Fiber optic detection system

Abstract

A sealed and decontaminated fiber optic detection apparatus includes an optics portion with individual chambers. Each chamber housing optical and electro-optical components. A manifold accommodates fibers, with each of the fibers being in optical communication with the optical and electro-optical components of a corresponding chamber. The apparatus also includes a sample holder that holds a sample to be tested and a mounting device provided between the sample holder and the manifold. The mounting device and the manifold form a sealed fiber optic interface between the sample holder and the optics portion.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A detection apparatus comprising: an optics block disposed in a housing; and a sample holder configured to hold a sample to be tested; wherein the optics block is separated from the sample by a mounting block, fibers provide optical communication between the optics block and sample holder, and the sample holder is adapted for accepting the fibers. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the optics block comprises plastic or metal. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of claim  1 , further comprising a detachably mounted manifold which accepts one end of each of the fibers at the optics block. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the sample holder comprises aluminum, copper, or both. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the sample holder comprises a cuvette. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the optics block is configured to be sealed to isolate the emission components and source components. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the fibers are routed to the sample holder through the cutout in the sample holder. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein at least one of the fibers is an emission fiber that provides optical communication between an emission component of the optics block and the sample holder, at least one of another of the fibers is a source fiber and provides optical communication between source components of the optics block and the sample holder; and the alignment between the emission fiber and source fiber is 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the optics block is single-channeled. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the optics block is multi-channeled. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the optics block comprises at least one excitation chamber and at least one emissions chamber. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the optics block is four-channeled with each channel having a separate emission chamber and excitation chamber. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the optics block is four-channeled and comprises a single chamber housing the emission components and source components for all four channels. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of claim  1 , further comprising: a mounting block, a thermoelectric cooler, and a heat sink; wherein the mounting block is provided between the optics block and the sample holder; and the thermoelectric cooler is provided between the mounting block and the heat sink. 
     
     
         35 . A method for creating a detection apparatus, comprising: providing an optics block disposed in a housing; providing a sample holder configured to hold a sample to be tested; and providing fibers to optically connect the optics block and sample holder; wherein the optics block is separated from the sample by a mounting block, and the sample holder has a cutout for accepting the fibers. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising detachably mounting a manifold to one end of the optics portion, and integrating the fibers into the manifold. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising preassembling a manifold with fibers integrated therein, and detachably mounting the preassembled manifold to one end of the optics block. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising a manifold detachably mounted on the optics block, wherein the mounting block is provided between the sample holder and the mounting block and the manifold form a sealed fiber optic interface between the sample holder and the optics block. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising a manifold sealed to the optics block. 
     
     
         40 . A detection apparatus, comprising: a fluorimeter and thermocycler, comprising: a single modular optical block containing multiple source and emission optical components and a detachably mounted housing with an end of at least two optical fibers integrated therein; a sample holder with holes for accepting another end of the at least two optical fibers; and a heat sink.