Universal microplate analyzer

Abstract

A universal microplate analyzer capable of carrying out measurements on samples contained in the wells of microplates by fluorescence, absorbance, luminescence employs at least two light sources and optical fiber channels for directing excitation light to the sample wells. Flexibility of operation is provided by arrays of mirrors, apertures, and polarizers which can be positioned as required for the analysis to be carried out.

1 - 48 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       49 . A universal microplate analyzer comprising: 
 (a) an illumination module including: 
 (1) as an excitation light source, a continuous wave light source and optionally, a flash light source;  
 (2) a means for shaping and filtering the light from said excitation light source;  
   (b) multiple optical fiber channels for transmitting the shaped and filtered excitation light to a read head or to the bottom of a microplate well;    (c) at least one read head including: 
 (1) a means for shaping and optionally polarizing the shaped and filtered excitation light received from a first one of said optical fiber channels;  
 (2) an optical switch including a mirror and beam splitter to reflect the shaped and optionally polarized excitation light to a sample in a microplate well;  
 (3) a means for shaping, filtering, and optionally polarizing light emitted by said sample in response to said excitation light directed into said sample; and  
 (4) a light detector for measuring the amount of said emitted light received from said means for shaping, filtering, and optionally polarizing light; and  
   (d) means for positioning a sample well by a plate carrier.    
   
   
       50 . An analyzer of claim  1 , further comprising a second one of said multiple optical fiber channels for transmitting shaped and filtered excitation light to the bottom of a microplate well and a third one of said multiple optical fiber channels for transmitting to said read head the light emitted by a sample in said microplate well from the bottom of said microplate well in response to said shaped and filtered excitation light.  
   
   
       51 . An analyzer of  claim 50 , wherein said read head further comprises: 
 (c)(5) a means for shaping said emitted light received from said third optical fiber channel, and    (c)(6) a reflective mirror further included in said optical switch for directing the shaped emitted light received from said third optical fiber channel to said light detector.    
   
   
       52 . An analyzer of  claim 49 , comprising a fourth one of said multiple optical fiber channels for transmitting excitation light to the bottom of a microplate well and wherein said optical switch includes a means for transmitting light not absorbed by a sample in said microplate well to said light detector.  
   
   
       53 . An analyzer of  claim 49 , wherein a light pipe is disposed between said means for shaping, filtering, and optionally polarizing emitted light and the said light detector.  
   
   
       54 . An analyzer of  claim 49 , wherein said excitation light source is at least one member of the group consisting of a quartz tungsten halogen lamp, a flash Xenon lamp, a continuous Xenon lamp, a deuterium lamp, a laser, and an LED.  
   
   
       55 . An analyzer of  claim 54 , wherein said excitation light source is a quartz tungsten halogen lamp or a Xenon arc lamp.  
   
   
       56 . An analyzer of  claim 49 , further comprising means for heating and cooling said microplates.  
   
   
       57 . An analyzer of  claim 49  further comprising a means for moving said multiple optical fiber channels.