Patent ID: 7486396

Claim:
An apparatus for detecting analytes in a sample containing at least one analyte, the apparatus comprising: one or more channels having a detection zone; a separating system coupled to the at least one channel for separating a sample containing analytes into analyte bands migrating along the at least one channel, wherein each analyte band is detectable by the presence of a corresponding marker; one or more irradiation sources disposed for irradiating the detection zone with radiation, wherein the one or more irradiation sources comprises one or more of a solid state laser, a micro-wire laser, and a vertical cavity laser; a detector capable of collecting at least one charge corresponding to an emission beam emitted from the detection zone, the detector having an output; and a time delay integration system coupled to the detector for effecting time delay integration of to at least one charge by accumulating the at least one charge before reading the at least one charge at the output of the detector.