Multi-channel optical detection system

摘要

An apparatus for thermally controlling and optically interrogating a reaction mixture includes a vessel [ 2 ] having a chamber [ 10 ] for holding the mixture. The apparatus also includes a heat-exchanging module [ 37 ] having a pair of opposing thermal plates [ 34 A, 34 B] for receiving the vessel [ 2 ] between them and for heating/and or cooling the mixture contained in the vessel. The module [ 37 ] also includes optical excitation and detection assemblies [ 46,48 ] positioned to optically interrogate the mixture. The excitation assembly [ 46 ] includes multiple light sources [ 100 ] and a set of filters for sequentially illuminating labeled analytes in the mixture with excitation beams in multiple excitation wavelength ranges. The detection assembly [ 48 ] includes multiple detectors [ 102 ] and a second set of filters for detecting light emitted from the chamber [ 10 ] in multiple emission wavelength ranges. The optics assemblies [ 46,48 ] thus provide a multi-channel system for detecting a plurality of different target analytes in the mixture.