Filter architecture for analytical devices

摘要

An approach to the design of the set of filters which allows for the collection of a larger portion of the optical signal while still distinguishing the presence of the various fluorophores is described. In some embodiments, the filter sets of the invention each block a smaller portion of the spectrum, allowing for a larger portion of the emitted light to be detected. The combined information from the light passing through two or more of the filters is then used to determine the presence of a given fluorophore. The filter sets of the invention can be particularly useful in integrated devices in which the light from a single molecule reaction in a small reaction region is directed to a detector or to a specific portion of a detector.

主权项

1. An analytical device, comprising:
an array of reaction regions, each comprising a reaction mixture that produces 3 or more distinct optical signals based upon the occurrence of different reaction events, wherein the 3 or more optical signals correspond to different labels, each label providing a different emission spectrum, each emission spectrum having a maximum; one or more detectors in optical communication with the array of reaction regions, the one or more detectors comprising multiple pixel subsets, wherein the number of pixel subsets is the same as the number of different labels; and a different filter for each pixel subset, wherein each different filter has one or more blocking bands which:
blocks a wavelength region including the emission maxima of at least one of the different labels, andallows through a wavelength region including the emission maxima of multiple of the different labels; wherein each different filter blocks the emission maxima of a different one of the different labels or of a different combination of the different labels than each of the other different filters, and wherein the one or more detectors are configured to detect the emission spectra for each of the array of reaction regions to obtain a signal profile of the multiple pixel subsets, wherein the signal profile uniquely identifies the label that produced the detected emission spectra, which correlates with the occurrence of one of the different reaction events.