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EP0421156A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for fluorescence measurements
Assignee: Revvity Health Sciences Inc
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Filing: 1990-09-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-09-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved method and apparatus is provided for performing high sensitivity fluorescence measurements. A liquid sample (12) contained within a cuvette (13) is exposed to exciting radiation in such a way that the radiation is introduced directly to the sample (12) and is restricted from reaching the container walls. The sample container (33) is in the form of a cylindrical cuvette provided with reflector means on the bottom so that any unabsorbed exciting radiation reaching the cuvette bottom is reflected back through the sample solution. Fluorescent radiation emitted by the sample (12) is collected by an ellipsoidal reflector (64) which substantially surrounds the sample container (33) and focuses radiation incident thereupon onto a small area from which it is efficiently sensed by a photodetector (66). The optical arrangement realizes significantly improved signal-to-noise and signal-to-background ratios.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E. Osten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; G01N21/51; G01N2021/516; G01N2021/6463; G01N2021/6469
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of performing fluorescence measurements on a sample capable of being activated by exciting radiation, said method comprising the steps of: enclosing the sample within a container having surrounding walls and an open side facing a bottom surface, said bottom surface having reflector means for reflecting any radiation incident thereupon; introducing a beam of exciting radiation through said open side of container onto the sample contained therein in such a way that said beam does not reach said container walls, any portion of said beam which is unabsorbed by the sample and traverses through the sample to strike said bottom surface being reflected therefrom back through the sample; collecting fluorescent radiation from the sample through collector means surrounding said container walls, said collector means being adapted to focus all of said fluorescent radiation incident thereupon onto a predefined area; and detecting and measuring said fluorescent radiation focused onto said predefined area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of performing fluorescence measurements on a sample capable of being activated by exciting radiation, said method comprising the steps of: enclosing the sample within a container having surrounding walls and an open side facing a bottom surface, said bottom surface having reflector means for reflecting any radiation incident thereupon; introducing a beam of exciting radiation through said open side of container onto the sample contained therein in such a way that said beam does not reach said container walls, any portion of said beam which is unabsorbed by the sample and traverses through the sample to strike said bottom surface being reflected therefrom back through the sample; collecting fluorescent radiation from the sample through collector means surrounding said container walls, said collector means being adapted to focus all of said fluorescent radiation incident thereupon onto a predefined area; and detecting and measuring said fluorescent radiation focused onto said predefined area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container is in the form of a cuvette formed of glass, quartz, synthetic plastic or like material which is permeable to said fluorescent radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cuvette is substantially cylindrical, and wherein the walls and bottom surface thereof, in combination, define a cavity for receiving a fluid sample.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exciting radiation is collimated so as to be focused on the sample through said open side of said sample container without reaching said container walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exciting radiation is filtered to a desired range of wavelength prior to being focused onto the sample.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 1 wherein said collector means is in the form of an ellipsoidal reflector surrounding said container walls, said reflector being disposed with its major axis aligned substantially with said beam of exciting radiation incident on the sample, whereby fluorescent radiation emanating from the sample in all directions is collected and reflected so as to be focused substantially about the focal point of said ellipsoidal reflector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 6 wherein said focused fluorescent radiation is filtered to a desired wavelength and detected by a photodetector positioned about said focal point of said reflector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for performing fluorescence measurements on a sample by detecting fluorescence induced in the sample by focusing exciting radiation thereupon, said apparatus comprising: a sample container having surrounding walls and an open side facing a bottom surface, said walls and bottom surface defining a sample-containing cavity, said bottom surface being provided with reflector means for reflecting any radiation incident thereupon; means for introducing a beam of exciting radiation through said open side of container onto the sample contained therein in such a way that said beam does not reach said container walls, whereby any portion of said beam which is unabsorbed by the sample and traverses through the sample to strike said bottom surface is completely reflected therefrom back through the sample; collector means for collecting fluorescent radiation emitted from the sample, said collector means substantially surrounding said container walls and being adapted to focus said fluorescent radiation incident thereupon onto a predefined area; and means for detecting said focused fluorescent radiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for performing fluorescence measurements on a sample by detecting fluorescence induced in the sample by focusing exciting radiation thereupon, said apparatus comprising: a sample container having surrounding walls and an open side facing a bottom surface, said walls and bottom surface defining a sample-containing cavity, said bottom surface being provided with reflector means for reflecting any radiation incident thereupon; means for introducing a beam of exciting radiation through said open side of container onto the sample contained therein in such a way that said beam does not reach said container walls, whereby any portion of said beam which is unabsorbed by the sample and traverses through the sample to strike said bottom surface is completely reflected therefrom back through the sample; collector means for collecting fluorescent radiation emitted from the sample, said collector means substantially surrounding said container walls and being adapted to focus said fluorescent radiation incident thereupon onto a predefined area; and means for detecting said focused fluorescent radiation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus for making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 8 wherein said sample container is in the form of a cuvette formed of glass, quartz, synthetic plastic or like material which is permeable to said fluorescent radiation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus for making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cuvette is substantially cylindrical, and wherein the walls and bottom surface thereof, in combination, define a cylindrical cavity for receiving a fluid sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus for of making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 8 further including means for collimating said exciting radiation so as to be focused on the sample substantially about the central section of said open side of said sample container without reaching said container walls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus for making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 8 further including means for filtering said exciting radiation to a desired wavelength prior to being focused onto the sample.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus for making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 8 wherein said collector means is in the form of an ellipsoidal reflector surrounding said container walls, said reflector being disposed with its major axis aligned substantially with said beam of exciting radiation incident on the sample, whereby fluorescent radiation emanating from the sample in all directions is collected and reflected so as to be focused substantially about the focal point of said ellipsoidal reflector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus for making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 13 further including means for filtering said focused fluorescent radiation to a desired range of wavelength.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus for making fluorescence measurements as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for detecting said focused fluorescent radiation comprises a photodetector positioned about said focal point of said reflector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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