Integrated analytical system and method

摘要

An analytical assembly within a unified device structure for integration into an analytical system. The analytical assembly is scalable and includes a plurality of analytical devices, each of which includes a reaction cell, an optical sensor, and at least one optical element positioned in optical communication with both the reaction cell and the sensor and which delivers optical signals from the cell to the sensor. Additional elements are optionally integrated into the analytical assembly. Methods for forming and operating the analytical system are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A device for measuring chemical or biological reactions using fluorescence comprising:
a plurality of reaction cells; an optical waveguide disposed in a waveguide array substrate layer below the reaction cells, wherein the optical waveguide delivers excitation illumination to the reaction cells; a plurality of optical tunnels below the reaction cells; and a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor elements below the optical tunnels; wherein: the reaction cells comprise fluorescent species that emit optical signals upon irradiation; the emitted optical signals from the reaction cells are relayed through the optical tunnels to sensor elements in the sensor array; the plurality of reaction cells provided on the device with a reaction mixture comprising a primer-nucleic acid template-polymerase complex and fluorescently labeled nucleotides; and the sensor array for monitoring monitors signals to observe within the reaction cells the sequential incorporation of said nucleotides in a polymerase-mediated, template-dependent incorporation reaction, whereby a sequence of the nucleic acid template is determined; and the device is a monolithic device with the reaction cells, the optical waveguide, the optical tunnels and the sensor array integrally fabricated into the device, and pre-aligned and locked in to such alignment during fabrication of the device such that the emitted optical signals are relayed to the sensor elements in the sensor array without passing through air or free space.