Optical sensor and method of operation

• US 20020020206A1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Mason, Richard W., Slovacek, Rudolf E., Sullivan, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,387,709 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.02
• 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: Y10T 436/10 Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing

Abstract

A multiple single use optical sensor includes a series of continuous sensor stripes deposited on a substrate web. At least one sample chamber is adapted to extend transversely across a discrete portion of the series of sensor stripes to facilitate analysis of a sample disposed therein. The sample chamber may be moved, or additional sample chambers provided to enable subsequent measurements of additional samples at unused discrete portions of the sensor stripes. The continuous nature of the sensor stripes provides consistency along the lengths thereof to enable calibration data obtained from one discrete portion of the sensor stripes to be utilized for testing an unknown sample an other discrete portion of the sensor stripes. This advantageously eliminates the need for any particular discrete portion of the sensor stripes to be contacted by more than one sample, for improved sensor performance.

Claims

1. An optical sensor adapted for sensing analyte content of a plurality of samples, said optical sensor comprising:

a substrate web of predetermined length, said substrate web being substantially gas impermeable and optically transparent in a predetermined spectral range;

a plurality of elongated sensor stripes extending in parallel, spaced relation along the length of said web;

each one of said plurality of sensor stripes adapted for providing an optically discernible response to presence of at least one analyte;

said optical sensor adapted for selective analyte-sensing contact with the plurality of samples, wherein each one of the plurality of samples are selectively superimposable with each one of said plurality of elongated sensor stripes at one of a plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths thereof;

said optically discernible response being substantially identical at said plurality of discrete sample positions.

2. The optical sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of samples comprises at least one unknown sample and at least one calibration sample, said optical sensor adapted for being calibrated upon disposition of the calibration sample in said analyte-sensing contact with said optical sensor at at least one of said plurality of discrete sample positions distinct from that of said at least one unknown sample.

3. The optical sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of sensor stripes exhibits said optically discernible response in presence of incident light of a predetermined spectral range.

4. The optical sensor as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a multiple single use device, wherein each one of said discrete sample positions along the lengths of said sensor stripes is adapted for analyte-sensing contact with a single one of the plurality of samples.

5. The optical sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sample is a fluid and said analyte-sensing contact comprises surface-to-surface contact of the fluid with said sensor stripes.

6. An optical sensor assembly adapted for sensing analyte content of a plurality of samples, said optical sensor assembly comprising:

the optical sensor as set forth in claim 1;

at least one sample chamber superimposable with each of said plurality of elongated sensor stripes at one of said plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths thereof;

wherein said at least one sample chamber is adapted for alternately maintaining individual ones of the plurality of samples in said analyte-sensing contact.

7. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said at least one sample chamber comprises:

an elongated cavity disposed within a chamber member, said elongated cavity being defined by a substantially concave surface of said chamber member;

said elongated cavity including first and second apertures disposed at opposite ends thereof to facilitate alternate entry and exit of the individual ones of the plurality of samples to and from said sample chamber;

said chamber member adapted to extend across said plurality of sensor stripes with said substantially concave surface facing said web, wherein said optical sensor effectively closes said substantially concave surface to define a longitudinal side wall of said elongated cavity.

8. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a plurality of said sample chambers.

9. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein said at least one sample chamber is moveable for selective superimposition with said plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of said sensor stripes.

10. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said at least one sample chamber is adapted to extend orthogonally to each of said plurality of elongated sensor stripes.

11. An optical sensor assembly adapted for sensing analyte content of a plurality of samples, said optical sensor assembly comprising:

the optical sensor as set forth in claim 1;

a plurality of sample chambers disposed in parallel, spaced relation on said web, each one of said plurality of sample chambers being sealably superposed with said plurality of elongated sensor stripes at one of said plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths thereof;

wherein each of said plurality of sample chambers is adapted for alternately maintaining individual ones of the plurality of samples in said analyte-sensing contact.

12. The optical sensor as set forth in claim 11, wherein the plurality of samples comprises at least one unknown sample and at least one calibration sample, said optical sensor adapted for being calibrated upon disposition of the calibration sample in one of said sample chambers distinct from an other sample chamber adapted to receive said at least one unknown sample.

13. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of sample chambers comprises:

an elongated cavity disposed within a chamber member, said elongated cavity being defined by a substantially concave surface of said chamber member;

said elongated cavity including first and second apertures disposed at opposite ends thereof to facilitate alternate entry and exit of at least an individual one of the plurality of samples to and from said sample chamber;

said chamber member sealably superposed with said substrate web and said plurality of sensor stripes, wherein a discrete portion of said optical sensor effectively closes said substantially concave surface to define a longitudinal side wall of said elongated cavity.

14. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said chamber member further comprises:

a chamber web sealably superposed with said substrate web and said sensor stripes;

a cover web sealably superposed with said chamber web;

said chamber web having a plurality of slots extending in spaced parallel relation across said sensor stripes;

wherein each said slot and each portion of said cover web superposed therewith define said concave surface.

15. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said entry and exit apertures are disposed in said cover web.

16. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said entry and exit apertures are disposed in said substrate web.

17. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein at least one of said entry and exit apertures is disposed in said substrate web and at least one of said entry and exit apertures is disposed in said cover web.

18. The optical sensor assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said plurality of sample chambers are disposed in fixed relation on said optical sensor.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said step of utilizing (g) further comprises calculating presence and concentration of an analyte disposed in the at least one unknown sample.

21. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said steps of:

placing (b) and measuring (c) are undertaken substantially simultaneously with said steps of placing (e) and measuring (f), respectively.

22. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said step of placing (e), further comprises the step of placing the at least one unknown sample in said analyte-sensing contact with the optical sensor adjacent the at least one of the plurality of discrete sample positions.

23. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

said step of placing (b) includes placing a calibration sample at a predetermined number of the plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of said sensor stripes; and

said step of obtaining (d) includes obtaining calibration data utilizing the optical response of the predetermined number of the plurality of discrete sample positions.

24. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

said step of placing (b) includes placing a calibration sample at at least two of the plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of the sensor stripes, the two being disposed on opposite sides of the other of the plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of the sensor stripes; and

said step of obtaining (d) includes obtaining calibration data utilizing the optical response of the two of the plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of the sensor stripes for calibration of the optical response of the other of the plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of the sensor stripes.

25. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

placing other ones of the plurality of samples in analyte-sensing contact with other ones of the plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of the sensor stripes, proximate the at least one of the plurality of discrete sample positions;

measuring optical response of the other ones of the plurality of discrete sample positions; and

utilizing the calibration data obtained for the at least one discrete sample position for calibration of the optical response of the other ones of the plurality of discrete sample positions.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

said step of placing (b) includes placing a calibration sample at a predetermined number of the plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of said sensor stripes; and

said step of obtaining (d) includes obtaining calibration data utilizing the optical response of the predetermined number of the plurality of discrete sample positions.

27. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

said step of providing (a) includes providing an optical sensor assembly including the optical sensor, a plurality of sample chambers superimposed in parallel, spaced relation on said web and being superimposed with said plurality of elongated sensor stripes at a plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths thereof, wherein each of the plurality of sample chambers is adapted for alternately maintaining individual ones of the plurality of samples in said analyte-sensing contact;

said step of placing (b) includes placing a calibration sample in a first one of the plurality of sample chambers;

said step of measuring (c) includes measuring optical response of the optical sensor at the first one of the plurality of sample chambers;

said step of placing (e) includes placing an unknown sample in a second one of the plurality of sample chambers, the second one of the plurality of sample chambers being disposed adjacent the first one of the plurality of sample chambers;

said step of measuring (f) includes measuring optical response of the optical sensor at the second one of the plurality of sample chambers; and

said step of utilizing (g) includes utilizing the calibration data obtained from the first one of the plurality of sample chambers for calibration of the optical response obtained from the second one of the plurality of sample chambers disposed adjacent thereto.

28. The method as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

said step of placing (b) includes placing a calibration sample at a plurality of first ones of the plurality of sample chambers; and

said step of obtaining (d) includes obtaining calibration data utilizing the optical response of the plurality of first ones of the plurality of sample chambers.

29. The method as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

said step of placing (b) includes placing a calibration sample at at least two of a plurality of first ones of the plurality of sample chambers, the at least two being disposed on opposite sides of a second one of the plurality of sample chambers; and

said step of obtaining (d) includes obtaining calibration data utilizing the optical response of the at least two of a plurality of first ones for calibration of the optical response of the second one of the plurality of sample chambers.

30. The method as set forth in claim 29, wherein said step of placing (b) includes placing a calibration sample at at least two sample chambers disposed on opposite sides and adjacent a second one of the plurality of sample chambers.

31. The method as set forth in claim 27, wherein said steps of

placing (b) and measuring (c) are undertaken substantially simultaneously with said steps of placing (e) and measuring (f), respectively.

32. The method as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

said step of placing (b) further includes placing a calibration sample in each of a plurality of first ones of the plurality of sample chambers;

said step of measuring (c) further includes measuring optical response of the optical sensor at each of the plurality of first ones of the plurality of sample chambers;

said step of placing (e) further includes placing an unknown sample in respective second ones of the plurality of sample chambers, each of said second ones of the plurality of sample chambers being disposed adjacent one of said first ones of said plurality of sample chambers;

said step of measuring (f) further includes measuring optical response of the optical sensor at each of the plurality of second ones of said plurality of sample chambers; and

said step of utilizing (g) further includes utilizing the calibration data from each of the first ones to analyze the optical response of the second ones of the plurality of sample chambers disposed adjacent thereto.

33. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said steps of

placing (b) and measuring (c) are undertaken substantially simultaneously, respectively, with the steps of placing (e) and measuring (f), for each pair of adjacent first ones and second ones.

19. A method of operating an optical sensor, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an optical sensor including;

i) a substrate web of predetermined length, the substrate web being substantially gas impermeable and optically transparent in a predetermined spectral range;

ii) a plurality of elongated sensor stripes extending in parallel, spaced relation along the length of said web, each one of said plurality of sensor stripes adapted for providing an optically discernible response to presence of at least one of a plurality of discrete analytes;

iii) said optical sensor adapted for selective analyte-sensing contact with the plurality of samples, wherein each one of the plurality of samples are selectively superimposable with each one of said plurality of elongated sensor stripes at one of a plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths thereof;

iv) said optically discernible response being substantially identical at said plurality of discrete sample positions along the length thereof;

v) wherein the plurality of samples comprises at least one unknown sample and at least one calibration sample, the optical sensor adapted for being calibrated upon disposition of the calibration sample in said analyte-sensing contact with said optical sensor at one of said discrete sample positions distinct from that of said at least one unknown sample;

(b) placing the calibration sample in said analyte-sensing contact with the optical sensor at one of said plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of the sensor stripes;

(c) measuring optical response of the optical sensor at the one of the plurality of discrete sample positions;

(d) obtaining calibration data utilizing the optical response of the one of the plurality of discrete sample positions;

(e) placing the at least one unknown sample in said analyte-sensing contact with the optical sensor at another of the plurality of discrete sample positions along the lengths of the sensor stripes;

(f) measuring optical response of the other of the plurality of discrete sample positions;

(g) utilizing the calibration data obtained for the one of the plurality discrete sample positions for calibration of the optical response of the other of the plurality of discrete sample positions.