Patent ID: 7218810
Filing Date: 2007-05-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for generating and detecting optical signals from a plurality of biochemical assays performed in individual wells of a multi-well plate, said method comprising: (a) illuminating the contents of a single well with light from an excitation light source through an optical fiber that produces a divergent emerging beam by directing the entire divergent beam into said well so as to entirely illuminate any sample that may be present in said well; (b) collecting emission light from said well by a light collecting lens and directing emission light thus collected to a detector; and (c) rastering either said multi-well plate relative to said optical fiber and said collimating lens or said optical and said light collecting lens relative to said multi-well plate until light from said excitation light source has illuminated, and emission light has been collected from, all wells of said multi-well plate.