Abstract:
An optical instrument monitors PCR replication of DNA in a reaction apparatus having a temperature cycled block with vials of reaction ingredients including dye that fluoresces in presence of double-stranded DNA. A beam splitter passes an excitation beam to the vials to fluoresce the dye. An emission beam from the dye is passed by the beam splitter to a CCD detector from which a processor computes DNA concentration. A reference strip with a plurality of reference emitters emit reference beams of different intensity, from which the processor selects an optimum emitter for compensating for drift. Exposure time is automatically adjusted for keeping within optimum dynamic ranges of the CCD and processor. A module of the beam splitter and associated optical filters is associated with selected dye, and is replaceable for different dyes.
Abstract:
A low cost portable fiber optic fluorometer is packaged as a personal computer peripheral and is based on interchangeable modules. One embodiment of the fluorometer comprises an excitation source, a detector, a signal processor, frequency source, wavelength selector, and an optical interface. The optical interface is exclusively fiber optic-based, thereby simplifying optical alignment and reducing the cost of the fluorometer. In another embodiment, the excitation source is an inexpensive monochromatic excitation source. In this case, the monochromatic excitation source and the first wavelength selector are preferably removable and replaceable, so that the fluorometer is advantageously able to generate different excitation wavelengths and detect different emission wavelengths. A fluorescence measurement method comprises the steps of generating an excitation signal; transmitting the excitation signal to a system under study which, in response, generates an emission signal; and detecting both the excitation signal and the emission signal with the fluorometer, and then using the detected excitation signal as a reference signal to calibrate the fluorometer and to nullify distortion errors in the emission signal. The use of the excitation signal as a reference signal provides an advantageously simple way to calibrate the fluorometer and to nullify distortion errors in the emission signal. An alternative method allows the precise shapes of the emission signal and the excitation signal to be profiled. The fluorometry method and apparatus can both advantageously be used for performing both direct fluorescence lifetime measurements and for performing phase fluorometry.
Abstract:
An apparatus useful in immunoassay of a fluid, light is directed to an optical sensor wherein the light is transmitted to a replaceable optical device that is responsive to index of refraction in a sensing region thereof that is exposed to the fluid. One portion of the light is transmitted via a compensation path that includes the sensing region to a first detector. Another portion of the light is transmitted via a sensing path that includes the sensing region to another detector. In one embodiment a ratioing device receives an output from each detector and provides a signal responsive to the ratio of the outputs. The replaceable optical device typically comprises a pair of channel waveguides in directional coupling arrangement, or a pair of channel waveguides in an interferometer arrangement, or a ridge waveguide having a curved or serpentine path configured so that nonspecific sensing effects are compensated.
Abstract:
In apparatus useful in immunoassay of a fluid, light is directed to an optical sensor wherein the light is transmitted to a replaceable optical device that is responsive to index of refraction in a sensing region thereof that is exposed to the fluid. One portion of the light is transmitted via a reference path to a first detector. Another portion of the light is transmitted via a sensing path that includes the sensing region to another detector. A ratioing device receives an output from each detector and provides a signal responsive to the ratio of the outputs. The replaceable optical device typically comprises a pair of channel waveguides in directional coupling arrangement, or a pair of channel waveguides in an interferometer arrangement, or a ridge waveguide having a serpentine path.
Abstract:
In an atomic absorption spectrometer with an atomizing device (190) and a line emitting light source (16), an optical system (22,28 . . . ) for generating a measuring light beam (18), and a photo-electrical detector (38), which are arranged in a housing (10) which forms a sample cavity (12) accessible from the outside and which is passed through by a measuring light beam (18) and into which different atomizing devices can be optionally inserted, the atomizing device (190) with the specific components (104,124,126) is assembled to form an insert unit (100) in which the atomizing device (190) in the form of a graphite furnace has a well-defined position relatively to the insert unit (100) and which in turn can be inserted into the sample cavity (12) in a well-defined position to provide an entirely functioning atomic absorption spectrometer.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a gas sensor (100) comprising a measurement chamber (102) for measuring presence of a first gas, the first gas being nitrous oxide (N2O) and an optical source (103) for emitting radiation in the measurement chamber (102). The sensor also comprises a radiation detector (104) sensitive to radiation emitted by the optical source (103), the radiation being detected by the radiation detector (104) following passage through the measurement chamber (102). A diffusion layer (131) is configured to allow diffusion of ambient gas into and out from the measurement chamber (102), and the diffusion layer (131) comprises means (133) for preventing diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ambient gas into the measurement chamber (102). The invention also relates a nitrous oxide detector comprising such a gas sensor, and a method for determining presence of nitrous oxide in the ambience.
Abstract:
In order to carry out various analyses at high accuracy in a site where analysis is needed using a disposable microchip, the microchip is disposed on a display of a tablet terminal device, and a sample or specimen is dropped into a flow path of the microchip to trigger a reaction of the sample in the microchip. Light emitted from the display of the tablet terminal device is applied to the microchip, and the reaction caused by the applied light in the microchip is measured. When an induced fluorescence method using the applied light is adopted as a measuring method, fluorescence that corresponds to the reaction is observed, and detected by, for example, a built-in camera of the tablet terminal device. The detection signal is analyzed by an arithmetic unit of the tablet terminal device.
Abstract:
An instrument is provided that can monitor nucleic acid sequence amplification reactions, for example, PCR amplification of DNA and DNA fragments. The instrument includes a multi-notch filter disposed along one or both of an excitation beam path and an emission beam path. Methods are also provided for monitoring nucleic acid sequence amplifications using an instrument that includes a multi-notch filter disposed along a beam path.
Abstract:
A portable and completely self-contained apparatus(20) for detecting analyte and the methods of use thereof is described. The apparatus (20) includes a microfluidic cartridge driver unit (30), an optical inspection unit (32), and a control unit (28) and a power supply unit, which can run the binding and detection of the analyte without any fluidic interfaces to the instrument. The microfluidic cartridge driver unit (30) receives microfluidic cartridge (22) that holds a microarray and integrated microfluidic chip (24) for delivering the analyte to perform different process steps in the detection of analyte. A complete detection of analyte using the invention takes only a few minutes.
Abstract:
An optical instrument monitors PCR replication of DNA in a reaction apparatus having a temperature cycled block with vials of reaction ingredients including dye that fluoresces in presence of double-stranded DNA. A beam splitter passes an excitation beam to the vials to fluoresce the dye. An emission beam from the dye is passed by the beam splitter to a CCD detector from which a processor computes DNA concentration. A reference strip with a plurality of reference emitters emit reference beams of different intensity, from which the processor selects an optimum emitter for compensating for drift. Exposure time is automatically adjusted for keeping within optimum dynamic ranges of the CCD and processor. A module of the beam splitter and associated optical filters is associated with selected dye, and is replaceable for different dyes.