Method for observing a sample

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9359631-B2
Application number	US-201214000813-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2012
Priority date	Feb 21, 2011
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A method for observing a sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a volume (G, V) of a substantially transparent medium having a first refractive index (n int ) and having a first surface (S 1 ) that is convex, rounded, or faceted, and a second substantially planar surface (S 2 ), the first surface separating the volume from a surrounding medium (MA) having a second refractive index (n est ) that is lower than the first index, the sample to be observed being contained inside the volume or being deposited on the first surface; b) observing the sample through the second substantially planar surface; and c) determining the presence of a substance or an object in the sample by detection during step b), a ring of light that correlates with the volume.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for observing a sample, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a volume of a substantially transparent medium having a first refractive index (n int ) and having a first convex, rounded or facetted surface, wherein the angular deviation of the surface with respect to a sphere with center C is less than 12.5° or wherein the facetted surface comprises at least 10 facets, and a second substantially planar surface, said first surface separating said volume from an ambient medium having a second refractive index (n ext ) that is lower than said first index, the sample to be observed being contained in said volume or disposed within said volume or deposited on said first surface;
b) observing said sample through said second substantially planar surface; and
c) determining the presence of a substance or an object in the sample by detection during said step b) of a luminous ring matched to said volume.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which said volume has a substantially hemispherical shape.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which said step c) comprises determining the presence of a microorganism in said sample.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which said volume is a droplet adhered to a transparent substrate forming said second substantially planar surface.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , in which:
said step a) comprises producing a plurality of droplets forming said volumes at least some of which contain at least one object or a substance to be detected; and
said step b) comprises simultaneously observing a plurality of said droplets.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which said volume is formed from a material that is sensitive to an analyte contained in said ambient medium.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which said ambient medium is air.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which said step b) comprises an operation for illuminating said volume with a light source.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , in which said illumination is carried out either through said convex, rounded or facetted first surface or through said substantially planar second surface.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8 , in which said step b) comprises detecting a fluorescence signal.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , in which said step b) is carried out by epifluorescence microscopy.

Assignees

• Dupoy Mathieu
• Joly Pierre
• Mallard Frédéric
• Marcoux Pierre
• Mathey Raphaël
• Novelli-Rousseau Armelle
• Commissariat Energie Atomique
• Biomerieux Sa

Inventors

• Dupoy Mathieu
• Joly Pierre
• Mallard Frédéric
• Marcoux Pierre
• Mathey Raphaël
• Novelli-Rousseau Armelle

Classifications

• G01N21/65

  Raman scattering · CPC title

• C12Q1/04 Primary

  Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor {(C12Q1/6897 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N2021/035

  Supports for sample drops · CPC title

• G01N21/6486 Primary

  Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells (G01N21/6428 takes precedence) · CPC title