Abstract: A diagnostics apparatus for detecting fluorescence events related to the presence of an analyte in a sample is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a source of excitation light and a photodetector, and a unitary multi-surface optical module. The optical module is integrally formed and composed of an upstream portion having a focusing optical surface for directing excitation light from the light source to a focal region within an analyte-detection zone in the apparatus, and a downstream portion having a second focusing powered optical surface and at least one reflecting surface for directing fluorescence-emission light produced by fluorescence events within the detection zone, in a direction substantially normal to the path of the excitation light onto the photodetector. The optical module is adaptable to a variety of assay formats, including multiple-sample, sample-array, and disposable-cartridge formats.

Abstract: A modular dual-beam source, sample compartment and beam-combining system are provided when used with a monochromator and detector to form a spectrophotometer consisting of: (a) a source module where two ellipsoidal mirrors each produce an image of the light source, and (b) a reflecting sample-compartment module, wherein each side has two plane-mirrors, of the four plane mirrors, three are reference and one is the sample, or (c) a transmission sample-compartment module, wherein each side has two plane-mirrors, and a sample is placed between one pair of plane-mirrors, and (d) a beam-combining module wherein the source images are imaged by a second pair of ellipsoidal mirrors on a reflective chopper that combines the images at a single location that is imaged, external to the module, by another mirror, each module being kinematically located with respect to each other so the system remains optically aligned as modules are interchanged.

Abstract: A modular dual-beam source, sample compartment and beam-combining system are provided when used with a monochromator and detector to form a spectrophotometer consisting of: (a) a source module where two ellipsoidal mirrors each produce an image of the light source, and (b) a reflecting sample-compartment module, wherein each side has two plane-mirrors, of the four plane mirrors, three are reference and one is the sample, or (c) a transmission sample-compartment module, wherein each side has two plane-mirrors, and a sample is placed between one pair of plane-mirrors, and (d) a beam-combining module wherein the source images are imaged by a second pair of ellipsoidal mirrors on a reflective chopper that combines the images at a single location that is imaged, external to the module, by another mirror, each module being kinematically located with respect to each other so the system remains optically aligned as modules are interchanged.