Multiband Fluorescence Scanning Head for Reduced Hardware Complexity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanning systems for detecting multiple species in biological samples are bulky, costly, and require multiple optical channels due to overlapping excitation and emission bands of fluorophores, leading to complex and inefficient scanning processes.
Innovation Solution
A scanning head with multiband fluorescence detection channels, utilizing a single or multiple multiband emission filters and detectors, allows for simultaneous detection of multiple fluorophores with reduced hardware complexity and increased scanning speed by using a single light source and refined excitation and emission filters to minimize overlap and enhance wavelength discrimination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple separate optical channels are used to detect different fluorophores, then detection accuracy is maintained, but device complexity and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate optical channels into a single integrated optical channel that can detect multiple fluorophores sequentially. The excitation light source and detection system are merged into one channel, using temporal multiplexing to distinguish between different fluorophores based on their distinct excitation and emission wavelength bands. This reduces the number of optical components while maintaining detection accuracy through precise spectral filtering and timing synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The single optical channel is designed to perform multiple detection functions by sequentially activating different fluorophores with appropriate excitation wavelengths. The system can detect any combination of fluorophores supported by the light source and filters, making the channel universal rather than dedicated to a single fluorophore type. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate channels while preserving detection capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate optical channels are used for each fluorophore, then fluorophore detection is accurate, but scanning speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic activation of different fluorophores through time-multiplexed excitation. The light source alternates between different wavelength bands corresponding to different fluorophores in a rapid sequence. By synchronizing the detection timing with the excitation timing, the system accurately distinguishes signals from different fluorophores while maintaining high scanning speed, as the single channel can rapidly switch between detection modes without mechanical repositioning.
3Device complexity
If a single multiband light source is used to excite multiple fluorophores, then device complexity is reduced, but wavelength discrimination becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces multiband emission filters as intermediaries between the light source and detector. These filters selectively transmit specific wavelength bands corresponding to emission from different fluorophores while blocking other wavelengths. The filters act as mediators that separate the mixed emission signals in the spectral domain, enabling the detector to distinguish between fluorophores even though they are excited by a single multiband light source. Precise filter selection and positioning are critical to achieving effective wavelength discrimination.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables faster scanning of large sample arrays with reduced hardware complexity and cost, allowing for efficient detection and quantitation of multiple species in biological samples by using multiband filters to distinguish between fluorophores and correlate emission signals with excitation pulses.
Implementation Method 1
detection and quantitation of the targets are achieved by optical scanning in which each label receives excitation light at a wavelength band appropriate to the label and the emission light resulting from each excited label is separately detected
Implementation Method 2
each of which contains a multiband emission filter and a detector
Data Source
AI summary
In a scanning system for the detection and discrimination of a plurality of targets in each of a plurality of samples, one or more multiband fluorescence detection channels each of which contains a single multiband emission filter and a single detector replaces multiple detection components in scanning heads of the prior art. In certain embodiments, a single multi-emitter light source is used as well, to illuminate each sample with excitation light at a variety of distinct wavelengths in succession.