Reader for conducting assays

Abstract

An analytical device that can be used to conveniently and accurately assay plural vessels. In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of LED sources provides illumination through a pair of radial waveguides to plural vessels arranged in a pair of substantially concentric and circular rows about the LED sources. A light pipe receives light transmitted through a vessel from each radial waveguide and reflects the received light downward to a single printed circuit board that contains a photodiode for each light pipe, as well as processing circuitry. The first LED source/radial waveguide optical is used to confirm the presence of a vessel, and the second is used to perform, e.g., turbidometric and/or colorimetric assays upon an analyte within the vessel. The vessel is incubated in a vessel support that includes a heat conducting base and a heat insulating cover. Heat is supplied by a DC heater.

1 - 83 . (canceled).  
     
     
         84 . An assay device comprising: 
 a light source;    a plurality of vessel wells in which at least one well of the plurality of vessel wells is configured to receive light from the light source; and    a first light sensor configured to detect a signal from the at least one well of the plurality of vessel wells configured to receive light from the light source.    
     
     
         85 . The assay device of  claim 84  in which the light source is a LED.  
     
     
         86 . The assay device of  claim 84  in which the at least one light sensor is a photodiode.  
     
     
         87 . The assay device of  claim 84  further comprising an optical filter between the light source and the at least one well of the plurality of vessel wells that is configured to receive light from the light source.  
     
     
         88 . The assay device of  claim 84  further comprising a second light sensor configured to receive light from the at least one of the plurality of vessel wells configured to receive light from the light source.  
     
     
         89 . The assay device of  claim 88  in which the first and second light sensors are located on a single printed circuit board.  
     
     
         90 . The assay device of  claim 84  further comprising at least one light pipe configured to direct light from the at least one well of the plurality of vessel wells configured to receive light from the light source.  
     
     
         91 . An assay device comprising: 
 a light source;    a plurality of vessels wells in which at least one well of the plurality of vessel wells is configured to receive light from the light source;    a plurality of light sensors, wherein at least one of the plurality of light sensors is configured to detect a light signal from the at least one well of the plurality of vessel wells configured to receive light from the light source.    
     
     
         92 . The assay device of  claim 91  in which the light source is a LED.  
     
     
         93 . The assay device of  claim 91  in which the at least one of the plurality of light sensors configured to detect a signal from the at least one well of the plurality of vessel wells is a photodiode.  
     
     
         94 . The assay device of  claim 91  further comprising an optical filter between the light source and the at least one well of the plurality of vessel wells that is configured to receive light from the light source.  
     
     
         95 . The assay device of  claim 91  in which the plurality of light sensors are located on a single printed circuit board.  
     
     
         96 . The assay device of  claim 91  further comprising a processor configured to control the light source and the plurality of light sensors.  
     
     
         97 . The assay device of  claim 91  further comprising at least one light pipe configured to direct light from the at least one well of the plurality of vessel wells that is configured to receive light from the light source.  
     
     
         98 . An assay device comprising: 
 a plurality of vessel wells each configured to receive light;    a light source configured to provide light to a single well of the plurality of vessel wells; and    a light sensor configured to receive a light signal from the single well.    
     
     
         99 . The assay device of  claim 98  in which the light source is a LED.  
     
     
         100 . The assay device of  claim 98  in which the light sensor is a photodiode.  
     
     
         101 . The assay device of  claim 98  further comprising an optical filter between the light source and the single well.  
     
     
         102 . The assay device of  claim 98  further comprising a second light sensor configured to receive light from the single well.  
     
     
         103 . The assay device of  claim 102  in which the first and second light sensors are located on a single printed circuit board.  
     
     
         104 . The assay device of  claim 98  further comprising at least one light pipe configured to direct light from the single well of the plurality of vessel wells.  
     
     
         105 . An assay device comprising: 
 a light source;    a vessel well configured to receive light from the light source; and    two or more light sensors located on a single printed circuit board, wherein at least one of the two or more light sensors is configured to receive a light signal from the vessel well.    
     
     
         106 . The assay device of  claim 105  in which the light source is a LED.  
     
     
         107 . The assay device of  claim 105  in which at least one of the two or more light sensors is a photodiode.  
     
     
         108 . The assay device of  claim 105  further comprising an optical filter between the light source and the vessel well.  
     
     
         109 . The assay device of  claim 105  further comprising at least one light pipe configured to direct light from the vessel well configured to receive light from the light source.