OPTICAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

[0001] An instrument (1000) for processing and/or measuring a biological process contains an excitation source (110) a sample holder (204) an optical sensor (118) an excitation optical system (120) and an emission optical system (125). The sample holder (204) is configured to receive a plurality of biological samples. The optical sensor (118) is configured to receive an emission from the biological samples. The excitation optical system (120) is disposed along an excitation optical path (126) and is configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source (110) to the biological samples. The emission optical system (125) is disposed along an emission optical path (128) and is configured to direct electromagnetic emissions from the biological samples to the optical sensor (118). The instrument further contains a plurality of filter assemblies (130 132) configured to be interchangeably located along at least one of the optical paths. The plurality of filter components (131) includes a first filter component (138) characterized by a first optical power and a first filter (140) having a first filter function the first filter function characterized by at least one of a first low pass wavelength or a first high pass wavelength. The second filter assembly (142) is characterized by a second optical power and a second filter (145) having a second filter function the second filter function comprising at least one of a second low pass wavelength that is different than the first low pass wavelength or a second high pass wavelength that is different than the first high pass wavelength. The second optical power differs from the first optical power by an amount sufficient to at least partially compensate for an aberration introduced by the second filter (145) relative to the first filter (140).