US 11,953,438 B2
Devices for real-time polymerase chain reaction
Matthew R. Kreifels, Elkhorn, NE (US); Scott E. Whitney, Lincoln, NE (US); Gregg Wilder, Strafford, NH (US); John Flanagan, Holbrook, MA (US); James Dowling, New Boston, NH (US); Philip Hills, Deerfield, NH (US); Michael Tilleman, Brookline, MA (US); and Jeremie Jackson, Mont Vernon, NH (US)
Assigned to STRECK LLC, La Vista, NE (US)
Filed by STRECK LLC, La Vista, NE (US)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/843,132.
Application 17/843,132 is a continuation of application No. 16/017,507, filed on Jun. 25, 2018, granted, now 11,385,178, issued on Jul. 12, 2022.
Application 16/017,507 is a continuation of application No. 14/911,671, granted, now 10,006,861, issued on Jun. 26, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2014/044858, filed on Jun. 30, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/840,755, filed on Jun. 28, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0326157 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 21/64 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/686 (2018.01); G01N 37/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/6428 (2013.01) [C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); G01N 21/645 (2013.01); B01L 7/52 (2013.01); C12Q 2561/113 (2013.01); C12Q 2563/107 (2013.01); G01N 2201/062 (2013.01); G01N 2201/068 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An instrument for performing polymerase chain reaction with real-time detection comprising:
a sample holder configured to receive one or more sample that each have at least one portion that is generally optically transparent, and that receives a biological sample comprising a nucleic acid to be amplified and at least one fluorescing agent that interacts with the nucleic acid during amplification and that emits light upon excitation by light of a known wavelength;
at least one light emitting diode device that is carried on at least one support substrate and is in electrical communication with a power source, and is adapted to emit light at a plurality of different wavelengths and arranged to emit light in a light pattern;
at least one photodiode array detector adapted to issue signals based upon intensity of light it receives;
a filter wheel including at least one filter pair such that one filter in each pair is an emission filter and one filter in each pair is an excitation filter;
a first excitation doublet lens disposed within the excitation path, the first excitation doublet lens stationary with respect to the filter wheel;
a second excitation doublet lens disposed within the excitation path, the second excitation doublet lens disposed on an opposite side of the filter wheel as the first excitation doublet lens; and
an array of fiber optic bundles, each of the fiber optic bundles having a first end aligned with a light spot of the light pattern of the at least one light emitted diode device and a second end aligned with one of the samples.