UNIVERSAL MULTI-DETECTION SYSTEM FOR MICROPLATES WITH CONFOCAL IMAGING
An apparatus for optically analyzing a sample may include an imaging subsystem that images the sample, one or more analyzing subsystems that analyze the sample including a confocal imaging subsystem, a temperature control subsystem that controls a temperature of the atmosphere within the apparatus, a gas control subsystem that controls a composition of the atmosphere within the apparatus, and a control module that controls the various subsystems of the apparatus.
1 . A device for analyzing one or more samples, the device comprising:
a receptacle support configured to support a microplate comprising a microplate well configured to hold a sample;
a confocal imaging subsystem configured to image the sample on a cell level;
a non-imaging analyzing subsystem configured to analyze the sample on a well level, the non-imaging analyzing subsystem configured to provide at least one of a first measurement modality to measure an absorbance of the sample, a second measurement modality to measure fluorescence of the sample, and a third measurement modality to measure chemiluminescence of the sample.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a positioning subsystem, the positioning subsystem being common to both the confocal imaging subsystem and the non-imaging analyzing subsystem, and the positioning subsystem configured to position the receptacle support for the non-imaging analyzing subsystem to analyze the sample and the confocal imaging subsystem to image the sample.
3 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising:
an incubated chamber configured to incubate the sample.
4 . The device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a housing that forms an exterior of the device and that encloses the non-imaging analyzing subsystem, the confocal imaging subsystem, and the positioning subsystem.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the non-imaging analyzing subsystem is configured to provide the first measurement modality, the second measurement modality, and the third measurement modality.
6 . The device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a temperature control subsystem configured to control temperature around the sample.
7 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a gas control subsystem configured to control a composition of atmosphere around the sample.
8 . The device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a processor configured to control operations of the non-imaging analyzing subsystem, the confocal imaging subsystem, the positioning subsystem, the temperature control subsystem, and the gas control subsystem.
9 . The device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a user interface configured to receive a user input to control the operations of the non-imaging analyzing subsystem, the confocal imaging subsystem, the positioning subsystem, the temperature control subsystem, and the gas control subsystem.
10 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature control subsystem configured to control atmospheric temperature around the sample; and
a gas control subsystem configured to control atmospheric composition around the sample,
wherein the atmospheric composition is conducive to cell viability.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein (i) one of the confocal imaging subsystem and the non-imaging analyzing subsystem and (ii) the receptacle support share a commonly controlled atmospheric composition.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the confocal imaging subsystem, the non-imaging analyzing subsystem, and the receptacle support share a commonly controlled atmospheric composition.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the confocal imaging subsystem comprises an objective to image the sample.
14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the confocal imaging subsystem comprises a plurality of objectives mounted on a turret, the plurality of objectives mounted on the turret to be selectable to selectively image the sample.
15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the confocal imaging subsystem comprises an imaging light source, and wherein the non-imaging analyzing subsystem comprises at least one analyzing light source separate from the imaging light source.
16 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a processor configured to control operations of the non-imaging analyzing subsystem and the confocal imaging subsystem.
17 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface configured to receive a user input to control operation of the non-imaging analyzing subsystem and the confocal imaging subsystem.
18 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing that forms an exterior of the device and that encloses the non-imaging analyzing subsystem and the confocal imaging subsystem.
19 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the non-imaging analyzing subsystem is configured to provide the first measurement modality, the second measurement modality, and the third measurement modality.
20 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the objective is a liquid immersion objective.
21 - 26 . (canceled)