Patent ID: 7604981

Claim:
An array of micro-circuit arrangements for detecting excitable target markers located in an external medium, the array comprising: a foundation layer having a first surface; and a plurality of micro-circuit arrangements coupled to the first surface in proximity to one another and arranged in an array, each micro-circuit arrangement including: an excitation source coupled to the first surface, and adapted to emit a first respective electromagnetic radiation in a direction predominately away from the foundation layer to excite a respective target marker into emitting a second respective electromagnetic radiation; at least one corresponding optical-detector coupled to the first surface in proximity to the excitation source and arranged in the array with the excitation source, the at least one corresponding optical-detector adapted to sense the second respective electromagnetic radiation from a second direction opposite the first direction and generate a respective detection signal responsive to sensing the respective second electromagnetic radiation; and a filter optically coupled to the at least one corresponding optical-detector, the filter being arranged and configured to attenuate the first respective electromagnetic radiation from being sensed by the at least one corresponding optical-detector; wherein first and second groups of the plurality of micro-circuit arrangements are configured differently based on at least one of: ability to sense fluorescence decay of the target marker at first and second times, respectively; and different filter responses provided respectively by the first and second groups of the plurality of micro-circuit arrangements.