Abstract: A fiber optic coupling plate (24) has a sample viewing face for receiving light from a sample (12), an output window (18) for conveying sample originating (emitted) light to an imaging detector and an additional window through which excitation radiation can be projected. A primary light is provided through the plate made up of optical fibers which will convey light entering the viewing face, directly and with minimal loss, to the output window, and a secondary light path separate from the primary light path, by which excitation radiation entering the additional window is conveyed to the viewing face for irradiating the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a detection system comprising means (12) for supporting a multiple sample assay (11) in an inspection station, plural addressable photosensitive detector elements in an array (20) which is positioned relative to the inspection station, means (30, 32) for addressing the groups of elements at regularly occurring intervals of time so as to generate linked numerical values for analysis, means (44, 46) for computing the arithmetic mean of the linked numerical values read out, and means for supplying as output information the numerical value of the computed arithmetic mean of the linked values. A method of analyzing a multiple sample assay is also provided.

Abstract: An imaging system for fluorescence assays includes a fiber optic coupling plate (20, 24, 26) for transmitting radiation emitted by a sample (18) towards a camera. This is combined with an interference filter (22) so as to enable highly sensitive transmission of radiation to the camera, according to wavelength. The interference filter may be combined with a fiber optic coupling plate in which sample sites or wells of an array are viewed by separate fiber optic bundles, each bundle transmitting emitted light from a one sample or well to a discrete region of the field of view of the camera.

Abstract: A fiber optic coupling plate (24) has a sample viewing face for receiving light from a sample (12), an output window (18) for conveying sample originating (emitted) light to an imaging detector and an additional window through which excitation radiation can be projected. A primary light is provided through the plate made up of optical fibers which will convey light entering the viewing face, directly and with minimal loss, to the output window, and a secondary light path separate from the primary light path, by which excitation radiation entering the additional window is conveyed to the viewing face for irradiating the sample.

Abstract: A fibre optic coupling plate (24) has a sample viewing face for receiving light from a sample (12), an output window (18) for conveying sample originating (emitted) light to an imaging detector and an additional window through which excitation radiation can be projected. A primary light is provided through the plate made up of optical fibres which will convey light entering the viewing face, directly and with minimal loss, to the output window, and a secondary light path separate from the primary light path, by which excitation radiation entering the additional window is conveyed to the viewing face for irradiating the sample.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence and position of labelled material in a sample in which the labelled material either gives off light or can be stimulated to do so. The sample is imaged onto a CCD array which is scanned following each exposure. A cooled CCD camera or an image intensified CCD camera may be used. Measurements are performed on the data signals so obtained, to identify clusters of data values from adjacent regions of the CCD array caused by light incident on those regions. The measured signal values are compared with at least one threshold so as to distinguish clusters resulting from light emitting regions of labelled material from the remainder of the sample and the centroid of each light produced cluster of data values is computed with reference to the camera array, and a signal value corresponding to the centroid coordinates is stored in a memory together with the centroid coordinates of any other light produced clusters identified during the same interrogation.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence and position of radio isotope material in a sample is described comprising the steps of: exposing the sample to a phosphor, repetitively imaging the phosphor onto an image intensified CCD camera, scanning the camera CCD array and interrogating the charge pattern thereon following each exposure, performing measurements on the data signals obtained thereby to identify clusters of data values from adjacent regions of the array caused by light emitted by the image intensifier onto those regions and comparing the measurements with threshold values and parameter values so as to distinguish clusters resulting from light emitted as a result of radioactive decay events energizing the phosphor, from other light producing events, computing the centroid of each cluster of data values identified as a radioactive decay event with reference to the camera array and storing the centroid coordinates in a memory together with the centroid coordinates of any other radioactive decay produced clu

Abstract: An X-ray scanning system for high speed imaging of an object using an X-ray source for generating a fan shaped X-ray beam (12) for traversing a linear section or slice of the object, and a linear array of detectors (14) on the opposite side of the object (10) from the source which generate light depending on the X-ray image incident thereon, wherein optical fibers (16) link the detectors to the input of an image intensified CCD camera (18), the fiber ends forming a planar array having an aspect ratio which is different from that of the linear array of detectors and which matches the aspect ratio of the camera, the detector array having an addressable array of N.times.