Optical system for capillary electrophoresis

Abstract

A system for conducting a capillary electrophoresis assay includes a light source, an interface, and an illumination optical system. The light source is configured to provide a source beam of electromagnetic radiation. The interface is configured to receive a plurality of capillaries containing one or more target molecules or sequence of molecules. The illumination optical system is configured in use to produce a plurality of output beams from the source beam and to direct each of the output beams to corresponding capillary of the plurality of capillaries.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for conducting a capillary electrophoresis assay, the system comprising:
 a light source configured to provide a plurality of output beams of electromagnetic radiation;   an interface configured to receive a plurality of capillaries containing one or more target molecules or sequence of molecules;   an illumination optical system configured in use to direct each of the plurality of output beams to a corresponding capillary of the plurality of capillaries;   a spectrometer comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein each fiber is associated with a corresponding one of the capillaries, and wherein radiation from the capillaries is dispersed by wavelength onto an array detector; and   an emission optical system configured to produce a plurality of spectrum simultaneously at the array detector, each spectrum corresponding to a respective capillary from the plurality of capillaries.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination optical system comprises at least one of a beam divider configured to produce the plurality of output beams, a diffractive optical element configured to produce the plurality of output beams, or a holographic optical element configured to produce the plurality of output beams. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, during use, the system produces a plurality of output beams including at least four beams. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, during use, the system produces a plurality of output beams and each of the plurality of output beams is characterized by an elliptical cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, during use, the system produces a plurality of output beams and each of the plurality of output beams is parallel to the other output beams.