Scanning fluorometer
US6313471A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/6484
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the fluorescence, luminescence, or absorption of a sample is provided. The sample may either be contained within a cuvette or within one or more sample wells within a multi-assay plate. A combination of a broadband source, a monochromator, and a series of optical filters are used to tune the excitation wavelength to a predetermined value within a relatively wide wavelength band. A similar optical configuration is used to tune the detection wavelength. In one aspect, multiple optical fibers are coupled to the excitation source subassembly, thus allowing the system to be quickly converted from one optical configuration to another. In another aspect, the excitation light and the detected sample emissions pass to and from an optical head assembly via a pair of optical fibers. The optical head assembly is scanned across one axis of the sample multi-assy plate. The multi-assay plate is mounted to a carriage assembly that scans the plate along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.