Device and associated methods for performing luminescence and fluorescence measurements of a sample

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods of optically analyzing fluid within a pipette are described herein. In an embodiment, an optical reader subassembly includes a housing including an internal area, a container configured to hold a fluid sample at a sample position in a light tight manner within the internal area of the housing, a light source configured to project light onto the fluid sample within the container, and an optical sensor configured to move between different sensor positions while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position, the different sensor positions including at least two of: (i) a first sensor position for taking a luminescence reading of the fluid sample; (ii) a second sensor position for taking a dark current or other background measurement; and (iii) a third sensor position for taking a fluorescence reading of the fluid sample.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of optically analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:
 placing a fluid sample into a container configured to hold a fluid sample at a sample position;   placing the container into a housing to create a light tight seal for the fluid sample at the sample position within an internal area of the housing;   projecting light from a light source onto the fluid sample within the container;   taking a luminescence reading of the fluid sample with the optical sensor in a first position;   moving the optical sensor to a second position while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position;   taking a fluorescence reading of the fluid sample while the optical sensor is in the second position;   moving the optical sensor to a third position while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position, the third position being optically isolated from the fluid sample; and   taking a dark current or other background measurement of the fluid sample while the optical sensor is in the third position even when the light source is projecting light onto the fluid sample.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein taking the fluorescence reading includes transmitting an emission light to the optical sensor while the optical sensor is in the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein moving the optical sensor to the second position includes moving the optical sensor along an alignment plate to move between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the optical sensor is located at a first through hole in the alignment plate at the first position, and the optical sensor is located at a second through hole in the alignment plate at the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the optical sensor includes pivoting the optical sensor to at least one of the second position or the third position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a pipette, and
 wherein placing the fluid sample into the housing includes lowering a pipette including the fluid sample into the internal area of the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a controller is configured to cause the optical sensor to move to the second position after causing the luminescence reading to be taken and cause the optical sensor to move to the third position after causing the fluorescence reading to be taken. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing the light source to emit fluorescence excitation light when the optical sensor is located at the third position. 
     
     
         9 . A method of optically analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:
 causing, via a controller, a container to be placed into a housing, the container holding a fluid sample at a sample position, wherein placement of the container into the housing creates a light tight seal for the fluid sample at the sample position within an internal area of the housing;   causing, via the controller, light from a light source to be projected onto the fluid sample within the container;   performing, via the controller, at least one of a luminescence reading or a fluorescence reading of the fluid sample with the optical sensor in a first position;   causing, via the controller, the optical sensor to move to a second position while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position; and   performing, via the controller, a dark current or other background measurement of the fluid sample while the optical sensor is in the second position even when the light source is projecting light onto the fluid sample.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the controller causes the light source to emit at least one of emission light or fluorescence excitation light when the optical sensor is located at the first position. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the controller causes emission light to be transmitted to the optical sensor when the optical sensor is located at the first position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein moving the optical sensor to the second position includes causing the optical sensor to move along an alignment plate to move between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dark current or other background measurement includes a calibration measurement. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the container is a pipette, and wherein placing the fluid sample into the housing includes lowering a pipette including the fluid sample into the internal area of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . A method of optically analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:
 causing, via a controller, a container to be placed into a housing, the container holding a fluid sample at a sample position, wherein placement of the container into the housing creates a light tight seal for the fluid sample at the sample position within an internal area of the housing;   causing, via the controller, light from a light source to be projected onto the fluid sample within the container;   performing, via the controller, a dark current or other background measurement of the fluid sample while the optical sensor is in a first position even when the light source is projecting light onto the fluid sample.   causing, via the controller, the optical sensor to move to a second position while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position; and   performing, via the controller, at least one of a luminescence reading or a fluorescence reading of the fluid sample with the optical sensor in a second position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the controller causes the light source to emit at least one of emission light or fluorescence excitation light when the optical sensor is located at the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the controller causes emission light to be transmitted to the optical sensor when the optical sensor is located at the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein moving the optical sensor to the second position includes causing the optical sensor to move along an alignment plate to move between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the dark current or other background measurement includes a calibration measurement. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the container is a pipette, and
 wherein placing the fluid sample into the housing includes lowering a pipette including the fluid sample into the internal area of the housing.