Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Apple Inc.

The Boc Group, Inc.

James W Hillendahl

David E Waldbeser

Mark Alan Arbore

David I Simon

Robert J Chen

Miikka M Kangas

Michael J Bishop

Boaz Ran

Evelio Perez

Ariel Notcovich

Yochanan Uri

Tal Rosenzweig

Ariel Shemesh

J Glen Palmer

Michael Kanevsky

Barak Abraham Liraz

Harry R Naghieh

This relates to systems and methods for measuring a concentration and type of substance in a sample at a sampling interface. The systems can include a light source, optics, one or more modulators, a reference, a detector, and a controller. The systems and methods disclosed can be capable of accounting for drift originating from the light source, one or more optics, and the detector by sharing one or more components between different measurement light paths. Additionally, the systems can be capable of differentiating between different types of drift and eliminating erroneous measurements due to stray light with the placement of one or more modulators between the light source and the sample or reference. Furthermore, the systems can be capable of detecting the substance along various locations and depths within the sample by mapping a detector pixel and a microoptics to the location and depth in the sample.

Reference switch architectures for noncontact sensing of substances

A planar sample, particularly of the type used in biological laboratories for detection and sometimes analysis of two-dimensional arrays of proteins, nucleic acids, or other biological species, is illuminated by epi-illumination using optically filtered line lights that are arranged along opposing parallel sides of a rectangle in which the sample array resides, with two coaxial line lights on each side of the rectangle, and the two on any given side being separated by a gap whose optimal width depends on the wavelength band transmitted by the optical filter. Surprisingly, the gap eliminates the peak in intensity at the center of the sample area and the decrease that occurs from the center outward that would otherwise occur with a single continuous filtered line light, producing instead a substantially uniform intensity along the direction parallel to the line lights.

Uniform epi-illumination of planar samples

An SPR or other optical resonance based analysis system in which, light is provided at multiple angles to a specimen and then the light modified by the specimen is processed to select only some of the light. Optionally, the processing selects light at a particular incidence angle. Optionally, the detection is by imaging of the light on a 2D imager array.

Optical resonance analysis using a multi-angle source of illumination

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.

Imaging of microarrays using fiber optic exciter

Alloys useful for preparing self-supporting cylindrical targets are provided. The alloys comprise zinc and one or more other metals chosen from the following: aluminum, bismuth, cerium, gadolinium, hafnium, niobium, silicon, tantalum, titanium, vanadium, yttrium, and zirconium. In one preferred embodiment, a zinc alloy with approximately 2% aluminum forms self-supporting cylindrical targets from which metal oxide films are prepared by reactive sputtering. The alloy oxide films are clear, transparent, non-absorbing, and optically functional.

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Vacaville, CA, United States of America

James W Hillendahl