Optical lens system and method for microfluidic devices

Abstract

An apparatus for imaging one or more selected fluorescence indications from a microfluidic device. The apparatus includes an imaging path coupled to least one chamber in at least one microfluidic device. The imaging path provides for transmission of one or more fluorescent emission signals derived from one or more samples in the at least one chamber of the at least one microfluidic device. The chamber has a chamber size, the chamber size being characterized by an actual spatial dimension normal to the imaging path. The apparatus also includes an optical lens system coupled to the imaging path. The optical lens system is adapted to transmit the one or more fluorescent signals associated with the chamber.

1 . A method of imaging electromagnetic radiation emitted from a fluidic device comprising:
 providing a fluidic device characterized by a device dimension and having at least about 384 processing sites;   providing an illumination system coupled to the fluidic device and adapted to illuminate the fluidic device with electromagnetic radiation;   providing an imaging system coupled to the fluidic device and adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation emitted from the processing sites;   providing a multi-pixel detector coupled to the imaging system and characterized by a detection area less than the device dimension;   illuminating the fluidic device with electromagnetic radiation using the illumination system;   detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted from the processing sites using the multi-pixel detector;   producing an image of the fluidic device; and   processing the image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a mixture for nucleic acid amplification; and 
 performing nucleic acid amplification in the processing sites of the fluidic device. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 providing a thermal controller coupled to the fluidic device; and 
 regulating the nucleic acid amplification using the thermal controller. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mixture comprises at least one of fluorophores, chromophores, molecules containing radioisotopes, molecules that emit chemiluminescence, electrochemically active molecules, enzymes, cofactors, enzymes linked to nucleic acid probes, or enzyme substrates. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mixture comprises a dual-labeled fluorogenic oligonucleotide probe. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising collecting multiple images of the fluidic device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising quantifying the progression of nucleic acid amplification using the multiple images. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein collecting multiple images comprises:
 collecting at least a first image at a first wavelength; and 
 collecting at least a second image at a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first image and the second image are sequential images. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising calculating a ratiometric fluorescence measurement of contents of the processing sites using the first image and the second image. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing one or more molecules operable to produce a detectable signal for imaging the processing sites, the one or more molecules comprising at least one of fluorophores, chromophores, molecules containing radioisotopes, molecules that emit chemiluminescence, electrochemically active molecules, enzymes, cofactors, enzymes linked to nucleic acid probes, or enzyme substrates. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising collecting multiple images of the fluidic device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising quantifying contents of the fluidic device using the multiple images. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein collecting multiple images comprises:
 collecting at least a first image at a first wavelength; and 
 collecting at least a second image at a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first image and the second image are sequential images. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising calculating a ratiometric fluorescence measurement of contents of the processing sites using the first image and the second image. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing at least one of an excitation filter or an emission filter along the path of the electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising detecting the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plurality of processing sites at a set of wavelengths substantially different from a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation provided by the illumination system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 illuminating the fluidic device during a first time period associated with imaging; and 
 not illuminating the fluidic device during a second time period not associated with imaging. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a thermal controller coupled to the fluidic device; 
 providing a component associated with an enzymatic reaction; and 
 regulating the enzymatic reaction in the fluidic device using the thermal controller. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising determining a variation in the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the processing sites, wherein the variation is associated with progression of the enzymatic reaction. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 setting the thermal controller at a predetermined temperature; and 
 thereafter, activating at least one of the illumination system or the imaging system. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the enzymatic reaction occurs before illuminating the fluidic device and producing an image of the fluidic device.