Self-encoding sensor with microspheres
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for combining the output obtained from redundant sensor elements in a sensor array.
1. A method of detecting an analyte, said method comprising:
(a) providing a planar array comprising a population of sensor elements at a density of at least 20,000 sensor elements per 1 mm 2 , said population of sensor elements comprising different subpopulations of redundant sensor elements;
(b) contacting said array with an analyte under conditions wherein said analyte binds to redundant sensor elements in at least one subpopulation of sensor elements, thereby producing signals at separate redundant sensor elements;
(c) detecting each of said signals generated from said separate redundant sensor elements in said at least one subpopulation of redundant sensor elements; and
(d) combining each of the signals detected from said separate redundant sensor elements wherein said signals indicate the presence of said analyte, and wherein all said signals comprise optical signals, or non-optical signals generated by the separate redundant sensor elements.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising converting said optical signals to data representations of optical signals.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said non-optical signals comprise signals selected from the group consisting of spectroscopic signals, resonance signals and radioactive signals.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting said non-optical signals to data representations of non-optical signals.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one subpopulation of redundant sensor elements comprises target redundancy.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein sensor elements in said population of sensor elements comprise wells.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein some but not all wells comprise beads.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sensor element in said population of sensor elements comprises a well that includes a bead.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said well is adapted to include not more than one bead.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said bead comprises a nucleic acid.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said combining comprises summing said signals detected at separate redundant sensor elements.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing a statistical analysis on said signals detected at separate redundant sensor elements, thereby determining statistical validity of said signals.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining outlier signals and excluding said outlier signals from said statistical analysis.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one subpopulation of redundant sensor elements comprises at least five-fold sensor redundancy.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said redundant sensor elements comprise nucleic acids.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising separately combining over time a signal detected at a separate redundant sensor element.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said array comprises a population of sensor elements at a density of at least 50,000 sensor elements per 1 mm 2 .
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a pattern of charged groups.
19. A method of detecting signals produced at sensor elements of an array, said method comprising:
(a) providing planar array comprising a population of sensor elements at a density of at least 20,000 sensor elements per 1 mm 2 , said population of sensor elements comprising different subpopulations of redundant sensor elements, each of said redundant sensor elements comprising a well that includes not more than one bead having nucleic acids attached thereto;
(b) contacting the array with an analyte so as to produce signals at separate redundant sensor elements in at least one subpopulation of sensor elements;
(c) detecting each of said signals generated from said separate redundant sensor elements in at least one subpopulation of redundant sensor elements; and
(d) combining each of the signals detected from said separate redundant sensor elements wherein all said signals comprise optical signals or non-optical signals generated by the separate redundant sensor elements.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising converting said optical signals to data representations of optical signals.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein said non-optical signals comprise signals selected from the group consisting of spectroscopic signals, resonance signals and radioactive signals.
22. The method of claim 19 further comprising converting said non-optical signals to data representations of non-optical signals.
23. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one subpopulation of redundant sensor elements comprises target redundancy.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein said combining comprises summing said signals detected at separate redundant sensor elements.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising performing a statistical analysis on said signals detected at separate redundant sensor elements, thereby determining statistical validity of said signals.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein said redundant sensor elements comprise nucleic acids.
27. The method of claim 26 further comprising separately combining over time a signal detected at a separate redundant sensor element.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein said array comprises a population of sensor elements at a density of at least 50,000 sensor elements per 1 mm 2 .
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein said at least one subpopulation of redundant sensor elements comprises at least five-fold sensor redundancy.
30. The method of claim 19 , wherein the substrate comprises a pattern of charged groups.