Indexing signal detection module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9465161-B2
Application number	US-201414200460-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

An indexing signal detection module is configured to index one or more signal detectors past each of a plurality of sources of detectable signal emissions to detect or measure a signal emitted by each source. A plurality of signal transmission conduits transmit signal emitted by the sources from a first end of each conduit to a second end of each conduit where the signal may be detected by a signal detector. A conduit reformatter is configured to secure the first ends of the respective signal transmission conduits in a first spatial arrangement corresponding to a spatial arrangement of the signal emission sources and to secure the second ends of the respective signal transmission conduits in a second spatial arrangement different from the first spatial arrangement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for detecting a signal emission from each of a plurality of potential signal emission sources, said apparatus comprising:
a plurality of signal transmission conduits corresponding in number to the number of signal emission sources, each signal transmission conduit being associated with at least one of the signal emission sources and being configured to transmit a signal emitted by the associated signal emission source between a first end and a second end thereof;
a conduit reformatter constructed and arranged to secure the first ends of the respective signal transmission conduits in a first spatial arrangement corresponding to a spatial arrangement of the signal emission sources, such that the first end of each signal transmission conduit is positioned to receive an emission signal emitted by an associated signal emission source, and to secure the second ends of the respective signal transmission conduits in a second spatial arrangement different from the first spatial arrangement;
a plurality of signal detectors configured to detect a signal emitted by each signal emission source, wherein each signal detector is configured to generate an excitation light of a different predetermined wavelength and to detect light of a different predetermined emission wavelength, and further wherein each of the plurality of signal emission sources is in optical communication with a single signal transmission conduit; and
a signal detector carrier having mounted thereon the plurality of signal detectors, the signal detector carrier being configured to carry the signal detectors and to move each signal detector in a path that sequentially places the signal detector in signal detecting positions with respect to the second ends of the signal transmission conduits arranged in the second spatial arrangement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the signal emission is an optical signal and the signal transmission conduits comprise optical fibers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first spatial arrangement is rectangular and comprises two or more rows, each row including two or more of the first ends of the signal transmission conduits.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second spatial arrangement comprises:
i) one or more circles, whereby the second ends of a plurality of signal transmission conduits are positioned about the circumference of a circle; or
ii) one or more bundles whereby the second ends of a plurality of signal transmission conduits are collected in a bundle wherein the second ends of the transmission fibers in the bundle are in close proximity to each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the signal detector carrier comprises a carousel configured to move at least a portion of the one or more signal detectors in a path corresponding to the one or more circles of the second spatial arrangement.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said conduit reformatter comprises a reformatter frame comprising:
an interface plate configured to secure the first ends of the respective signal transmission conduits in the first spatial arrangement;
a base configured to secure the first ends of the respective signal transmission conduits in the second spatial arrangement; and
a side structure connecting the interface plate to the base at spaced-apart positions with respect to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising heat dissipating fins extending from the interface plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a signal coupling element operatively disposed with respect to the first end of each signal transmission conduit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said signal detector carrier is constructed and arranged to be rotatable about an axis of rotation so as to move each of the one or more signal detectors in a circular path, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a detector carrier drive operatively associated with said signal detector carrier, said detector carrier drive comprising:
a motor;
a drive pulley coupled to or part of the signal detector carrier such that rotation of said drive pulley causes a corresponding rotation of said signal detector carrier; and
a belt operatively coupling the motor to the drive pulley.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said detector carrier drive further comprises a home position detector configured to detect a rotational position of the detector carrier.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said signal detector carrier is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a rotary connector transmitting power and/or data between the one more signal detectors carried on the signal detector carrier and a non-rotating data processor and/or power source.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the rotary connector comprises a slip ring connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each signal emission source comprises a substance that emits light of a predetermined emission wavelength when subjected to an excitation light of a predetermined excitation wavelength and the signal detector is configured to generate an excitation light of the predetermined excitation wavelength and detect light of the predetermined emission wavelength.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of signal transmission conduits transmits both an excitation and an emission signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each signal detector comprises:
an excitation source carried on the signal detector carrier and being configured to generate an excitation signal;
excitation optics components carried on the signal detector carrier and configured to direct an excitation signal from the excitation source to the second end of a signal transmission conduit when the signal detector is in a signal detecting position with respect to the second end of the transmission conduit;
emission optics components carried on the signal detector carrier and configured to direct an emission signal transmitted by a signal transmission conduit when the signal detector is in a signal detecting position with respect to the second end of the transmission conduit; and
an emission detector configured to detect an emission signal directed by the emission optics components from the second end of the transmission conduit to the emission detector when the signal detector is in a signal detecting position with respect to the second end of the transmission conduit.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said emission detector is carried on the signal detector carrier.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the emission detector comprises a photodiode.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein each emission detector is associated with at least one excitation source and is configured to detect an emission signal transmitted by a single transmission conduit.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said emission detector is fixed and disposed adjacent to the signal detector carrier.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the emission detector comprises a camera.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the signal detector carrier is configured to selectively place each set of excitation optics components into operative association with the emission detector, and the emission detector is configured to detect an emission signal transmitted by all single transmission conduits simultaneously.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a signal co

Assignees

• Gen Probe Inc

Inventors

• Hagen Norbert D
• Opalsky David

Classifications

• G02B6/3668 Primary

  with conversion in geometry of the cross section · CPC title

• G02B6/06

  the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images · CPC title

• G01N21/253 Primary

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

• G01N21/6452

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

• G02B6/4269

  with heat sinks or radiation fins · CPC title