EP0194132A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Imaging immunoassay detection system and method
Assignee: Murex Corp
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Filing: 1986-03-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-03-04
Abstract
Abstract @ Light generated by one ormore chemical reactions in a discrete array is determined, both as to emissions per reaction and as to relative location of the reactions, e.g. using a system comprising: a sample carrier having spaced-apart discrete areas each containing a reactant capable of emitting light photons if a reaction takes place; a photon receiver, for receiving photons emitted from each reaction simultaneously; and a signal generator coupled to the photon receiver, for generating a signal representing the x-y location of each reaction. The signal generator may be a photomultiplier, charge-coupled device or vidicon tube. The invention is particularly suited to the determination of reactions and non-reactions, e.g. between an array of labelled antibodies and a specimen potentially containing one or more complementary antigens, in an immunoassay.
Inventors
- 👤 David Herbert Leaback
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:34
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/75; G01N21/76; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/531; G01N33/532; G01N33/535; G01N33/536; G01N33/542; G01N33/543; G01N33/54366; G01N33/54373; B; B01; B01J; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00274; B01J2219/00583; B01J2219/00603; B01J2219/00605; B01J2219/0061; B01J2219/00614; B01J2219/00621; B01J2219/00623; B01J2219/0063; B01J2219/00659; B01J2219/0068; B01J2219/00702; B01J2219/00707; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for detecting photons generated by a chemical reaction, which comprises: a sample carrier having spaced-apart discrete areas each containing a reactant capable of emitting photons if a reaction takes place; a photon receiver, for receiving photons emitted from each reaction simultaneously; and a signal generator coupled to the photon receiver, for generating a signal representing the x-y location of each reaction; whereby each reaction and the number of its photon emissions during a predetermined period of time may be simultaneously identified.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for detecting photons generated by a chemical reaction, which comprises: a sample carrier having spaced-apart discrete areas each containing a reactant capable of emitting photons if a reaction takes place; a photon receiver, for receiving photons emitted from each reaction simultaneously; and a signal generator coupled to the photon receiver, for generating a signal representing the x-y location of each reaction; whereby each reaction and the number of its photon emissions during a predetermined period of time may be simultaneously identified.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the signal generator is a photomultiplier tube having a photoconductive target, a charge-coupled device or a vidicon tube, for producing x-y location output signals representing the light intensity or number of photons emitted by each reaction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, which further comprises: a computer coupled to the signal generator, for receiving and storing each of the signals, whereby the x-y location and number of photons generated by each reaction during the predetermined period of time can be accessed; and display means coupled to the computer, for presenting a representation of each reaction area and the number of its photon emissions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
31 words
A system according to any preceding claim, which comprises means for subtracting background noise signals from signals representing reactions, whereby the resulting signal represents substantially only photon emissions from the reactions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
32 words
A system according to any preceding claim, for comparing a potential reaction under test with another or a standard control, which further comprises: means for comparing the signals emitted from different reactions.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
69 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the signal generator generates analog signals, and the system further comprises: an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the signal generator, for converting the analog signals to digital signals; and a microprocessor coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, which includes storage means having a plurality of locations therein corresponding to the arrangement or array of areas or of reactions, for storing the digital signals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
55 words
A system according to any preceding claim, in which the signal generator includes a photoconductive target, and the system further comprises: an optics system for focusing light photons emitted from the reactions on to the photoconductive target, to generate x-y location output signals representing the light intensity or number of photons emitted by each reaction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 7, which further comprises: a specific wavelength light interference filter positioned between the sample carrier and the optics system, such that only reactions emitting light of that wavelength are monitored by the system for photon emission.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
27 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the discrete areas are in a single row or column, or in a two-dimensional array of rows and columns.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
30 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one reactant contains an indicator which, on reaction, emits light of a wavelength different from that emitted from other reactions.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
31 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein each reactant is a labelled monoclonal antibody against an antigen, and the label emits light on reaction between the antibody and the antigen.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
47 words
A system according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein each reactant is a labelled DNA or RNA probe specific for its complementary sequence in DNA or RNA, respectively, and the label emits light on reaction between the probe and a sample containing the complementary sequence.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
48 words
A system according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein each reactant is an isotope-labelled antibody, and gamma rays are emitted on reaction between the antibody and an antigen; if desired, the system further comprises a phosphor screen, for converting the emitted gamma rays into light photons.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of detecting chemical reactions, which comprises detecting photons emitted, on reaction, from spaced-apart discrete areas each containing a reactant capable of emitting photons when the reaction takes place, and simultaneously determining the x-y location of each photon emitted.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of detecting chemical reactions, which comprises detecting photons emitted, on reaction, from spaced-apart discrete areas each containing a reactant capable of emitting photons when the reaction takes place, and simultaneously determining the x-y location of each photon emitted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 14, which further comprises determining the total photon emission of any reacting sample during the given time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 12 or claim 13, which comprises a step or steps corresponding to the function defined for a system according to any of claims 3 to 6.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of detecting chemical reactions, by using a system according to any of claims 1 to 13, which comprises introducing an analyte on to the discrete areas of the sample carrier, wherein one of the analyte and the sample carrier contains the said reactant and the other is under test to determine whether or not it contains a component which reacts with the reactant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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