Registering the presence of immobilized substances on a bio-chip carrier, comprises using a fluorescence scanner, where a pulsed laser excites fluorescent markings to be detected between the pulses with local resolution

摘要

To show the presence of immobilized substances on a carrier, a series of light pulses are directed at the defined surface under study as an excitation light beam, fluorescent light is detected between successive light pulses, shown by the substances in the measurement field, and the light beams and the carrier are moved in relation to each other until a sufficient surface area has been scanned. To register the presence of immobilized substances on a carrier, fluorescent light is detected by time resolution by a time-correlated count of the separate photons. The fluorescent light is detected by a confocal action where the excitation light is focused on to the carrier surface, or by wavelength-related means. The measurement field defined by the excitation light on the carrier has a diameter of 1 - 20 micro m full width half maximum (FWHM). The carrier supports the immobilized substances in a two-dimensional pattern. The light beam and the carrier are moved in relation to each other so that the elements of the two-dimensional pattern are given a sequential scanning. The carrier surface is scanned by deflection of the excitation light beam and by sliding the carrier on a plane parallel to its surface. The excitation light beam has one or more defined wavelengths. A control sets the relative positions between the carrier and the excitation light beam. An Independent claim is included for a fluorescence scanner (10) to detect immobilized substances, on a carrier, with a light source to deliver a series of pulses of an excitation light at a defined measurement field on the bio-chip (15) carrier, where a system (25) detects fluorescent light from the illuminated substances between the pulses, a system gives a timed correlation between the light and detection units, and a control (30) determines the relative positions between the carrier and the light.