Patent ID: 7456954

Claim:
A method for analyzing a sample to determine information about one or more molecules that may be present in said sample, said method comprising the steps of: providing a sample in a detection zone wherein said sample comprises at least one molecule that is labeled with at least one fluorophore to provide a labeled molecule wherein said fluorophore remains within said detection zone for a detection period, said fluorophore being capable of emitting a signal wherein said signal has properties comprising wavelength, intensity, lifetime, and polarization; exposing said labeled molecule to radiation within said detection zone wherein said radiation has properties comprising wavelength, intensity, lifetime and polarization; modulating at least one of the properties of said radiation by changing said at least one property from an initial state to at least one subsequent state and then changing said at least one property back from said at least one subsequent state to said initial state wherein said modulating of said one or more properties occurs over a modulation period and wherein said modulation period is equal to or less than said detection period; measuring at least one of said properties of said signal emitted by said fluorophore while said fluorophore is located within said detection zone to obtain an emission profile; and using said emission profile to determine information about said one or more molecules that may be present in said sample.