Analysis

Abstract

Analysis methods and apparatus are provided for inspecting a channel, such as a capillary electrophoresis channel, in a device. Configuration and alignment systems are provided, together with optical systems and temperature control.

1 . A method of configuring an optical system for a detection location, the method including:
 providing a channel having a detection location for performing an electrophoretic separation on at least a part of a sample;
 considering one or more characteristics of the channel and/or optical system; 
   configuring the optical system relative to the detection location.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the optical system is provided in an instrument, the channel is provided in a device which can be inserted into and removed from the instrument and the configuring of the optical system is made before the electrophoretic separation. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the configuring of the optical system is made after one or more other steps have been performed on the device. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the configuring is with respect to the position of one or more parts of the optical system relative to the channel. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  in which the position is the position perpendicular to the axis of the channel, parallel to the axis along which light is applied to the detection location. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4  in which the position is the position perpendicular to the axis of the channel, perpendicular to the axis along which light is applied to the detection location. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 4  in which the configuring is with respect to the focus of the light applied to the detection location. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the configuring is made with reference to the channel, the channel is responsive to light and the variation in the detected light with position across the channel is considered. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  in which one or more components of the optical system are moved and/or the channel is moved to configure the optical system. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the configuring is provided using the optical system used in detecting the results from the channel. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the configuring is provided using a separate alignment system. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  in which the separate alignment system includes one or more of: a variable position support and/or an actuator and/or a camera and/or a light detector and/or a light source. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  in which the alignment system is used to control one or more components of the optical system so as to provide alignment between the channel and the optical system. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11  in which the alignment system includes a variable position support, the variable position support having a first position, the variable position support having a second position, in the second position, the camera/light detector provided on the variable position support being positioned in an alignment with the channel. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  in which the alignment is less accurate than a second alignment and the second alignment is obtained by varying the position of the variable position support. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  in which the varying of the position is in response to the form of diffraction pattern observed by the camera/light detector. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for configuring an optical system for a detection location, the apparatus including:
 a channel having a detection location;   an optical system;   one or more elements for adjusting the configuration of the optical system.   
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 17  in which the optical system is provided in an instrument, the channel is provided in a device which can be inserted into and removed from the instrument. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 17  in which one or more components of the optical system are moveable and/or the channel is moveable to configure the optical system. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 17  in which a separate alignment system to the optical system is provided. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 20  in which the separate alignment system includes one or more of: a variable position support and/or an actuator and/or a camera and/or a light detector and/or a light source. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 20  in which the alignment system includes a variable position support, the variable position support having a first position, the variable position support having a second position, in the second position, the camera/light detector provided on the variable position support being positioned in an alignment with the channel. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled)