Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing – Optical result – With fluorescence or luminescence
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-26
2001-08-07
Snay, Jeffrey (Department: 1743)
Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
Optical result
With fluorescence or luminescence
C250S458100, C250S459100, C422S082080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271042
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of detectors for analysis of biological samples located on biochips. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of detectors that analyze samples labeled with a tag while utilizing a charge coupled device sensor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Detection devices that detect and locate samples contained on a biochip via laser light sources and laser scanners are well known in the art. These detection devices require that the samples be labeled by a fluorescent tag. Typically, these detection devices rely on laser light sources to excite the samples that are labeled by a fluorescent tag and causes biologically active samples to output emitted light waves. The laser source is scanned to serially excite each sample on the biochip to detect any emitted light waves from the samples that are biologically active.
Unfortunately, these detection devices utilizing either the laser light source or the laser scanner suffer from various drawbacks. First, laser scanners utilized to detect the emitted light waves from the exited samples on the biochip typically require wait times upwards of five minutes for sufficient resolution. Because laser scanners operate as a serial scanning device by sequentially detecting one sample at a time on the surface of the biochip, laser scanners are inherently inefficient at detecting the emitted light waves from an array of samples.
Further, laser light sources utilized within the detection devices inherently only emit coherent light waves which span over an extremely narrow range of wavelengths. Fluorescent tags are generally responsive to a single frequency of light or light from a narrow frequency band. Thus, the use of the laser light sources severely limits the flexibility of those detection devices because only one type of fluorescent tag can be used. To use other tags, additional laser sources must be used. Further, to evaluate a biochip that has been treated with multiple tags, the prior art's long duration scan cycle must be performed for each one of the required laser sources.
For example, if samples on a biochip were labeled with two different fluorescent tags and the different tags required light waves with substantially different excitation wavelengths, analyzing these samples would require the user to change laser light sources the analysis of all the samples were completed. Additionally, to be able to handle samples labeled with different fluorescent tags with differing excitation wavelengths, the user is required to have access to a variety of laser light sources. Since laser light sources are costly and specialized items, there are substantial costs and inconveniences associated with utilizing these prior detection devices.
Therefore, it is desirable to have an ability to detect and locate samples labeled with multiple tags contained on a biochip, without the need for a laser light source. It is also desirable have an ability to detect and locate samples labeled with a tag contained on a biochip, without the need for a serial scanning device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a biochip detection system for detecting and locating samples that are labeled with multiple tags and are located on a biochip. This biochip detection system includes a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor, a broad spectrum light source, a lens, a light source filter, and a sensor filter. The CCD sensor comprises two dimensional CCD arrays to simultaneously detect light waves from at least a substantial portion of the biochip. The broad spectrum light source is optically coupled to the CCD sensor and is configured to be utilized with a variety of different fluorescent tags which have differing excitation wavelengths.
The light source filter is optically coupled between the light source and the biochip and is configured to only substantially allow light waves that have an excitation wavelength corresponding to a particular fluorescent tag to reach the biochip. The light source filter prevents light waves that have similar wavelengths to an emission wavelength of the particular fluorescent tag from reaching the biochip or the CCD sensor. The sensor filter is optically coupled between the biochip and the CCD sensor and is configured to only substantially allow light waves that have the emission wavelength corresponding to the fluorescent tag to reach the CCD sensor. The sensor filter prevents extraneous light waves from giving the CCD sensor false signals.
The lens and the CCD sensor are optimized and matched to each other such that the sensor operates at or below the diffraction rating of the lens. Further, the resolution of the CCD sensor is matched to the samples on the biochip such that the CCD sensor oversamples each of the samples a sufficient number of times. Additionally, the lens is configured to frame at least a substantial portion of the biochip.
The biochip detection system is optimized to provide a higher dynamic range, increased sensitivity, and faster throughput compared to system utilizing laser scanners. Further, the biochip detection system is capable of utilizing a same broad spectrum light source to excite samples labeled with a variety of fluorescent tags.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4415732 (1983-11-01), Caruthers et al.
patent: 4458066 (1984-07-01), Caruthers et al.
patent: 4537861 (1985-08-01), Elings et al.
patent: 4816513 (1989-03-01), Bridgham et al.
patent: 5047524 (1991-09-01), Andrus et al.
patent: 5053454 (1991-10-01), Judd
patent: 5091652 (1992-02-01), Mathies et al.
patent: 5093268 (1992-03-01), Leventis et al.
patent: 5096807 (1992-03-01), Leaback
patent: 5112736 (1992-05-01), Caldwell et al.
patent: 5132418 (1992-07-01), Caruthers et al.
patent: 5192980 (1993-03-01), Dixon et al.
patent: 5239484 (1993-08-01), Hayashi et al.
patent: 5262530 (1993-11-01), Andrus et al.
patent: 5297288 (1994-03-01), Hemminger et al.
patent: 5324483 (1994-06-01), Cody et al.
patent: 5324633 (1994-06-01), Fodor et al.
patent: 5356776 (1994-10-01), Kambara et al.
patent: 5395594 (1995-03-01), Nokihara et al.
patent: 5427930 (1995-06-01), Birkenmeyer et al.
patent: 5453247 (1995-09-01), Beavis et al.
patent: 5468606 (1995-11-01), Bogart et al.
patent: 5472672 (1995-12-01), Brennan
patent: 5510270 (1996-04-01), Fodor et al.
patent: 5512490 (1996-04-01), Walt et al.
patent: 5522272 (1996-06-01), Vecere et al.
patent: 5529756 (1996-06-01), Brennan
patent: 5541113 (1996-07-01), Siddigi et al.
patent: 5545531 (1996-08-01), Rava et al.
patent: 5547839 (1996-08-01), Dower et al.
patent: 5563033 (1996-10-01), Lawrence et al.
patent: 5571639 (1996-11-01), Hubbell et al.
patent: 5585639 (1996-12-01), Dorsel et al.
patent: 5593839 (1997-01-01), Hubbell et al.
patent: 5597694 (1997-01-01), Munroe et al.
patent: 5605662 (1997-02-01), Heller et al.
patent: 5631734 (1997-05-01), Stern et al.
patent: 5632957 (1997-05-01), Heller et al.
patent: 5633365 (1997-05-01), Stokke et al.
patent: 5635402 (1997-06-01), Alfano et al.
patent: 5639428 (1997-06-01), Cottingham
patent: 5645114 (1997-07-01), Bogen et al.
patent: 5645801 (1997-07-01), Bouma et al.
patent: 5653939 (1997-08-01), Hollis et al.
patent: 5690894 (1997-11-01), Pinkel et al.
patent: 5707797 (1998-01-01), Windle
patent: 5720923 (1998-02-01), Haff et al.
patent: 5720928 (1998-02-01), Schwartz
patent: 5736257 (1998-04-01), Conrad et al.
patent: 5736333 (1998-04-01), Livak et al.
patent: 5744305 (1998-04-01), Fodor et al.
patent: 6087102 (2000-07-01), Chenchik et al.
patent: 0640828 (1995-03-01), None
patent: WO 96/27025 (1996-09-01), None
patent: WO 97/12030 (1997-04-01), None
patent: WO 97/45730 (1997-12-01), None
patent: WO 99/00520 (1999-01-01), None
patent: WO 99/27140 (1999-06-01), None
“Fast Forward; Genome Dread,” Stephen S. Hall, Jan. 18, 1998, The New York Times Archives.
“Multiplexed biochemical assays with biological chips,” Stephen Fodor et al., Nature 364; pp. 555-556, 1993.
“Microarrays: biotechnology's discovery platform for functional genomics,” Mark Schena et al., Elsevier Science Ltd., Tibtech Jul. 1998, vol. 16, pp. 301-306.
L.E.
Chaudhry Haseeb R.
Lee James S.
Watson, Jr. Robert Malcolm
Alpha Innotech Corporation
Haverstock & Owens LLP
Snay Jeffrey
LandOfFree
Biochip detection system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Biochip detection system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Biochip detection system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2471133