OPTICAL MEASURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES CONTAINED IN LIQUID DROPS

摘要

Optical measuring apparatus configured for analysis of samples contained in liquid drops provided by a liquid handling system that comprises at least one liquid handling tip. The apparatus comprises a light source for irradiating the drop; a detector for measuring sample light; an optics system with first optical elements for transmitting irradiation light, and a processor for accepting and processing measurement signals. The drop is suspended at the liquid handling orifice of the tip in a position where the drop is penetrated by a first optical axis defined by the light source and the first optical elements. The drop is physically touched only by the tip and the liquid sample inside the tip. A robot arm to which the tip is attached is configured as a mechanism for adapting the position of the liquid drop with respect to at least one optical element of the optics system.

主权项

1. An optical measuring apparatus (1) configured for the analysis of samples contained in liquid drops (2) that are provided by a liquid handling system (3), the optical measuring apparatus (1) comprising:
a) a liquid handling system (3) with at least one liquid handling tip (4) that comprises a liquid handling axis (5) and a liquid handling orifice (6) at a distal end (7), the liquid handling axis (5) extending inside the liquid handling tip (4) and penetrating the liquid handling orifice (6); the liquid handling system (3) comprising a pump (39) that is controlled by a central processor (44) of the liquid handling system (3), the pump (39) being operatively connected to the liquid handling tip (4) via a pressure line (40); and b) a light source (8) configured for providing irradiation light (9) for irradiating a liquid drop (2) of a liquid sample (30) provided by the liquid handling system (3), the light source (8) and the liquid drop (2) defining a first optical axis (14) of first optical elements (18) of an optics system (43) that extends essentially perpendicular to the liquid handling axis (5), the liquid drop (2) provided by the liquid handling system (3) being suspended at the liquid handling orifice (6) of the liquid handling tip (4) in a position where the liquid drop (2) is penetrated by the first optical axis (14); c) a detector (10) configured for measuring sample light (11) arriving from said liquid drop (2) and for providing measurement signals (12) that represent the measured sample light (11); d) an optics system (43) with first optical elements (18) for transmitting the irradiation light (9); and e) a processor (13) connected to the detector (10) and configured to accept and process the measurement signals (12) provided by the detector (10); the liquid drop (2) being physically separated from the optics system (43) of the optical measuring apparatus (1) and being physically touched only by the liquid handling tip (4) of the liquid handling system (3) and the liquid sample (30) inside the liquid handling tip (4), the light source (8) with the first optical elements (18) being thus separated from the liquid drop (2) by a first air space (15) and the detector (10) being thus separated from the liquid drop (2) by a second air space (16); wherein the liquid handling system (3) comprises a robot arm (45) that is controlled by the central processor (44) of the liquid handling system (3), the liquid handling tip (4) being attached to the robot arm (45), and the robot arm (45) being configured to be moved in one or more directions of a coordinate system, and wherein the robot arm (45) in effective combination with the processor (13) of the optical measuring apparatus (1) and with the central processor (44) of the liquid handling system (3) is a means for adapting the position of the liquid drop (2) with respect to at least one optical element (18) of the optics system (43).