Compact optical system for substantially simultaneous monitoring of samples in a sample array

Abstract

Optical systems and apparatuses configured for enabling substantially simultaneous observation of a plurality of points in an array from a common reference point. Without the optical systems and apparatuses disclosed herein, less than all of the plurality of points can be observed substantially simultaneously from the common reference point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical system that defines an optical path, the optical system comprising:
 a body that includes a plurality of points of interest, wherein the body comprises an element of the optical path; and   means disposed in the optical path for enabling observation of each of the plurality of points of interest substantially simultaneously, wherein the means defines a ray length from each point of interest to a common reference point whose distance from the plurality of points of interest is less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and wherein each of the ray lengths are substantially equal in length.   
     
     
         2 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the means is other than a focusing lens. 
     
     
         3 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein less than all of the plurality of points of interest can be observed substantially simultaneously from the common reference point without the means. 
     
     
         4 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the means includes one or more elements that collectively define one or more curved surfaces that are disposed in the optical path, with the proviso that the one or more elements are other than a focusing lens. 
     
     
         5 . The optical system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of points of interest are arranged on at least one curved surface. 
     
     
         6 . The optical system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of points of interest are separate from the one or more curved surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the means includes a mirror having at least one axis of curvature. 
     
     
         8 . The optical system of  claim 7 , where in the means for observing includes a mirror having at least two axes of curvature. 
     
     
         9 . The optical system of  claim 8 , wherein the mirror having at least two axes of curvature is an asperic mirror. 
     
     
         10 . The optical system of  claim 9 , wherein a surface profike of the asperic mirror is described Equation 1
     Z =( s   2   /r )/(1+(1−( k+ 1)( s/r ) 2 ) 1/2 )+Offset  Equation 1
   
       wherein Z=sag of surface parallel to the optical axis, k=conic constant, and s 2 =(ax+b) 2 +cy+d) 2    
     
     
         11 . The optical system of  claim 10 , wherein in Equation 1:
 k=−1   r=−1.1E+01   a=1   b=−1.1E+01   c=1   d=0   Offset=9.5   
     
     
         12 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the means includes a curved element having the plurality of points of interest positioned thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The optical system of  claim 9 , wherein the curved element having the plurality of points of interest positioned thereon is a sample block having a single axis of curvature, the sample block being configured for receiving a plurality of sample tubes, and the means further comprising a curved mirror positioned relative to the sample block, wherein the curved mirror has a single axis of curvature that is substantially orthogonal to the axis of curvature of the sample block. 
     
     
         14 . The optical system of  claim 9 , wherein the curved element having the plurality of points of interest positioned thereon is a sample block having at least two axes of curvature, the sample block being configured for receiving a plurality of sample tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of points of interest include a multitude of samples wells each defining a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein less than all of the bottom surfaces of the sample wells can be observed substantially simultaneously from the common reference point without the means. 
     
     
         16 . The optical system of  claim 15 , wherein the multitude of sample wells comprise a multi-well plate configured for performing a PCR reaction, and wherein the multi-well plate has at least 96 sample wells. 
     
     
         17 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical path further comprises a camera and an illumination light source, wherein at least the camera is positioned substantially at the common reference point. 
     
     
         18 . The optical system of  claim 17 , wherein the camera and the illumination light source are each in a fixed position in the optical path relative to the body that includes the plurality of points of interest, and wherein the camera and the illumination light source are each in a fixed position in the optical path relative to the means. 
     
     
         19 . An optical system that defines an optical path, the optical system comprising:
 a body that includes a plurality of points of interest, wherein the body comprises an element of the optical path; and   one or more elements that collectively define one or more curved surfaces that are disposed in the optical path, wherein the one or more curved surfaces collectively define a ray length from each point of interest to a common reference point whose distance from the points of interest is less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and wherein the ray lengths are substantially the same.   
     
     
         20 . The optical system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of points of interest are arranged on at least one of the one or more curved surfaces. 
     
     
         21 . The optical system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of points of interest are separate from the one of the one or more curved surfaces. 
     
     
         22 . The optical system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of points of interest include a multitude of sample wells, and wherein the one or more curved surfaces are configured and arranged such that the ray length from a bottom of each sample well to the common reference point is substantially the same. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a thermocycling system configured for subjecting a plurality of biological samples contained within a corresponding plurality of sample containers to thermal cycling; and   an optical system defining an optical path that is operatively associated with the thermocycling system, the optical system being configured and arranged for substantially simultaneous monitoring of fluorescence in each of the plurality of biological samples, the optical system including:   a sample block comprising an element of the optical path,   wherein the sample block includes a top surface and a plurality of sample wells defining a plurality of recessed bottom surfaces, and   wherein the plurality of recessed bottom surfaces define a first plurality of points of interest; and   one or more elements that collectively define one or more curved surfaces that are disposed in the optical path, wherein the one or more curved surfaces collectively define a ray length from each point of interest to a common reference point whose distance from the points of interest is less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and wherein the ray lengths are substantially the same.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the sample block is a component of the thermocycling system. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the thermocycling system further comprises:
 a heating and cooling system operatively coupled to the sample block and being configured for thermally cycling the plurality of biological samples;   a control system for operating, and operatively connected to, the heating and cooling system; and   a temperature sensing system configured for sensing the temperature in the sample block, the temperature sensing system being operatively connected the heating and cooling system and the control system such that the temperature of the plurality of biological samples can be rapidly and controllably increased and decreased by the heating and cooling system in response to a temperature sensed by the temperature sensing system such that the plurality of biological samples can be subjected to rapid thermal cycling, wherein a thermal response of the temperature sensing system is substantially matched to a thermal response of the plurality of biological samples held in the plurality of plurality of sample containers.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the control system includes an external computing device that is operatively coupled to at least one of the thermocycling system, the optical system, the heating and cooling system, the control system, or the temperature sensing system. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of recesses are configured to interface with the plurality of sample containers, the sample containers including an exterior surface, and interior surface, and a plurality of recessed bottom surfaces that define a second plurality of points of interest, and wherein the one or more curved surfaces are configured and arranged such that the ray length from the second plurality of points of interest to the common reference point are substantially the same. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more curved surfaces include a compound curved mirror having at least two axes of curvature and a substantially, the sample block and the compound curved mirror being positioned and arranged relative to one another such that the first plurality of points of interest can be observed substantially simultaneously from the common reference point. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the sample block comprises at least one of the one or more curved surfaces. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the sample block has a single axis of curvature, and the optical system further comprising a curved mirror positioned relative to the sample block, wherein the curved mirror has a single axis of curvature that is substantially orthogonal to the axis of curvature of the sample block, the sample block and the curved mirror being positioned and arranged relative to one another such that the first plurality of points of interest can be observed substantially simultaneously from the common reference point. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the sample block has at least two axes of curvature, the at least two axes of curvature being arranged such that the first plurality of points of interest can be observed substantially simultaneously from the common reference point. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of sample containers comprise a multi-well plate configured for performing a PCR reaction, and wherein the multi-well plate has at least 96 sample wells. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the optical path further comprises a camera and an illumination light source, wherein at least the camera is positioned substantially at the common reference point. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the camera and the illumination light source are each in a fixed position in the optical path relative to the sample block and the one or more curved surfaces, the sample block, illumination light source, and the one or more curved surfaces being positioned and arranged relative to one another such that the first plurality of points of interest can be illuminated substantially simultaneously by the illumination light source and observed substantially simultaneously from the common reference point by the camera.