Analysis instrument, associated systems and methods

• US 10,458,902 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2016
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Australian Sensing and Identification Systems Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Australian Sensing and Identification Systems Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ast, Sandra, Canning, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nur, Abdullahi
• Application Number:
  US15/759,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20190154566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0033 Features or image-related aspects of imaging apparatus classified in A61B5/00, e.g. for MRI, optical tomography or impedance tomography apparatus; arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room image data processing or generation G06T
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/251 Colorimeters; Construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/52 Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper and including single- and multilayer analytical elements immunological elements G01N33/54386; involving labelled immunochemicals G01N33/58; for haemoglobin or occult blood G01N33/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10024 Color image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10048 Infrared image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics

Abstract

Disclosed is an analysis component and associated systems and methods. The analysis component can be used with an electronic device equipped with a detector for detecting light. The component comprises: a sample holder for holding the sample; a detector site at which a detector, or a detector portion of the electronic device, is to be positioned to detect light reflecting off the sample; and a structural component spacing the sample holder from the detector site by a predetermined distance; wherein the lysis component is configured to allow light from a light source to illuminate the sample such that light reflected by the sample can be received by the detector for analyzing the sample. An associated system comprises the analysis component and a detector for detecting light reflected off the sample. An associated method comprises providing said system, positioning the analysis component with respect to the electronic device such that the detector, or the detector portion of the electronic device, is placed at the detector site; inserting a sample into the sample holder; illuminating the sample with a light source; focusing an optical system of the detector such that an image of at least a portion of the sample is formed on a detecting plane of the detector; using the detector to receive light reflected off the sample; and analyzing the received light to determine a composition of the sample.

Claims

1. An analysis system for analyzing a sample, the analysis system comprising:

a smart device;

a sample holder for holding the sample relative to the smart device, the sample holder including a component for spacing the sample from a camera or detector of the smart device by a predetermined distance; and

a mirror configured to divert light reflected off the sample, when held by the sample holder, toward a detecting plane of the camera or detector of the smart device, the detecting plane facing away from the sample holder;

wherein the system is configured to allow light from a light source to illuminate the sample and an image of at least a portion of the sample can be received by the camera or detector of the smart device and wherein the smart device is configured to analyse the image.

2. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the component is coupled to the smart device.

3. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the component is separate from the smart device.

4. The analysis system of claim 3, comprising an attachment member for detachably securing the component to the smart device.

5. The analysis system of claim 4, wherein the attachment member comprises a surrounding wall having a slot in which a portion of the smart device is received.

6. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the component is configured to space the sample holder from the detector site by the predetermined distance such that, in use, the sample is detected at or near a focal length of an optical system associated with, or forming a portion of, the camera or the detector of the smart device.

7. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that, in use, the detecting plane of the detector or camera of the smart device faces in a direction substantially 90°

away from the sample holder.

8. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the mirror is positioned at an acute angle with respect to a detecting plane of the detector or camera of the smart device.

9. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a window located in a wall of the component or any position along an optical path of the detector or camera of the smart device.

10. The analysis system of claim 1 comprising a divider that, in use, isolates the sample holder from the smart device.

11. The analysis system of claim 10, wherein the component spacing the sample holder from the detector or camera of the smart device is part of the divider.

12. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the sample holder comprises at least two sample-receiving elements each capable of receiving a sample and being positioned at different distances with respect to the detector or camera of the smart device.

13. The analysis system of claim 12, wherein the at least two sample-receiving elements are in the form of elongate grooves within a component of the sample holder.

14. The analysis system of claim 1, comprising a reflecting grating positioned with respect to the sample holder such that in use when the sample is illuminated, an image of the sample is projected onto the reflection grating, thus forming a spectrum of the image to be analysed.

15. The analysis system claim 1, wherein the depth of the component is of smaller dimension than both the length and width of the component.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of sample holder and the component define a first plane, and a detecting plane of the detector or camera is substantially parallel to the first plane.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the component and the smart device each have a longitudinal axis, and the component is positioned with respect to the electronic device such that the longitudinal axis of the component is substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the smart device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the detector or camera detects infra-red light or visible light reflected off the sample.

19. A method of analysing a sample, comprising:

providing a sample;

inserting a sample into the sample holder;

providing the system according to any one of the preceding claims;

positioning sample holder the smart device relative to each other such that the component of the sample holder spaces the sample from a camera or detector of the smart device by a predetermined distance;

illuminating the sample with a light source;

focusing an optical system of the detector or camera or detector of the smart device such that an image of at least a portion of the sample is formed on a detecting plane of the detector or camera;

using the detector or camera to receive an image reflected off the sample; and

analysing the received image to determine a composition of the sample.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein analysing the received light comprises performing colorimetric analysis on the image of the sample.