Biochip detection system

Abstract

A biochip detection system detects and locates samples that are labeled with multiple fluorescent tags and are located on a biochip. This biochip detection system includes a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor, a broad spectrum light source, a lens, a light source filter, and a sensor filter. The CCD sensor comprises two dimensional CCD arrays to simultaneously detect light waves from at least a substantial portion of the biochip. The broad spectrum light source is optically coupled to the CCD sensor and is configured to be utilized with a variety of different fluorescent tags which have differing excitation wavelengths. The lens and the CCD sensor are optimized and matched to each other such that the sensor operates at or below the diffraction rating of the lens. Further, the resolution of the CCD sensor is matched to the samples on the biochip such that the CCD sensor oversamples each of the samples a sufficient number of times. Additionally, the lens is configured to frame at least a substantial portion of the biochip. The biochip detection system is optimized to provide a higher dynamic range, increased sensitivity, and faster throughput compared to system utilizing laser scanners. Further, the biochip detection system is capable of utilizing a same broad spectrum light source to excite samples labeled with a variety of fluorescent tags.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus configured for analyzing a sample, the apparatus comprising: 
 a. a sensor configured for detecting emitted light from the sample;    b. a light source optically coupled to the sensor configured to illuminate the sample with an excitation light having a first wavelength; and    c. a matched filter optically coupled between the sample and the sensor for allowing substantially only the emitted light having a second wavelength to pass therethrough and strike the sensor.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the sensor is a charge coupled device.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the sensor is a two dimensional charge coupled device.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the light source is a coherent light source such as a laser.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the light source is a broad spectrum light source and the apparatus further comprising a secondary filter located between the broad spectrum light source and the sample such that substantially only the excitation light with the first wavelength reaches the sample.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to    claim 1    further comprising a lens optically coupled between the sample and the sensor for focussing the emitted light.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus configured for analyzing a biochip containing a tag labeled sample, the apparatus comprising 
 a. a two dimensional CCD sensor for detecting emitted light from the tag labeled sample on the biochip; and    b. a lens optically coupled between the two dimensional CCD sensor and the biochip and configured to transmit the emitted light to the two dimensional CCD sensor wherein the lens is configured to be within two inches of the tag labeled sample.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to    claim 7    further comprising a light source to illuminate the tag labeled sample.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to    claim 8    wherein the light source is a broad spectrum light source.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to    claim 8    further comprising a light source filter configured to be optically coupled between the light source and the tag labeled sample wherein the light source filter is configured to only substantially allow light waves having an excitation wavelength corresponding to the tag labeled sample to reach the tag labeled sample.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to    claim 7    further comprising a sensor filter optically coupled between the two dimensional CCD sensor and the lens wherein the sensor filter is configured to only substantially allow light waves emitted from the tag labeled sample to reach the CCD sensor.  
     
     
         12 . A system configured to detect and locate fluorescently labeled samples on a biochip, the biochip having a plurality of samples, the system comprising: 
 a. a light source configured to simultaneously illuminate all the fluorescently labeled samples;    b. a two dimensional CCD sensor optically coupled to the light source and configured for concurrently detecting and locating emitted light from the fluorescently labeled samples on the biochip; and    c. a lens optically coupled between the light source and the two dimensional CCD sensor and configured to appropriately magnify the biochip onto the two dimensional CCD sensor.    
     
     
         13 . A system configured to detect and locate a first set of samples labeled by a first fluorescent tag and a second set of samples labeled by a second fluorescent tag, the system comprising: 
 a. a light source configured to simultaneously illuminate all the flourescently labeled samples;    b. a two dimensional CCD sensor optically coupled to the light source and configured for concurrently detecting and locating a first emitted light from the first set of samples and a second emitted light from the second set of samples;    c. a lens optically coupled between the light source and the two dimensional CCD sensor and configured to transmit the first emitted light and the second emitted light to the two dimensional CCD sensor;    d. a first light source filter selectively and optically coupled to the light source and configured for substantially only transmitting a first illuminating light to the first set of samples to excite the first set of samples;    e. a first sensor filter selectively and optically coupled to the two dimensional CCD sensor and configured for substantially only transmitting the first emitted light to the two dimensional CCD sensor;    f. a second light source filter selectively and optically coupled to the light source and configured for substantially only transmitting a second illuminating light to the second set of samples to excite the second set of samples; and    g. a second sensor filter selectively and optically coupled to the two dimensional CCD sensor and configured for substantially only transmitting the second emitted light to the two dimensional CCD sensor.    
     
     
         14 . A method of detecting and locating a first sample labeled by a first fluorescent tag and a second sample labeled by a second fluorescent tag wherein the first sample and the second sample are on a biochip, the method comprising the following steps: 
 a. selectively exciting the first sample by substantially directing only light having a first excitation wavelength for exciting the first fluorescent tag from a broad spectrum light source to the first sample;    b. selectively detecting the first sample during the step of exciting the first sample by substantially directing only light having a first emission wavelength emitted by and from the first sample to a two dimensional CCD sensor;    c. selectively exciting the second sample by substantially directing only light having a second excitation wavelength for exciting the second fluorescent tag from the broad spectrum light source to the second sample; and    d. selectively detecting the second sample during the step of exciting the second sample by substantially directing only light having a second emission wavelength emitted by and from the second sample to the two dimensional CCD sensor.    
     
     
         15 . A method of detecting and locating a sample labeled with a fluorescent tag, the method comprising the following steps: 
 a. illuminating the sample with a light source;    b. focussing an emitted light from the sample via a lens wherein the lens is located at a distance that is less than 6.0 inches from the sample; and    c. detecting the emitted light from the sample via a CCD sensor.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to    claim 15    further comprising inserting a light source filter adjacent to the light source wherein the light source filter is configured to substantially block light waves that have wavelengths outside an excitation wavelength range of the fluorescent tag from reaching the sample.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to    claim 15    further comprising inserting a sensor filter adjacent to the CCD sensor wherein the sensor filter is configured to substantially block light waves that have wavelengths outside an emission wavelength range of the fluorescent tag from reaching the CCD sensor.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to    claim 15    wherein the CCD sensor comprises a two dimensional array of charge coupled devices.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to    claim 15    wherein the light source is a broad spectrum light source.