Light collection system

Abstract

The present teachings provide a detection cell for a biological material and methods for detecting biological material including a photosensitive material optically coupled to an interior volume containing the biological material so to avoid optical components or an external light source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A detection cell for a biological material, the detection cell comprising:
 an interior volume adapted to contain the biological material; and   a photosensitive material optically coupled to the interior volume, the photosensitive material being adapted to detect light emitted from the biological material in the interior volume.   
     
     
         2 . The detection cell for biological material of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive material forms the interior volume. 
     
     
         3 . The detection cell for biological material of  claim 2 , further comprising a sandwich structure comprising at least two charge coupled devices, wherein the at least two charge coupled devices comprise the interior volume. 
     
     
         4 . The detection cell for biological material of  claim 2 , the interior volume is adapted to contain a liquid or solid. 
     
     
         5 . The detection cell for biological material of  claim 2 , wherein the photosensitive material forms an exterior layer of the interior volume. 
     
     
         6 . The detection cell for biological material of  claim 2 , wherein the photosensitive material forms an interior layer of the interior volume. 
     
     
         7 . The detection cell for biological material of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive material is part of at least one of a charge coupled device, a photodiode, and a photomultiplier tube. 
     
     
         8 . The detection cell o for biological material of  claim 7 , wherein the photosensitive material is part of a channel formed around the interior volume. 
     
     
         9 . The detection cell for biological material of  claim 18 , further comprising an avalanche breakdown system. 
     
     
         10 . The detection cell for biological material of  claim 2 , wherein the biological material comprises at least one of chemiluminescent labeled nucleic acids and chemiluminscent labeled cells. 
     
     
         11 . A method for detection of a biological material, the method comprising:
 transporting the biological material to an interior volume;   providing a photo sensitive material optically coupled to the interior volume;   emitting light from a luminescent reaction of the biological material; and   detecting the light emitted from the biological material in an interior volume of the detection cell, wherein the light is emitted without an external light source.   
     
     
         12 . The method for detection of biological materials of  claim 11 , further comprising channeling the emitted light within a waveguide. 
     
     
         13 . The method for detection of biological materials of  claim 12 , wherein channeling the emitted light further comprises reflecting the emitted light into the interior volume. 
     
     
         14 . The method for detection of biological materials of  claim 12 , wherein channeling the emitted light comprises refracting the emitted light in a wall of the detection cell. 
     
     
         15 . A biological material detector adapted to detect light emitted from a biological material wherein the biological material emits light without the use of an external light source, comprising:
 a channel;   a first semiconductor material around the channel, the first semiconductor material comprising a first dopant of a first conductivity type;   a second semiconductor material around the first semiconductor material, the second semiconductor material comprising a second dopant of a second conductivity type, wherein stimulated emission is caused by light emitted from a biological material in the channel impinging an interface of the first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor material; and   a detector adapted to detect the stimulated emission.   
     
     
         16 . The biological material detector of  claim 15  further comprising:
 an insulating layer contacting an inner surface of the first semiconductor material. 
 
     
     
         17 . The biological material detector of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a voltage supply electrically connected to the first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor material. 
 
     
     
         18 . The biological material detector of  claim 15 , wherein the voltage supply comprises a piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         19 . The biological material detector of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a plurality of target sites contacting the insulator layer, the target sites comprising a reagent that induces the biological material to emit light. 
 
     
     
         20 . The biological material detector of  claim 15 , wherein the detector generates a first data signal representative of a first wavelength, wherein the first wavelength is produced by a first biological material being exposed to a first reagent and further wherein the detector generates a second data signal representative of a second wavelength, wherein the second wavelength is produced by a second biological material being exposed to a second reagent.