Optical system for detection of signal in fluorescent immunoassay

摘要

An imaging system responsive to focused laser light includes a focusing lens for focusing the laser light and a mirror having a reflective side, a non-reflective side, and a hole for passing a predetermined portion of the laser light from the focusing lens through the non-reflective side. A fiber probe excites and couples fluorescence from an analyte. The fiber probe has a fiber front face for receiving laser light through the hole and for directing the fluorescence to the reflective side of the mirror. Optical devices for imaging the portion of the fluorescence reflected by the mirror to form an image of the fiber front face are provided, as well as an optical stop having an aperture in the image plane of the imaging means for reducing undesired light from the imaging means before reaching a detector. The mirror is angled for directing substantially all fluorescence from the the fiber probe into the imaging means rather than back toward the fiber probe.