Unified detection system for fluorometry, luminometry and spectrometry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9835548-B1
Application number	US-201615160900-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 20, 2016
Priority date	Jan 22, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

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 analyzes 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 analyzes, and thus provide greater accuracy, precision, and speed while reducing complexity and cost of sample analysis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of performing an optical measurement, comprising:
placing a sample in a unified detection device for fluorometry, luminometry, and spectrometry, said unified detection device comprising:
a first optical element comprising a diffractive surface movably mounted on a first movable mount; a first mirror configured for reflecting light after contact of said light with said diffractive surface; a first lens configured for focusing or for collimating light reflected from said first mirror; a second mirror movably mounted on a second movable mount; a second optical element movably mounted on a third movable mount, said second optical element having a first face and a second face, said first face having a reflective surface configurable to reflect light from said second mirror, and said second face having a diffractive surface configurable to diffract light from said second mirror; a second lens configured for directing light to or onto said second optical element wherein the second lens is positioned to collect light off-axis relative to a direct light path from the first lens to the second mirror; and a photodetector receiving light from the second optical element, wherein the second mirror has a first configuration to reflect light from the first lens to the second optical element and a second configuration to reflect light from the first lens in a direction away from the second optical element;
and performing a luminometric observation, measurement, or analysis on said sample.

2. The method of performing an optical measurement of claim 1 , comprising performing a spectrometric observation, measurement, or analysis on said sample.

3. The method of performing an optical measurement of claim 2 , wherein said spectrometric observation, measurement, or analysis comprises an absorbance observation, measurement, or analysis.

4. The method of performing an optical measurement of claim 2 , comprising performing any two of fluorometry, luminometry, and spectrometry, the method comprising:
placing a sample in said unified detection,
configuring said unified detection device in a first configuration, wherein said first configuration is selected from a configuration for performing fluorometry, a configuration for performing luminometry, and a configuration for performing spectrometry;
performing an observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said first configuration on said sample while said unified detection device is in said first configuration;
configuring said unified detection device in a second configuration, wherein said second configuration is other than said first configuration and is selected from a configuration for performing fluorometry, a configuration for performing luminometry, and a configuration for performing spectrometry; and
performing an observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said second configuration on said sample while said unified detection device is in said second configuration.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising placing a first sample in said unified detection device for performance of said observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said first configuration; and placing a second sample in said unified detection device for performance of said observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said second configuration.

6. The method of performing an optical measurement of claim 1 , comprising performing fluorometry, luminometry, and spectrometry, the method comprising:
placing a sample in said unified detection device;
configuring said unified detection device in a first configuration, wherein said first configuration is selected from a configuration for performing fluorometry, a configuration for performing luminometry, and a configuration for performing spectrometry;
performing an observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said first configuration on said sample while said unified detection device is in said first configuration;
configuring said unified detection device in a second configuration, wherein said second configuration is other than said first configuration and is selected from a configuration for performing fluorometry, a configuration for performing luminometry, and a configuration for performing spectrometry;
performing an observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said second configuration on said sample while said unified detection device is in said second configuration;
configuring said unified detection device in a third configuration, wherein said third configuration is other than said first or said second configuration and is selected from a configuration for performing fluorometry, a configuration for performing luminometry, and a configuration for performing spectrometry; and
performing an observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said third configuration on said sample while said unified detection device is in said third configuration.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising placing a first sample in said unified detection device for performance of said observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said first configuration; placing a second sample in said unified detection device for performance of said observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said second configuration; and placing a third sample in said unified detection device for performance of said observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said third configuration.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said diffractive surface of said unified detection device comprises a prism.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said prism comprises a compound prism.

10. A method of performing fluorometry, luminometry, and spectrometry, comprising:
placing a sample in a system configured to perform fluorometry, luminometry, and spectrometry, wherein said system comprises
a device comprising a mirror dispersion element mounted on a rotatable mount, 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,
said device further comprising an optical path, wherein said mirror dispersion element mounted on a rotatable 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;
configuring said system in a first configuration, wherein said first configuration is selected from a configuration for performing fluorometry, a configuration for performing luminometry, and a configuration for performing spectrometry;
performing an observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said first configuration on said sample while said system is in said first configuration;
configuring said system in a second configuration, wherein said second configuration is other than said first configuration and is selected from a configuration for performing fluorometry, a configuration for performing luminometry, and a configuration for performing spectrometry;
performing an observation, measurement, or analysis consistent with said second configuration on said sample while said system is in said second configuration;
configuring said system in a third configuration, wherein said third configuration is other than said first or said second configuration and is selected from a configuration for performing fluorometry, a c

Assignees

• Theranos Inc

Inventors

• Mohan Karan
• Anekal Samartha

Classifications

• G01N2021/6463

  Optics · CPC title

• G01N21/645

  Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters · CPC title

• G01N2201/068

  Optics, miscellaneous · CPC title

• G01N2201/0636

  Reflectors · CPC title

• G02B5/04

  Prisms · CPC title