Patent ID: 7310462
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for generating and detecting an optical signal from a reaction mixture resulting from a bioassay performed therein, said apparatus comprising: a liquid receptacle; an excitation light source; an optical fiber from which light emerges as a divergent beam, said optical fiber arranged to transmit excitation light from said excitation light source and to cause said divergent beam to directly enter said receptacle so as to entirely illuminate any sample that may be present in said receptacle; a light collecting lens arranged to collect emission light from said receptacle; and detection means for receiving emission light collected by said light collecting lens and for generating a signal representative of said emission light thus collected; in which said receptacle has an open mouth, said optical fiber is arranged to direct said excitation light through said open mouth, and said light collecting lens is arranged to collect said emission light through said open mouth.