal that is compiled by conventional software for analysis. The optical fiber transfixes (passes through) the lens via a slot or other opening and is preferably offset from the center of the lens. The optical fiber and collecting lens can either be on the same side of the sample or on opposite sides, i.e., one above and the other below. The optical fiber and the light collecting lens are arranged such that the direction of travel of the excitation light and the direction along which the emission light is collected are not coaxial, and preferably both are at an acute angle to the axis normal to the mouth of the receptacle. Illumination systems are also disclosed in which a ultraviolet, visible, or near-infrared light source is optically coupled to an optical fiber.

Biochemical assay detection using a fiber optic exciter

Biochemical assays that are performed in cuvettes and in the wells of multi-well plates and that utilize excitation and light emission as labels for detection are enhanced by an illumination and detection system that supplies excitation light through an optical fiber that transmits excitation light from an excitation light source to the cuvette or well. Emission light produced by the excitation is then collected by a collimating lens and converted to a signal that is compiled by conventional software for analysis. The optical fiber and collimating lens can either be on the same side of the receptacle (generally the open side) or on opposite sides, i.e., one above and the other below. When the optical fiber and the collimating lens are both on the open side of the receptacle, they are arranged such that the direction of travel of the excitation light and the direction along which the emission light is collected are not coaxial, and preferably both are at an acute angle to the axis normal to the mouth of the receptacle. Illumination systems are also disclosed in which a ultraviolet, visible, or near-infrared light source is optically coupled to an optical fiber.

Biochemical assay detection in a liquid receptacle using a fiber optic exciter

Microarrays are imaged by an illumination and detection system that supplies excitation light through one or more optical fibers, each fiber transmitting excitation light from an excitation light source to a single spot in the microarray. Emission light from each spot is then collected by a collimating lens and converted to a signal that is compiled by conventional software into an image of the entire microarray. The optical fiber(s) and the collimating lens are arranged such that the direction of travel of the excitation light and the direction along which the emission light is collected are not coaxial, and preferably both are at an acute angle to the axis normal to the plane of the microarray.

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Martinez, CA, United States of America

David E Waldbeser