Patent ID: 7659968
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A multi-modal data acquisition system for detecting target material on a biological reaction surface, the data acquisition system comprising: a radiation source for generating an incoming beam to illuminate the biological reaction surface, the incoming beam impinging on the biological reaction surface at an oblique incidence angle and producing a reflected beam, the reflected beam being produced by the incoming beam reflecting off the biological reaction surface; an interferometric detector for detecting an interferometric signal from the illuminated biological reaction surface, the reflected beam being directed to the interferometric detector, a fluorescence detector for detecting a fluorescence signal from the illuminated biological reaction surface; the fluorescence detector being positioned to substantially minimize the incidence of the reflected beam on the fluorescence detector; and a processing system for receiving the interferometric signal and the fluorescence signal and determining the presence or absence of the target material on the biological reaction surface.