Fast-indexing filter wheel and method of use

US8934098B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Life Technologies Corporation · US

Inventors

• David M. Cox · Gloucester, GB
• Marc Haberstroh · San Jose, US
• Patrick Kinney · Hayward, US
• Albert L. Carrillo · Redwood City, US
• Jon Hoshizaki · Cupertino, US
• Maryam Shariati · Sunnyvale, US
• Howard King · Berkeley, US
• Joe Lee · Sunnyvale, US
• Matthew Chan · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 2010
• Grant date: Jan 13, 2015
• Expiry date: Sep 19, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/143333
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Various embodiments of a sequencing system capable of rapidly imaging samples at multiple wavelengths are provided herein. In one embodiment, the system includes a fast-indexing filter wheel having a plurality of excitation and emission filters capable of being rapidly rotated into and out of communication with an excitation source (e.g., an arc lamp, a laser. For example, the filter wheel can be configured to index in an amount of time falling within a range of about 40 ms to about 60 ms, preferably 50 ms. The system can also be configured to account for vibrations resulting from the quick starts and stops of the fast-indexing filter wheel as well as vibrations resulting from other sources. Various methods of rapidly imaging a sample at multiple wavelengths are also provided herein.