Method of measuring a time-varying signal emission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10890720-B2
Application number	US-201816179609-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2018
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A method of measuring a time-varying signal emission, the method including subjecting the contents of a receptacle to a thermal cycling process. During the thermal cycling process, measuring a signal emission from the contents of the receptacle at regular time intervals and recording the measured signal emission and a time stamp at each time interval. Also during the thermal cycling process, determining a temperature of the thermal cycling process at regular time intervals and recording the determined temperature and a time stamp at each time interval. The measured signal emissions are synchronized with a specific temperature of the thermal cycling process by comparing the time stamps of the measured emission signals with the time stamps of the determined temperatures.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of measuring a time-varying signal emission, comprising:
(a) subjecting the contents of a receptacle to a thermal cycling process;
(b) during step (a), measuring a signal emission from the contents of the receptacle at regular first time intervals and recording the measured signal emission and a first time stamp at each time interval;
(c) during step (a), determining a temperature of the thermal cycling process at regular second time intervals and recording the determined temperature and a second time stamp at each time interval, wherein the regular first time intervals and the first time stamps are different from the regular second time intervals and second time stamps, respectively; and
(d) synchronizing the measured signal emissions with a specific temperature of the thermal cycling process by comparing the first time stamps of the measured signal emissions with the second time stamps of the determined temperatures that correspond with the specific temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein thermal cycling process is a PCR process.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the thermal cycling process includes an annealing temperature and a denaturation temperature.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the specific temperature is the denaturation temperature.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the specific temperature is 95° C.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein each cycle of the thermal cycling reaction is a 60 second cycle.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal emission is a fluorescent emission.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time intervals of step (b) are four seconds.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises identifying all measured signal emissions at the specific temperature.

Assignees

• Gen Probe Inc

Inventors

• Hagen Norbert D
• Opalsky David

Classifications

• G01N21/253 Primary

  for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus (analytical automats G01N35/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/4246

  Bidirectionally operating package structures · CPC title

• G02B6/4214

  the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N21/6452

  Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates · CPC title

• G02B6/3668 Primary

  with conversion in geometry of the cross section · CPC title