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

摘要

An optical measuring apparatus and method for analysis of samples contained in liquid drops provided by a liquid handling system has a liquid handling tip. A light source irradiates the liquid drop; a detector measures sample light; and an optics system with first optical elements transmits irradiation light, and a processor processes the measurement signals. The liquid drop is suspended at the liquid handling orifice of the liquid handling tip in a position where the liquid drop is penetrated by a first optical axis defined by the light source and the first optical elements. The liquid drop is physically touched only by the liquid handling tip and the liquid sample inside the liquid handling tip. A mutual adaption of the size and position of the liquid drop with respect to the first optical elements is achieved.

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) which comprises at least one liquid handling tip (4) with a liquid handling axis (5) and with a liquid handling orifice (6) at a distal end (7) of the liquid handling tip (4), the liquid handling axis (5) extending inside the liquid handling tip (4) and penetrating the liquid handling orifice (6); the optical measuring apparatus (1) comprising a light source (8) configured for providing irradiation light (9) for irradiating a liquid drop (2) of a liquid sample (30); 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); an optics system (43) with first optical elements (18) for transmitting the irradiation light (9), and a processor (13) connected to the detector (10) and configured to accept and process the measurement signals (12) provided by the detector (10),
wherein the light source (8) and the liquid drop (2) define a first optical axis (14) of the first optical elements (18) of the optics system (43) that extends essentially perpendicular to the liquid handling axis (5), the liquid drop (2) being provided by the liquid handling system (3) and 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), wherein the liquid drop (2) is physically separated form the optics system (43) of the optical measuring apparatus (1) and is 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).