Unified detection system for fluorometry, luminometry and spectrometry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10845299-B2
Application number	US-201715698254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2017
Priority date	Jan 22, 2014
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

The devices and systems disclosed herein provide multiple optical capabilities in a single device or system. Methods for using these devices and systems are provided. These devices and systems are configurable for operation in each of a spectroscopy mode, a fluorescence mode, and a luminescence mode, and are capable of performing spectroscopic, fluorescence, and luminescence observations, measurements, and analyses when operated in the corresponding spectroscopy mode, fluorescence mode, or luminescence mode. These devices and systems include mirror dispersion elements having multiple faces including an optical dispersion element on one face (e.g., a diffraction grating or a prism) and a reflective element on another face (e.g., a mirror). These multiple capabilities eliminate the need to move or load a sample in multiple devices when subjecting a sample to multiple analyses, and thus provide greater accuracy, precision, and speed while reducing complexity and cost of sample analysis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device comprising a mirror dispersion element, wherein said mirror dispersion element has a plurality of faces, wherein said plurality of faces comprises a first face having a reflective surface, and a second face comprising an optical dispersion element;
an optical path, wherein said mirror dispersion element mounted on a translatable mount is disposed along said optical path, and wherein in a first configuration the reflective surface of the mirror dispersion element is presented to the optical path effective to reflect light traveling along the optical path, and in a second configuration the optical dispersion element of the mirror dispersion element is presented to the optical path effective to disperse light traveling along the optical path.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said mirror dispersion element is further mounted on a rotatable mount.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising an optical path, wherein said mirror dispersion element further mounted on the rotatable mount is disposed along said optical path, and wherein in the first configuration the reflective surface of the mirror dispersion element is presented to the optical path effective to reflect light traveling along the optical path, and in the second configuration the optical dispersion element of the mirror dispersion element is presented to the optical path effective to disperse light traveling along the optical path.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said optical dispersion element comprises a prism.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein said prism comprises a compound prism.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said reflective surface comprises a reflective surface of a mirror.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein said reflective surface comprises a reflective surface of a front surface mirror.

8. A device comprising a mirror dispersion element, wherein said mirror dispersion element has a plurality of faces, wherein said plurality of faces comprises a first face having a reflective surface, and a second face comprising an optical dispersion element;
an optical path, wherein said mirror dispersion element mounted on a translatable mount is disposed along said optical path, and wherein in a first configuration the reflective surface of the mirror dispersion element is presented to the optical path effective to reflect light traveling along the optical path, and in a second configuration the optical dispersion element of the mirror dispersion element is presented to the optical path effective to disperse light traveling along the optical path;
wherein said optical dispersion element comprises a grating.

9. A device comprising a mirror dispersion element, wherein said mirror dispersion element has a plurality of faces, wherein said plurality of faces comprises a first face having a reflective surface, and a second face comprising an optical dispersion element;
an optical path, wherein said mirror dispersion element mounted on a translatable mount is disposed along said optical path, and wherein in a first configuration the reflective surface of the mirror dispersion element is presented to the optical path effective to reflect light traveling along the optical path, and in a second configuration the optical dispersion element of the mirror dispersion element is presented to the optical path effective to disperse light traveling along the optical path;
wherein said reflective surface comprises a reflective surface of a back surface mirror.

Assignees

• Theranos Inc
• Labrador Diagnostics Llc

Inventors

• Mohan Karan
• Anekal Samartha

Classifications

• G02B5/1814

  structurally combined with one or more further optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms or other diffraction gratings (G02B5/189 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N21/255 Primary

  Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems · CPC title

• G01N21/76

  Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence · CPC title

• G01N21/645

  Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters · CPC title

• G01N2201/061

  Sources · CPC title