Patent ID: 9182336
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. A multi-channel analytical instrument, comprising: at least one illumination source disposed on a first side of a specimen receiver having a plurality of wells, the at least one illumination source operable to emit electromagnetic energy through the plurality of wells; at least one sensor disposed on a second side of the specimen receiver, the at least one sensor responsive to electromagnetic energy received from the plurality of wells to produce a signal indicative of at least one characteristic of the electromagnetic energy; a plurality of first optical fibers coupled to the at least one illumination source; a plurality of second optical fibers coupled to the at least one sensor; a plurality of first ball lenses each positioned proximate a respective one of a plurality of positions disposed on the first side of the specimen receiver and spaced from one another along a first dimension of the specimen receiver; a plurality of second ball lenses each positioned proximate a respective one of a plurality of positions disposed on the second side of the specimen receiver and spaced from one another along the first dimension of the specimen receiver; and at least one of the plurality of first ball lenses and at least one of the plurality of second ball lenses in an optical path between respective pairs of optical fibers of the first and the second plurality of optical fibers, and at least one of the plurality of wells in the optical path arranged therebetween along the optical path.