CA2984288A1

CA2984288A1 - Optical measurement device

Info

Publication number: CA2984288A1
Application number: CA2984288A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Kirat Singh; Elmar Prenner
Original assignee: Alberta Biophotonics Inc
Current assignee: Alberta Biophotonics Inc
Priority date: 2017-11-01
Filing date: 2017-11-01
Publication date: 2019-05-01

Abstract

A modular optical measurement device with multiple modules arranged around a cuvette holder. By swapping out modules different types of measurement may be used. Measurements may use a single module or multiple modules in different arrangements. The device may sense the positions of modules in order to determine what measurements the modules are arranged to conduct and in order to send appropriate instructions to the modules.

Description

OPTICAL MEASUREMENT DEVICE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Optical measurement devices.
BACKGROUND

[0002] While some degree of modularity in optical measurement devices is known, improved modularity and capability of optical measurement devices is desired.
SUMMARY

[0003] There is provided an optical measuring instrument having a support structure, the support structure comprising a cuvette holder and plural module receivers for removably receiving measurement modules, the module receivers arranged around the cuvette holder, and plural modules configured to be arranged in the module receivers and configured to carry out an optical measurement on a sample in the cuvette when the modules are connected to the module receivers and the cuvette is connected to the cuvette holder.

[0004] In various embodiments, there may be included any one or more of the following features: the plural modules may include a fluorescence anisotropy module including a fluorescence anisotropy detector. The fluorescence anisotropy module may include a fluorescence triggering light source. The plural modules may include a fluorescence intensity module including a fluorescence intensity detector. The fluorescence intensity module may include a fluorescence triggering light source. The plural modules may include a scattering module including a scattering detector. The plural modules include an optical density module including an optical density detector. The plural modules may include an emission module including an emission light source. The support structure may define depressions which form the module receivers. The plural modules may form power transferring connections to the support structure when the plural modules are in the module receivers. The power transferring connections may be formed via power transferring connectors within the module receivers. The plural modules form information transferring connections to the support structure when the plural modules are in the module receivers.
The information transferring connections may be formed via information transferring connectors within the module receivers. The plural modules may transfer identification information via the information transferring connections. The plural modules may transfer collected data via the information transferring connections. The instrument may transfer instructions to the plural modules via the information transferring connections. The cuvette holder comprises one or more openings for receiving an input and output for a flow cell. The cuvette holder may comprise lenses within optical openings defined by the cuvette holder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0005] Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which:

[0006] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of four modules arranged around a cuvette holder.

[0007] Fig. 2 is an isometric cutaway view of the four modules arranged around a cuvette holder of Fig. 1.

[0008] Fig. 3 is an isometric cutaway view of the four modules arranged around a cuvette holder of Fig. 1, with a cover of one module removed.

[0009] Fig. 4 is an isometric cutaway view of the four modules arranged around a cuvette holder of Fig. 1, with a cover and circuit board of one module removed.

[0010] Fig. 5 is an isometric view of three of the modules arranged around a cuvette holder of Fig. 1, with a receiver for the fourth module visible.

[0011] Fig. 6 is a side view of a housing in which the modules and cuvette holder of Figs. 1-5 may be arranged.

[0012] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the housing of Fig. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described here without departing from what is covered by the claims.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1 a modular optical measurement device 10 has multiple modules 12 arranged around a cuvette holder 14

[0015] . The scopes 12 are self-contained detection or measurement instruments, containing all necessary internal components such as a light source, polarisers, filters, lenses, optical detection modules. The cuvette holder and modules are supported by a baseplate 16.

[0016] The scopes are removable by the user, and the user may install different types of scopes in the different positions, bound by only a few rules, detailed later in this document.

[0017] The scopes contain the necessary optics (lenses, filters, polarisers) and optoelectronics (LED, Laser, photodiodes) and electronics, required for the specific function and type of scope. The scopes may be externally identical, and may have stickers or other markings (not shown) indicating their function or identity to the user.

[0018] Depending on their type, the scopes can, interdependently or in combination with another scope, take measurements of fluorescence intensity, fluorescence anisotropy, optical scattering intensity and optical density.

[0019] There are a very large number of possible combinations of instrument in a fully loaded 4-scope system such as shown in Figs. 1-5. Each scope can be, for example, any one of the following types: (a) Fluorescence Anisotropy - FA; (b) Fluorescence intensity - F;
(c) Scattering ¨ S; (d) Optical Density ¨ OD; and (e) Emission scope ¨ E.

[0020] An emission scope contains only a light source and associated optoelectronics, optics and electronics. It has no optical intensity sensor, and its purpose is simply to provide stable light output for scattering and OD measurements.

[0021] The number of permutations and combinations are too numerous to list. Here are exemplary rules of selection:

[0022] A scattering scope must be orthogonal to at least one of FA, F or E scope or other light emitting scope or scopes, in order to receive scattered light emitted by the FA, F, E or other scopes.

[0023] An OD scope must be opposite to any one of FA, F, E scope or other light emitting scope, in order to receive light passing through the sample from the light emitting scope.

[0024] An F or FA scope is not dependent on the presence of a specific type of scope opposite to it or orthogonal to it. F and FA scopes can function independently.

[0025] Since the excitation and or emission wavelength of FA, F and E
scopes can be different depending on the LED/laser, the filters installed and the purpose of the scope, there are an unlimited number of configuration and wavelength combinations.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows a cutaway view of the four modules arranged around a cuvette holder of Fig. 1. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the cuvette holder has optical openings 18 allowing light to pass between the modules and a sample within the cuvette holder in use.
The optical openings 18 may include lenses if desired.

[0027] Each scope shown in Fig. 2 is a fluorescence anisotropy module.

[0028] An example fluorescence module as shown in Fig. 2 sends an LED
signal from light source 20, polarized, to a dichroic beam splitter 22. A first detector 24 detects transmission from this beam splitter to control beam intensity. Reflection from this beam splitter goes to the sample. Fluorescence from the sample goes through beam splitter 22 to second detector 26, via a movable polarizer 28 to detect polarization. This measurement is used to detect if fluorescence modules are attached to something to be detected. If the fluorescence molecules not attached, they rotate faster and randomize polarization.

[0029] Scopes other than the fluorescence anisotropy modules shown in Fig. 2 may, depending on the embodiment, have the same layout as the fluorescence anisotropy module of Fig. 2 but with parts removed. For example, a fluorescence intensity module may use the same layout as the fluorescence anisotropy scope but with no polarizer 28. A
scattering or optical density scope may omit the polarizer 28 and may also omit the light source, beam splitter, and first detector. The emission scope may omit the polarizer and second detector.
Other layouts may also be used.

[0030] In addition to being populated with four scopes, the instrument can be used with three, two or one scopes.

[0031] The scopes 12 and cuvette holder 14 are mounted onto a baseplate 16. The baseplate and cuvette holder are housed in an instrument case 30. The instrument case is shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7.

[0032] The baseplate may contain an electronics board controlling power management, bluetooth communications with a computer, GPS location tracking, stirrer motor control, thermal management and communications with the installed scopes. Thermal management is critical to stable operation of the instrument, and the main electronics board is able to control four separate thermal management zones on the baseplate ¨
one in proximity to each of the scope positions.

[0033] The scopes may each also have an electronics board. Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of four scopes of Fig. I but with a cover removed from one of the scopes to show an electronics board 32.

[0034] All analog and digital functions are supported by this board, such as temperature monitoring, analog to digital convertion, LED or laser intensity control and communication with the main electronics board in the instrument.The horizontal slot 34 cut into the board is to accommodate the moving polarizer 28 used in the FA
scopes.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows a view with the electronics board for the scopes removed. In this view, one can see a light production portion 36, and a detection portion 38 of the fluorescence anisotropy module. As noted above, emission modules may omit all or part of the detection portion and optical depth or scattering modules may omit all or part of the light production portion. The fluorescence intensity module may omit the polarizer 28 which is part of the FA detection portion. As can also be seen, the module may also include a connector portion 40 for forming a wired connection to the baseplate.

[0036] Fig. 5 shows the arrangement of modules of Figs. 1-4 with one module removed. With the module removed, a baseplate connector portion 42 can be seen. The baseplate connector portion forms a wired connection to the connector portion 40 of the module when it is in place. The baseplate connector portion 42 plus any elements of the baseplate for holding the module in place together form a receiver for the module. In the embodiment shown, a depression 44 defined by the baseplate helps hold the module in place and forms part of the receiver.

[0037] In use, 4, 3, 2 or I modules may be used depending on the measurement. For example, a fluorescence measurement, whether anisotropy or intensity, does not need more than one module and a scattering or OD measurement only needs two modules. Any unneeded modules may be left present, or removed as shown in Fig. 5.

[0038] Although four modules (scopes) are shown, different numbers of modules may be used: For example, an instrument could use a suitable arrangement of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more module receivers which can each receive a module.

[0039] The cuvette holder may have, as shown in Fig. 5, an opening 46 in one corner enabling a flow cell to be used, with input and output in that corner, rather than a conventional, non-flowing cuvette, if desired..

[0040] The modules can include one or more to send out light and one or more to detect. For example, one module can send out light and an opposite one detects for optical density and a side one (relative to the light source) detects side scattering.

[0041] One can also have for some measurements, such as Fluorescence Anisotropy and Fluorescence intensity, a confocal system with only 1 module involved.

[0042] Each module may include a memory including information on the module.
The module plugs into a receiving location including, in an embodiment, a wired connection to the main electronics board. When the module plugs in, it sends the information on the module so that a computer can know what each module is. This enables the computer to determine the arrangement of modules.

[0043] Each module may also include an analog to digital converter so the connection to the main board may be digital. The connection to the main part of the instrument also transmits power to the module and transmits received data to the main instrument and commands to the modules.

[0044] The instrument can communicate to a personal computing device using Bluetooth.

[0045] The modules may be removably held down by magnets in each module which for example attract a metallic surface forming or underneath the baseplate.
The modules could also be held down in any other suitable manner, for example using clips.

[0046] In the claims, the word "comprising" is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles "a" and "an"
before a claim feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the individual , features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue only of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by the claims.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An optical measuring instrument comprising:
a support structure, the support structure comprising a cuvette holder and plural module receivers for removably receiving measurement modules, the module receivers arranged around the cuvette holder; and plural modules configured to be arranged in the module receivers and configured to carry out an optical measurement on a sample in the cuvette when the modules are connected to the module receivers and the cuvette is connected to the cuvette holder.

2. The optical measuring instrument of claim 1 in which the plural modules include a fluorescence anisotropy module including a fluorescence anisotropy detector.

3. The optical measuring instrument of claim 2 in which the fluorescence anisotropy module includes a fluorescence triggering light source.

4. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 1-3 in which the plural modules include a fluorescence intensity module including a fluorescence intensity detector.

5. The optical measuring instrument of claim 4 in which the fluorescence intensity module includes a fluorescence triggering light source.

6. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 1-5 in which the plural modules include a scattering module including a scattering detector.

7. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 1-6 in which the plural modules include an optical density module including an optical density detector.

8. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 1-7 in which the plural modules include an emission module including an emission light source.

9. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 1-8 in which the support structure defines depressions which form the module receivers.

10. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 1-9 in which the plural modules form power transferring connections to the support structure when the plural modules are in the module receivers.

11. The optical measuring instrument of claim 10 in which the power transferring connections are formed via power transferring connectors within the module receivers.

12. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 1-11 in which the plural modules form information transferring connections to the support structure when the plural modules are in the module receivers.

13. The optical measuring instrument of claim 12 in which the information transferring connections are formed via information transferring connectors within the module receivers.

14. The optical measuring instrument of claim 12 or claim 13 in which the plural modules transfer identification information via the information transferring connections.

15. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 12-14 in which the plural modules transfer collected data via the information transferring connections.

16. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 12-15 in which the instrument transfers instructions to the plural modules via the information transferring connections.

17. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 1-16 in which the cuvette holder comprises one or more openings for receiving an input and output for a flow cell.

18. The optical measuring instrument of any one of claims 1-17 in which the cuvette holder comprises lenses within optical openings defined by the cuvette holder.