WO1997011351A1

WO1997011351A1 - Analyser

Info

Publication number: WO1997011351A1
Application number: PCT/FI1996/000497
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jukka Tuunanen; Matti Priha; Heikki Tupakka; Timo KÄRMENIEMI
Original assignee: Labsystems Oy
Priority date: 1995-09-22
Filing date: 1996-09-20
Publication date: 1997-03-27
Also published as: FI954510A0; EP0858592B1; JPH11511560A; DE69625078T2; US6084680A; DE69625078D1; EP0858592A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical analyser wherein measuring light is directed from a sample to the detector. The apparatus has an optics module (15) which has a detector and optical means for directing light emitted by the sample to the detector and which module can be positioned alternatively either so that light is directed to the detector from above the sample or so that light is directed to the detector from below the sample. The invention is usable in particular in fluorometers and in luminometers.

Description

ANALYSER

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The invention relates to instrument technology and concerns optical analysers used in laboratories, in which analysers measuring light is directed from a sample to the detector. Analysers according to the invention can be used, for example, in assays of clinical chemistry and food technology. The inven¬ tion is particularly suited for use in fluorometers and luminometers.

BACKGROUND

Determinations based on the measurement of the optical proper¬ ties of a sample are in laboratories usually carried out on plates having a plurality of reaction wells. Photometric meas¬ uring is in such a case best performed through the plate in the vertical direction. The measuring light is directed to the plate either from above or from below (cf., for example, O- 82/00356) .

Fluorometric measurement through a plate is not particularly recommendable, since in such a case there travels through the plate also a large amount of excitation light, which compli¬ cates the measuring of emitted light. In addition, background fluorescence possibly due to the material of the plate consti¬ tutes a problem. In most present-day fluorometers available for routine assays, excitation light is directed to the plate from above, and also emitted radiation is collected from above.

In luminometers, the light emitted from the sample is in gen¬ eral directed to the detector from above.

In certain fluorometric assays, the sample is inhomogeneous so that the concentration of the analyte being measured is highest at the bottom of the plate well. This is especially the case in certain samples containing cell cultures. In such a case it would usually be best to direct both the excitation light to the sample and the emitted light from the sample through the bottom of the plate, in order that the solution above the bot¬ tom layer should not disturb the measuring.

There are known fluorometers in which the measuring can be carried out either from above or from below (e.g. Series 7600 Microplate Fluorometer, Cambridge Technology, Inc., USA). In such an apparatus the source of light and the detector are fixedly mounted. Excitation light is directed from the source of light to the plate and emitted light is directed from the plate to the detector by means of optical-fiber bundles. The end of a fiber bundle may be placed either above or below the plate. One problem in these apparatuses is the high price of the fiber optics suitable for the purpose.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

General description

An analyser according to Claim 1 has now been invented. Pre¬ ferred embodiments of the invention are stated in the other claims.

According to the first independent characteristic of the inven¬ tion, the apparatus has, placeable either above or below the sample, an optics module having a detector for the measuring of the light emitted from the sample. Thus the apparatus can be used for carrying out the measuring either from above or from below, depending on the need. However, the apparatus does not require fiber optics for directing light to the detector, since the necessary optical means constitute part of the movable module and can thus be mounted fixedly in relation to the detector.

The apparatus may be, for example, a fluorometer, luminometer, nephelometer, photometer, or any combination of these.

In general the apparatus also has a source of light for direct¬ ing light to the sample. In practice, apparatuses which are solely luminometers do not need a source of light. The source of light may be separate from the optics module and capable of being mounted either above or below the sample.

Preferably the source of light is part of the optics module. This feature is especially well suited for fluorometers. In this case both excitation light to the sample and emitted light from the sample are directed on the same side of the sample. Precisely in fluorometers, in which the fiber optics usable within the UV range is especially expensive, the avoiding of fiber optics is a particular advantage. Fiber optics also causes background fluorescence, which is thus avoided according to the invention.

The source of light used is preferably an incandescent bulb, if sufficiently short-wave radiation suitable for the purpose can be produced by it.

The source of light may also be made replaceable. In special cases the source of light in the optics module can be replaced with optics by means of which the light is introduced into the module from the outside.

According to another independent characteristic of the inven¬ tion, the analyser may have an aperture for delimiting the light to be measured and optical means for forming an image of the delimited area of the sample in the aperture. Preferably the size or shape of the delimiting aperture can be varied, in which case measuring light can always be collected from an area of the desired type. Preferably these optical means include a lens system for converging the light emitted by the sample, a mirror to which the converged beam of light is directed, and a converging lens system for forming in the aperture of the delimiter an image of the light reflected from the mirror.

If a filter is used for delimiting to the desired range the wavelength range of the measuring light, the filter is prefer¬ ably placed at a point after the delimiting aperture. The fil¬ tering is preferably performed on collimated light.

According to a third independent characteristic of the inven¬ tion, the analyser may have means for eliminating errors caused by variations in the distance to the object being assayed. The means include a lens system for collimating the measuring light and a delimiter for delimiting out from the beam of light any scattered rays.

The apparatus is preferably such that samples in different types of vessels can be measured in it. The sample vessels usually constitute a unit made up of a plurality of vessels, such as a microtiter plate. Preferably the apparatus has a movable measurement frame by means of which each sample in turn is taken to the measurement position. By suitable moving of the frame the samples can, when so desired, also be agitated. So- called scanning measuring can also be performed by moving the frame.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings constitute part of the description of the invention. In them

Figure 1 depicts a side view of one fluorometer accord¬ ing to the invention,

Figure 2 depicts the optics arrangement of the fluorometer of Figure 1, Figure 3 depicts one mirror usable in the optics arrangement,

Figure 4 depicts another mirror usable in the optics arrangement,

Figure 5 depicts a plan view of the sample plate trans¬ fer system of the fluorometer of Figure 1,

Figure 6 depicts a detail of the fluorometer of the fig¬ ure, having a plate in the dispensing and meas¬ uring position, and

Figure 7 depicts a plan view of another transfer arrangement.

Specific description

The fluorometer of Figure 1 has a lower housing 1 which houses, among other things, a control unit 2 and connections to the source of power and to functions external to the apparatus. On top of the lower housing there is a light-tight measuring unit 3. Its back edge is hinged 4 to the back edge of the lower housing so that the measuring unit can be pivoted upwards, whereupon there will be easy access to parts below it. The pivoted measuring unit is held in the upper position (shown by dotted lines in Figure 1) by a pneumatic spring 5. Above the lower housing and the measuring unit there is a detachable upper housing 6. In the front wall of the measuring unit and the upper housing there is an aperture 7 equipped with a light- tight hatch, through which aperture samples are transferred into the measuring unit and out of it.

The measuring unit 3 has a lower deck 8 and an upper deck 9. In the space between these, a measuring carrier 10 is moved by transfer means 11. The plate 12 with the samples to be assayed is placed in the measuring carrier. The measuring carrier can be moved out through the aperture 7.

In the lower deck 8 of the measuring unit 3 there is a lower measurement aperture 13 and in the upper deck 9 an upper meas¬ urement aperture 14. The measuring unit has an optics module 15, which may be positioned either above or below the measuring unit. The upper deck additionally has a liquid dispensing unit 16 and a dispensing aperture 17, through which liquids can be dispensed into the wells of the plate 12.

The principal parts of the optics module 15 are a light source unit 18, a mirror unit 19, and a detector unit 20. The optics module is used for directing both excitation light to the sample and emitted light from the sample, from either above or below.

The light source unit 18 has an incandescent bulb 21; an image of the filament of the bulb is converged by means of a lens system 22 to the aperture 24 of an excitation delimiter 23 in the mirror unit 19. It is preferable to keep the bulb switched on only during measuring, in order to increase its useful life.

The excitation light coming from the aperture 24 is collimated using a lens system 25, and the collimated light is directed through a filter 26 to a partly transparent mirror 27. By means of the filter the wavelength of the excitation light is delim¬ ited to the desired range.

The light which has passed through the mirror 27 is converged via a focussing lens system 28 to the sample. Thus a spot of light 29 is obtained in a delimited spatial region of the sample.

That portion of the excitation light which is reflected from the mirror 27 is directed to a reference detector 30. By means of it any errors caused in the measurement results by variation in the intensity of the excitation light are compensated for. A representative sample of the excitation light is obtained from the mirror. When one-half of the light is used for excitation, the other half can be exploited for defining the excitation amplitude. A unidirectional beam of light may be directed to a detector having a large surface area or, by means of a converg¬ ing lens, to a smaller detector.

The light emitted from the spot 29 in the sample travels via the focussing lens system 28 to the lower surface of the mirror 27. From the portion reflected from the mirror, an image of the spot is formed, in the aperture 33 of the emission delimiter 32, by means of a converging lens system 31. From the aperture the emitted light is collimated by means of a lens system 34 to a filter 35, from which it is directed via a converging lens system 36 to a detector 37. By means of the filter, the desired wavelength range is delimited from the emitted light. The fil¬ ter here iε an interference filter. The detector is a photo¬ multiplier tube.

When the mirror 27 is positioned close to the imaging lens system 28 common to the excitation channel and the emission channel, the image in the mirror is formed at a point far from the object being assayed. When the mirror is at a distance less than the focal distance, no image at all is formed.

The apparatus has a plurality of different excitation filters 26 and emission filters 35. The filters are mounted in a disc, and the desired filter is installed by rotating the diεc. The filter discs are also replaceable.

The excitation delimiter 23 is replaceable, and thus an optimal excitation aperture 24 of the desired size and shape can always be placed in the module. The excitation light can thus be focussed, with a good efficiency ratio, precisely on the sample assayed at a given time, or on a preferred or sufficient region thereof. By means of the delimiter it is possible in particular to eliminate disturbances caused by the fluorescence of ad¬ jacent εamples. The shape of the delimiting aperture 24 may also vary according to the embodiment. For example, in certain embodiments the fluorescence of an electrophoretically formed line of the sample is to be measured. In such a case, a suitable linear aperture is used.

The user may also, when necessary, visually check the size and shape of the spot of light formed.

The emission delimiter 32 is also replaceable, and thus the light arriving at the detector can be delimited by means of an aperture 33. The light can always be measured from a precisely defined region. This can be used for minimizing background radiation arriving at the detector; such radiation may come in particular from the adjacent wells. The shape of the aperture can also be varied according to the samples to be asεayed or their partial regionε.

When deεired, it is possible to use both an excitation delimit¬ ing aperture 24 and an emission delimiting aperture 33 for defining the size and the εhape of the meaεurement region. Often the replacement of only one of the delimiterε will εuf- fice, εince the disturbing adjacent sample iε in any caεe lo¬ cated outside the area of the wider delimiting aperture. Pref¬ erably the excitation light region is made smaller than the emiεsion measurement region.

The emitted light treatment optics described can also be used for eliminating errors caused by variationε in the diεtance to the object being assayed. Such errors may be caused, for ex¬ ample, by curvature of the plate, inclination of the path, and variations in the volume of the samples.

Emission sensitivity can be made constant by making the solid angle of the measurement constant. This is achieved by meanε of an aperture delimiting parallel rays of light, mounted at a point after the mirror 27. In the embodiment of the figure, the retainer of the lens 31 serveε aε the delimiter. By suitable dimensioning, the depth effect can be almost entirely elimi¬ nated.

The light source unit 18 is also replaceable. In its place there can be installed against the delimiting aperture 24 the end of an optical fiber bundle by means of which excitation light is directed from an external source of light. In this case the image is formed of the end of the fiber bundle. This arrangement is used, for example, when a Xe bulb is needed, which requires special safety devices. The specific fluores¬ cence of the fiber used for directing light does not cause problemε here, since after the fiber the light passes through an excitation filter 26.

A usable partly transparent mirror 27 can be manufactured by forming reflective spots (diameter, for example, approx. 1 mm) on a glass sheet, these spotε covering one-half of the optical¬ ly transparent surface. The reflective material is preferably aluminum, which has a very wide reflection wavelength range (approx. 200...1500 nm) . The glass sheet is preferably as thin as possible, which minimizes the amount of scattered light due to internal reflections in the glass.

Preferably, however, suitably shaped reflective areas are used. The reflective areas of the partly transparent mirror 27.1 in Figure 3, the reflective areas are made up of a round center

38.1 and of separate radial sectors 39.1 around it, the trans¬ parent area 40.1 being respectively cartwheel-shaped. In the mirror according to Figure 4, for its part, there is a con¬ tinuous reflective area made up of a cartwheel-shaped center

38.2 and radial εectors 39.2 linked to it of and a transparent area formed by separate radial sectors 40.2. The central area minimizes the internal reflections of the optics. Owing to the edges of the radial reflective areaε, diffraction of light can be caused to take place in the direction of a tangent trans¬ verse to the radius.

According to one embodiment, the mirror 27.1 or 27.2 is an oval the 45° projection of which is a circle.

In the transfer means 11 according to Figure 5, the carrier 10 is mounted so as to slide along longitudinal slide bars 41, which in turn are mounted slidably on transverse slide bars 42. The εlide bars can be moved by using motors and belts 43 and 44, and thus the carrier can be brought into the desired posi¬ tion within the measuring unit or out of the aperture in the front wall.

The carrier 10 iε rectangular, and it has a back wall 45 and side walls 46. In the lower part of the side walls there are supports 47 so that an open space is left in the center. At the ends of the supports there are inward projections. At the front edge the projections have detachable vertical pins 48. The carrier 10 is dimensioned εo that the plate for aεεaying can be placed to bear on the supports 47 so that the bottoms of the wells are left in the area of the opening. If the plate used is smaller than the opening, a suitable adapter tray is first placed to bear on the supports.

One side edge of the carrier 10 haε a plate retainer 49. It iε a lever having the basic shape of an obtuse V and being pivoted by its apex to a vertical pin 50 in the carrier. To it there is linked a spring 51, one end of which is against the frame of the carrier and the other end against the retainer so that it tendε to turn the outer branch of the retainer towards the center of the carrier (in Figure 5 clockwise). At the end of the outer branch of the retainer there is a projection 52 to¬ wards the carrier. When the retainer is in its released state it presses the plate in the carrier against the back wall and that side wall which is opposite the retainer. Thus the plates always settle in the carrier automatically in the same place against the corner. When the carrier is driven out of the meas¬ urement apparatuε, the inner branch of the retainer i pingeε against a stop wall 53 in the transfer apparatus, the stop wall forcing the retainer to turn open. Thus a plate can be placed in the carrier or be removed from it. When the pinε 48 are detached, a plate can be transferred to the carrier also along a horizontal path.

The back edge of the carrier 10 has four different fluorescent reference surfaces 54, by means of which the sensitivity of the detector can be checked when so desired.

Figure 6 depicts the dispensing of liquid into a plate 12 in the carrier 10. From the dispenεing aperture 17 there enter at an inward slant two dispensing heads 56 and 57. The firεt can be used for diεpensing a liquid into a well in the measuring position and the second for dispensing a liquid into a well ad¬ jacent to the measuring poεition, in particular the one which will arrive next at the meaεuring position. In addition, the apparatus preferably has a third diεpensing head, which can be used for dispensing a liquid into a well transverεely adjacent to the meaεuring position (in Figure 6 behind the well being measured) .

The transfer apparatus 11.1 according to Figure 7 has a carrier 10.1 movable by means of a belt 43.1 in one direction along slide bar 41.1. The apparatus has a plate retainer 49 similar to that in the apparatus according to Figure 5.

The transfer apparatus 11.1 according to Figure 7 can be used, for example, in multichannel photometers in which samples are assayed on a sample plate, such as a microtiter plate 12.1, one row at a time. Respectively the apparatus is suitable for diε- pensing devices in which liquids are dispensed onto a plate one row at a time.

Claims

1. An analyser for measuring the optical properties of a εample, characterized in that it haε a frame in which the sample is placed for measuring and which haε an optics module (15) having a detector (37) and optical means for directing light emitted from the sample to the detector, and which module may be poεitioned alternatively either εo that light is directed to the detector from above the sample or so that light is directed to the detector from below the sample.

2. An analyser according to Claim 1, having a light εource (21) for directing light to the sample.

3. An analyser according to Claim 2, wherein the light source (21) is in the optics module.

4. An analyser according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the detector (37) and the light source (21) are on the same side of the sample.

5. An analyser according to any of Claims 2...4 for measur¬ ing the fluorescence of a sample.

6. An analyser according to any of Claims 1...5, having means (28) for directing the light to be measured from a delim¬ ited region of the sample to the detector.

7. An analyser according to Claim 6, having a converging lens system (28) for forming an image of a delimited region of the sample.

8. An analyser according to Claim 7, having a delimiter (32) on which the image of the delimited region of the sample is formed, and means (36) for directing light from the delimit¬ er to the detector.

9. An analyser according to any of Claims 1...8, having a filter (35) for filtering, at a point before the detector, the light emitted from the sample.

10. An analyser according to any of Claims 1...9, having means (28, 31) for eliminating the distance variations cauεed by the object being assayed.

11. An analyser according to any of Claims 1...10, wherein the sample is in a vessel which has a bottom, side walls and an open mouth.

12. An analyser for measuring the optical properties of a sample, characterized in that it has a frame in which the sample is placed for measuring, an optics module (15) which has a detector (37) and optical means for directing light emitted from the sample to the detector, and means (28) for directing light to be measured from a delimited region of the sample to the detector.

13. An analyεer for measuring the optical properties of a εample, characterized in that it has a frame in which the sample is placed for measuring, an optics module (15) which has a detector (37) and optical means for directing light emitted from the sample to the detector, and means (28, 31) for elimin¬ ating the distance variationε caused by the object being assayed.