Microplate-reader with a controlled gas atmosphere and a corresponding method of controlling the gas atmosphere

摘要

The invention relates to a microplate reader and a respective method, wherein the microplate reader comprises at least one measuring device and a holding device for accommodating at least one microplate and for positioning the samples-containing wells of this(these) microplate(s) in relation to the at least one measuring device. The at least one measuring device is used for detecting light which is emitted by samples in wells of a microplate inserted in this microplate reader and/or which is influenced by samples transilluminated by light in wells of a microplate inserted in this microplate reader. The microplate reader comprises a control unit for controlling the temperature of a gas atmosphere surrounding the wells containing the samples of microplates used in this microplate reader.

主权项

1. A microplate reader, comprising:
a) at least one measuring device for measuring light received from samples in wells of a microplate accommodated in the microplate-reader; b) a holding device which is adapted to accommodate and hold at least one microplate containing samples in wells during measuring with the at least one measuring device; c) a zoning means which subdivides an interior space of a housing of the microplate-reader into an appliance compartment, and a sample compartment with a gas atmosphere surrounding the sample containing wells of the microplate in the microplate reader, which zoning means is immovably fixed within the housing of the microplate reader and comprises at least one opening that is designed such that light emitted by samples arranged in wells of said microplate accommodated in the microplate-reader can pass there through from the samples compartment to the appliance compartment; d) a control unit adapted to control the temperature of the gas atmosphere in the sample compartment; wherein the microplate-reader further comprises a first illumination device comprising a flash lamp, a first fiber-optical line, and a first wavelength-selective monochromator, the first illumination device being designed for transilluminating or irradiating samples in the wells of said microplate accommodated in the microplate reader with light of a selected wave length, the first illumination device of the microplate-reader comprising at least a first optical system located in the opening of the zoning means; wherein the holding device is adapted to position the microplate with the samples containing wells with respect to the at least one measuring device, and wherein the holding device is movable in relation to the zoning means and its opening along at least one axis of a Cartesian coordinate system; the holding device being entirely located in said gas atmosphere and surrounded by the sample compartment, and wherein the control unit comprises a cooling device for cooling the gas atmosphere in the sample compartment.