초록 ▼

Optical assay apparatus and methods are provided having an optical assay cup for detecting analytes in a sample fluid. The cup's sidewall may include an optical waveguide having a detection coating on its inner surface. During use, the waveguide receives evanescent or darkfield interrogation light,

Optical assay apparatus and methods are provided having an optical assay cup for detecting analytes in a sample fluid. The cup's sidewall may include an optical waveguide having a detection coating on its inner surface. During use, the waveguide receives evanescent or darkfield interrogation light, interrogates at least part of cup's interior volume with it, and emits signal light as a function of the analytes. The detection coating may have fluid or non-fluid detection layers, at least part of which may form at least part of a waveguide for the interrogation light. The cup may be spun during use, such as to centrifugally-concentrate any high-density analytes towards cup's sidewall. The assay apparatus may further include an interrogation light source, a cover or spinning apparatus for the cup, and an optical detector for the signal light.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An optical assay apparatus for detecting an analyte in a sample fluid; wherein said assay apparatus comprises an optical assay cup; wherein said cup comprises a sidewall and an interior volume; wherein said interior volume is at least partially defined by said sidewall

The invention claimed is: 1. An optical assay apparatus for detecting an analyte in a sample fluid; wherein said assay apparatus comprises an optical assay cup; wherein said cup comprises a sidewall and an interior volume; wherein said interior volume is at least partially defined by said sidewall and is operable to receive said sample fluid; wherein said sidewall comprises a waveguide having an input end, an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein said input end of said waveguide is operable to receive an input of waveguide interrogation light, and is operable to subject at least part of said interior volume to interrogation by use of at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light; and wherein at least part of said outer surface of said waveguide is operable to emit an output of signal light as a function of said analyte; wherein said output of signal light is at least primarily emitted through said at least part of said outer surface of said waveguide; and wherein said output of signal light is not primarily emitted through said input end of said waveguide. 2. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light comprises an input of evanescent interrogation light; and wherein said interrogation of at least part of said interior volume comprises evanescent interrogation. 3. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light comprises an input of darkfield interrogation light; and wherein said interrogation of at least part of said interior volume comprises darkfield interrogation. 4. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said assay apparatus further comprises a spinning apparatus that is operable to spin said cup, to centrifugally-concentrate said analyte onto at least part of said inner surface of said waveguide. 5. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cup further comprises an innermost non-fluid detection layer on at least part of said inner surface of said waveguide; wherein said innermost non-fluid detection layer comprises an inner surface; and wherein said assay apparatus further comprises a spinning apparatus that is operable to spin said cup, to centrifugally-concentrate said analyte onto said inner surface of said innermost non-fluid detection layer. 6. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said assay apparatus further comprises a spinning apparatus that is operable to spin said cup during said interrogation. 7. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said assay apparatus further comprises a light source operable to produce said input of waveguide interrogation light, and a mounting apparatus operable to mount said light source and said cup with respect to each other. 8. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said assay apparatus further comprises an optical detector operable to receive at least part of said output of signal light, and to produce an electrical output signal as a function of said signal light that is received by said optical detector. 9. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sidewall further comprises a reflector; wherein said reflector has a focal line; wherein said reflector is operable to receive an input of reflector interrogation light from said reflector focal line, and to produce in response thereto an output of reflector interrogation light; and wherein said input of waveguide interrogation light comprises at least part of said output of reflector interrogation light. 10. The assay apparatus of claim 9, wherein said assay apparatus further comprises a light source for said reflector; wherein said light source has an optical axis that is disposed so as to intersect with said reflector's focal line. 11. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interior volume of said cup comprises an analyte detection coating on at least part of said inner surface of said waveguide. 12. The assay apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least part of said analyte detection coating comprises a non-fluid detection layer. 13. The assay apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least part of said analyte detection coating comprises a fluid detection layer. 14. The assay apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least part of said fluid detection layer comprises at least part of said sample fluid. 15. The assay apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least part of said analyte detection coating comprises a non-fluid detection layer having an inner surface, and further comprises a fluid detection layer located on at least part of said inner surface of said non-fluid detection layer. 16. The assay apparatus of claim 11, wherein said cup further comprises a sensing waveguide comprising at least part of said analyte detection coating; wherein said sensing waveguide is operable to receive at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light; wherein said sensing waveguide is operable to subject at least part of said analyte detection coating to interrogation by use of at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light; and wherein at least part of said outer surface of said waveguide of said sidewall is operable to emit an output of said signal light as a function of said analyte. 17. The assay apparatus of claim 16, wherein said sensing waveguide further comprises at least part of said waveguide of said sidewall. 18. The assay apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least part of said analyte detection coating comprises a non-fluid detection layer. 19. The assay apparatus of claim 18, wherein said sensing waveguide further comprises at least part of said waveguide of said sidewall. 20. The assay apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least part of said analyte detection coating comprises a fluid detection layer. 21. The assay apparatus of claim 20, wherein said sensing waveguide further comprises at least part of said waveguide of said sidewall. 22. The assay apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least part of said fluid detection layer comprises at least part of said sample fluid. 23. The assay apparatus of claim 22, wherein said sensing waveguide further comprises at least part of said waveguide of said sidewall. 24. The assay apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least part of said analyte detection coating comprises a non-fluid detection layer having an inner surface, and further comprises a fluid detection layer located on at least part of said inner surface of said non-fluid detection layer. 25. The assay apparatus of claim 24, wherein said sensing waveguide further comprises at least part of said waveguide of said sidewall. 26. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said waveguide comprises at least two circumferential waveguides; wherein each said circumferential waveguide comprises a circumferential arc width, an outer surface, and an inner surface that comprises a circumferential testing segment; and wherein at least part of each said outer surface of said circumferential waveguides is operable to emit an output of said signal light as a function of said analyte. 27. The assay apparatus of claim 26, wherein said interior volume of said cup comprises an analyte detection coating on at least part of each said circumferential testing segment. 28. The assay apparatus of claim 27, wherein said cup further comprises at least two sensing waveguides; wherein each said sensing waveguide comprises at least part of said analyte detection coating on a respective one of said circumferential testing segments; wherein each said sensing waveguide is operable to receive at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light; and wherein each said sensing waveguide is operable to subject at least part of said analyte detection coating on said respective one of said circumferential testing segments to interrogation by use of at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light. 29. The assay apparatus according to claim 28, wherein each said sensing waveguide further comprises at least part of said respective one of said circumferential waveguides. 30. The assay apparatus of claim 26 wherein there are at least two kinds of said analyte in said sample fluid; and wherein at least part said outer surface of each of said circumferential waveguides is operable to emit a respective output of said signal light as a function of a respective one of said kinds of said analyte. 31. The assay apparatus of claim 26, wherein said analyte comprises at least two targeted distinguishing characteristics; and wherein at least part of said outer surface of each of said circumferential waveguides is operable to emit a respective output of said signal light as a function of a respective one of said targeted distinguishing characteristics. 32. The assay apparatus of claim 26, wherein said cup further comprises at least one demarcation and at least one adjacent pair of said circumferential waveguides; and wherein each said demarcation is located between a respective said adjacent pair of said circumferential waveguides. 33. The assay apparatus of claim 32, wherein at least one of said at least one demarcation comprises a null reference zone. 34. The assay apparatus of claim 26, wherein said cup further comprises a base connected to said sidewall; wherein said base comprises at least two reservoirs; and wherein each said reservoir is operable to hold a respective reservoir fluid for at least a respective one of said circumferential testing segments. 35. The assay apparatus of claim 34, wherein said cup further comprises at least two demarcations; wherein at least two of said demarcations form at least one adjacent pair of said demarcations, and wherein a respective one of said reservoirs and a corresponding respective one of said circumferential testing segments are located between a respective said adjacent pair of said demarcations. 36. The assay apparatus of claim 35, wherein said assay apparatus further comprises a spinning apparatus that is operable to spin said cup; and wherein said respective said adjacent pair of said demarcations are operable to channel said reservoir fluid from said respective one of said reservoirs onto said corresponding respective one of said circumferential testing segments when said cup is spun by said spinning apparatus. 37. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inner surface of said waveguide comprises at least two axial testing segments; and wherein respective portions of said outer surface of said waveguide that correspond to said axial testing segments are operable to emit respective outputs of said signal light as a function of said analyte. 38. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said waveguide comprises at least two circumferential waveguides; and wherein each said circumferential waveguide comprises a circumferential arc width, an outer surface, and an inner surface that comprises at least two axial testing segments; and wherein respective portions of said outer surfaces of said circumferential waveguides that correspond to said axial testing segments are operable to emit respective outputs of said signal light as a function of said analyte. 39. The assay apparatus of claim 38, wherein said interior volume of said cup comprises an analyte detection coating on at least part of each of said axial testing segments. 40. The assay apparatus of claim 39, wherein said cup further comprises at least two sensing waveguides; wherein each said sensing waveguide comprises at least part of said analyte detection coating on a respective one of said axial testing segments; wherein each said sensing waveguide is operable to receive at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light; and wherein each said sensing waveguide is operable to subject at least part of said analyte detection coating on said respective one of said axial testing segments to interrogation by use of at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light. 41. The assay apparatus according to claim 40, wherein each said sensing waveguide further comprises at least part of a respective one of said circumferential waveguides. 42. The assay apparatus of claim 38, wherein there are at least two kinds of said analyte in said sample fluid; and wherein each of said respective outputs of said signal light are emitted as a function of a respective one of said kinds of said analyte. 43. The assay apparatus of claim 38, wherein said analyte comprises at least two targeted distinguishing characteristics; and wherein each of said respective outputs of said signal light are emitted as a function of a respective one of said targeted distinguishing characteristics. 44. The assay apparatus of claim 38, wherein said cup further comprises at least one demarcation and at least one adjacent pair of said axial testing segments; and wherein each said demarcation is located between a respective said adjacent pair of said axial testing segments. 45. The assay apparatus of claim 44, wherein at least one of said at least one demarcation comprises a null reference zone. 46. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said assay apparatus further comprises a cover for said cup; and a fluid-tight seal between said cover and said cup. 47. The assay apparatus of claim 46, wherein said cover comprises a cover inlet port, a cover outlet port, and an annular flange; wherein said annular flange comprises a flange inlet port and a flange outlet port; wherein, when assembled together, said cover and said cup define a peripheral flow chamber between said annular flange and said sidewall of said cup; and wherein, when assembled together, said cover and said cup are operable to permit a fluid to flow sequentially into said cover through said cover inlet port, through said flange inlet port, through said peripheral flow chamber, through said flange outlet port and out through said cover outlet port. 48. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said assay apparatus further comprises a heater operable to transfer heat into at least part of said cup, and a mounting apparatus operable to mount said heater and said cup with respect to each other. 49. The assay apparatus of claim 1, wherein said assay apparatus further comprises a cooler operable to remove heat from at least part of said cup, and a mounting apparatus operable to mount said cooler and said cup with respect to each other. 50. An optical assay apparatus for detecting an analyte in a sample fluid by luminescence detection; wherein said assay apparatus comprises an optical assay cup and a spinning apparatus that is operable to spin said cup during said luminescence detection; wherein said cup comprises a sidewall and an interior volume; wherein said sidewall comprises an outer surface; wherein said interior volume is at least partially defined by said sidewall and is operable to receive said sample fluid and a luminescent indicator for said analyte; and wherein at least part of said outer surface of said sidewall is operable to emit an output of luminescent signal light as a function of said analyte during said luminescence detection. 51. A composite sensing waveguide for detecting an analyte in a sample fluid; wherein said composite sensing waveguide comprises a support waveguide having a surface, and an analyte detection coating on at least part of said surface of said support waveguide; wherein at least part of said analyte detection coating is operable to be in contact with said sample fluid during use of said composite sensing waveguide; wherein said composite sensing waveguide is operable to receive an input of waveguide interrogation light, is operable to subject at least part of said sample fluid to interrogation by use of at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light, and is operable to emit an output of signal light as a function of said analyte; and wherein at least part of said input of waveguide interrogation light comprises an input of darkfield interrogation light; and wherein said interrogation comprises darkfield interrogation.