Systems and methods for measurement optimization

1. A chip for use in detecting an agent, the chip comprising:

a microfluidic channel incorporated into the chip, the microfluidic channel adapted to deliver a fluid that may contain an agent to a detection zone that lies at least partially in the channel;

an illuminator incorporated into the chip, the illuminator adapted to direct an excitation signal to the detection zone; and

a concave reflector incorporated into the chip and having a focal point at the detection zone, the concave reflector constructed and arranged to receive an emission signal from the agent when present in the detection zone and to reflect the emission signal to a detector.

2. The chip of claim 1 , wherein the concave reflector is incorporated into the chip in a fixed relationship with respect to the channel.

3. The chip of claim 2 , further comprising:

a solid medium that provides a pathway from the microfluidic channel to the concave reflector along which the emission signal can travel without substantial refraction.

4. The chip of claim 3 , wherein the solid medium extends from a wall of the channel to the concave reflector.

5. The chip of claim 3 , further comprising:

a cover slip adapted to mate with the chip to enclose the channel, the concave reflector being incorporated into the cover slip.

6. The chip of claim 1 , wherein the illuminator and the concave reflector are on opposed sides of the channel.

7. The chip of claim 1 , wherein the illuminator includes a refractive illuminator having a focal point substantially located at the focal point of the concave reflector and further wherein the illuminator and the concave reflector are positioned on a common side of the channel.

8. The chip of claim 7 , wherein the illuminator and the concave reflector are constructed and arranged such that overlap of the excitation signal and the emission signal is minimized.

9. The chip of claim 8 wherein the concave reflector includes a central aperture and further wherein the refractive illuminator is positioned at the central aperture.

10. The chip of claim 1 , wherein the concave reflector has a collection half angle greater than 49 degrees within water in a rectangular channel.

11. The chip of claim 1 , wherein the reflector has a collector numerical aperture of 1.0 or greater.

12. The chip of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of pairs of concave reflectors and illuminators, each pair associated with a corresponding detection zone.

13. The chip of claim 1 , wherein the illuminator has an illuminator numerical aperture between 0.18 and 0.20.

14. The chip of claim 1 , further comprising:

a registration feature for aligning the reflector relative to the detection zone.

15. A chip for use in detecting an agent, the chip comprising:

a microfluidic channel incorporated into the chip, the microfluidic channel adapted to deliver a fluid that may contain an agent to a plurality of detection zones that each lie at least partially in the channel;

a plurality of concave reflectors incorporated into the chip and each held in a fixed relationship with respect to one of the plurality of detection zones; and

a plurality of illuminators incorporated into the chip, each of the plurality of illuminators adapted to provide an excitation signal to one of the plurality of detection zones.

16. A method for detecting an agent, the method comprising:

providing a chip comprising:

a microfluidic channel incorporated into the chip, the microfluidic channel adapted to deliver a fluid containing an agent to a detection zone that lies at least partially in the channel;

an illuminator incorporated into the chip, the illuminator adapted to direct an excitation signal to the detection zone; and

a concave reflector incorporated into the chip and having a focal point at the detection zone; the concave reflector constructed and arranged to receive emission signals from the agent when present in the detection zone and to reflect the emissions signals toward a detector;

providing a fluid that may contain the agent to the channel;

illuminating the detection zone with the excitation signal to cause any agent present in the detection zone to emit an emission signal;

receiving the emission signal with the concave reflector; and

reflecting the emission signal toward the detector to determine whether the agent is present in the detection zone.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the chip includes a plurality of concave reflectors and illuminators each associated with one of a plurality of detection zones at the channel, further wherein providing the fluid that may contain the agent comprises providing the fluid to each of the plurality of detection zones.

18. A method for detecting an agent, the method comprising:

providing a chip comprising:

a microfluidic channel incorporated into the chip, the microfluidic channel adapted to deliver a fluid that may contain an agent to a detection zone that lies at least partially in the channel; and

a concave reflector incorporated into the chip in fixed relationship with respect to the channel and having a focal point at the detection zone, the concave reflector constructed and arranged to receive an emission signal from the agent when present in the detection zone and to reflect the emission signal toward a detector;

providing a fluid that may contain the agent to the channel;

illuminating the detection zone with the excitation signal to cause any agent present in the detection zone to emit an emission signal;

receiving the emission signal with the concave reflector; and

reflecting the emission signal toward the detector to determine whether the agent is present in the detection zone.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the chip includes a plurality of concave reflectors and illuminators each associated with one of a plurality of detection zones at the channel, further wherein providing the fluid that may contain the agent comprises providing the fluid to each of the plurality of detection zones.

20. A method for detecting an agent, the method comprising directing an excitation signal toward an illuminator incorporated into a chip;

focusing the excitation signal to a detection zone at a channel incorporated into the chip;

exciting an agent present in the detection zone such that the agent emits an emission signal;

receiving the emission signal with a collector that is incorporated into the chip; and

reflecting the emission signal toward a downstream detector that is separate from the chip.