Patent FR-2913499-A1 (FR)
Title: Device for reading fluorescence emitted by chromophore elements associated with biological/chemical components on object e.g. biochip surface, has unit for illuminating chromophore elements, and fluorescence collection and capture unit
Inventor: WEISBUCH CLAUDE
IPC: C12Q1/68
Filed: 2007-03-09
Abstract: The device for reading the fluorescence emitted by chromophore elements associated with biological or chemical components on a surface of an object (10) e.g. biochip, comprises a unit (12) for illuminating chromophore elements by light excitation, a unit (14) for collecting and capturing a fluorescence emitted by the chromophore elements, and a unit arranged for shifting the object step by step with respect to an optical axis of illumination and collection. The illumination unit comprises a wave guide interposed between light excitation source (16) and chromophore elements. The device for reading the fluorescence emitted by chromophore elements associated with biological or chemical components on a surface of an object (10) e.g. biochip, comprises a unit (12) for illuminating chromophore elements by light excitation, a unit (14) for collecting and capturing a fluorescence emitted by the chromophore elements, and a unit arranged for shifting the object step by step with respect to an optical axis of illumination and collection. The illumination unit comprises a wave guide interposed between light excitation source (16) and chromophore elements, a movable mirror, and a unit for scanning the surface of the object. The wave guide is formed by an optical fiber, or glass or plastic bar (18) made of a transparent material, and has an output section adapted according to a shape and dimensions of image of a capture unit on the surface of the illuminated object. The fluorescence collection and capture unit comprises an optical system with a large field, and two photographic lenses mounted head to foot on a movable module along the optical axis. The image capture unit comprises a camera with sensor material of charge coupled device, complementary metal oxide semiconductor or a photodiode matrix. The bar of illumination unit has polished sides and rectangular, square or trapezoidal shape, and is obliquely oriented with respect to the axis of lens. The light source is connected by a multimode optical fiber to an end of the bar, and comprises an electroluminescent diode or a laser such as a laser diode. The optical fiber is associated with a vibrating unit for the decoherence of the excitation light. An image forming lens is mounted between the bar and the object surface. An illumination axis and axis of fluorescence collecting and capturing unit has a merged angle of 0-180[deg] . An exit face of the wave guide extends significantly parallel to the surface of the illuminated object. A unit independent of the chromophore element illumination unit is arranged for illuminating overlapping surfaces or areas of the object. One of the photographic lens is placed above the surface of the object. The movable module comprises a detection camera and a stop filter of the excitation light. The biochip is housed in a hybridization chamber of a cartridge placed on a fixed support equipped by a unit for connecting the hybridization chamber of the cartridge to a fluidic circuit. The cartridge comprises an optical excitation and/or fluorescence reinforcing unit. The fixed support comprises an agitation unit having an ultrasound generator for enhancing the mixture of the hybridization chamber content and a unit for checking and regulating the temperature in the hybridization chamber, and carries a unit for guiding a module.