Optical Instruments and Systems for Forensic DNA Quantitation

Abstract

Described herein are instruments for excitation and detection of fluorophores in a plurality of functional regions in a biochip, using an excitation source and a steering element that directs a beam from the excitation source to a plurality of functional regions in the biochip, wherein the excitation source excites the fluorophores in the plurality of functional regions generating a signal that is detected such that said signal from at least one of the plurality of functional regions allows for nucleic acid quantification. Also described are systems for quantification and separation and detection using optical devices adapted for preliminary, simultaneous or sequential quantitation of nucleic acid in separate detection positions, and for the excitation and detection of multiple samples to steer both the excitation and detection beam paths to separately image each lane of a biochip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 183 . (canceled) 
     
     
         184 . An instrument for excitation and detection of fluorophores in a plurality of functional regions in a biochip, comprising:
 an excitation source; and
 a steering element that directs a beam from an excitation source to a plurality of functional regions in the biochip, wherein the excitation source excites the fluorophores in the plurality of functional regions generating a signal that is detected such that said signal from at least one of the plurality of functional regions allows nucleic acid quantification. 
   
     
     
         185 . The instrument of  claim 184  wherein the steering element is a mirror. 
     
     
         186 . The instrument of  claim 184 , further comprising a first scanner that directs the excitation beam to each of the quantification chambers in the quantification region of the biochip and a second scanner that directs the excitation beam to each of the chambers in a second functional region of the biochip. 
     
     
         187 . The instrument of  claim 184 , further comprising a mirror mounted on a translation stage that directs the excitation beam to each of the quantification chambers in the quantification region of the biochip and a second scanner that directs the excitation beam to each of the chambers in a second functional region of the biochip. 
     
     
         188 . The system of  claim 184  wherein said first functional region on said biochip is a quantification region and a second functional region is an amplification region, a fragment separation and detection region, a nucleic acid sequencing region, an ultrafiltration region or a mixing region. 
     
     
         189 . The system of  claim 184  wherein the second functional region of said biochip is a separation and detection region.