A compact portable rugged detector of transmitted fluorescence, applicable to whole organisms, tissues, cell and microbial cultures and liquid samples.

Summary

A compact portable rugged detector of transmitted fluorescence induced by light-emitting diode (LED) has been developed. This device is applicable to whole organisms, tissues, cell and microbial cultures and liquid samples (e.g. in immunotechniques) as it is currently being applied to detect gene expression, protein-protein interaction and diseases progression.

Main features and advantages 

The device uses a combination of LEDs assembled in a small sealed structure and easily changeable emission / excitation filters to cover the whole range of fluorescence, thus allowing the use of different fluorescent molecules. This design leads to a higher efficiency and performance as compared to the conventional devices based on other light sources (short-arc discharge and halogen lamps), since:

• its energy consumption is lower
• no pre-heating is required
• switching off/on does not need any electronic controls, as it can be done without requiring warming /cooling delay
• the life of the LEDs is higher (reaching 20000 hours of operation)
• its cost is much lower 

Besides, its small size allows working in a limited room-space and easily relocating the device where necessary. Simple pieces can be assembled to this device to adapt photographic cameras, fluorescence meters, gas diffusers (e.g. when working with organisms such as Drosophila), microscopes, etc.

Applications and commercial aspects

The device is directly applicable to commercial and research laboratories taking advantage of the high detectability and rapidity of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence spectroscopy. These include monitoring of biological processes (e.g. gene expression, protein–protein interaction and disease progression), with clinical, diagnostic and drug discovery applications. 

A prototype is available for demonstration.

Early Stage

Spanish patent application filed

We are looking for a manufacturing company capable of completing the last stages of development and marketing the product through "know-how" licensing.