Measuring method for immunochromatographic test strip

• US 20030098976A1
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Original Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Inventors: Yamauchi, Kazunori
• Granted Patent: US 6,819,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/344
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• 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 33/558 using diffusion or migration of antigen or antibody immunochromatographic test strips G01N33/54387

Abstract

A measuring device 1 comprises an irradiation optical system 20 and a detection optical system 30. The irradiation optical system 20 comprises a light-emitting element 21 and a mixing rod 22. The detection optical system 30 comprises a cylindrical lens 33 and a CCD image sensor 36. Light from the light-emitting element 21 is diffused by a diffusing plate 23 and enters into a mixing rod 22, where it is mixed. The light mixed inside the mixing rod 22 is then diffused by a diffusing plate 24 and irradiated onto an immunochromatography test piece 10 as measurement light. The light transmitted by the immunochromatography test piece 10 is formed as an image on the light receiving face 37 of a CCD image sensor 36, by means of the cylindrical lens 33. The CCD image sensor 36 captures the image formed by the cylindrical lens 33 at the light receiving face 37.

Claims

1. A measuring device for immunochromatography test pieces, comprising an irradiation optical system for irradiating measurement light onto immunochromatography test pieces;

and a detection optical system for detecting light from said immunochromatography test pieces due to said measurement light;

characterized in that said detection optical system comprises a cylindrical lens and an imaging element; and

said cylindrical lens is disposed in such a manner that the direction of the generating line thereof intersects with the direction of travel of antigens or antibodies in said immunochromatography test piece, and creates an image of a pattern formed in a direction intersecting with the direction of travel of said antigens or antibodies, on said imaging element, due to the irradiation of said measurement light from said irradiation optical system.

2. The measuring device for immunochromatography test pieces according to claim 1, characterized in that a member having a slit formed to extend in the direction of the generating line of said cylindrical lens is further provided between said immunochromatography test piece and said cylindrical lens.

3. The measuring device for immunochromatography test pieces according to claim 1, characterized in that said imaging element is a linear image sensor wherein a plurality of light-receiving elements are arrayed in a direction approximately orthogonal to the direction of the generating line of said cylindrical lens.

4. The measuring device for immunochromatography test pieces according to claim 1, wherein said irradiation optical system and said detection optical system are disposed in such a manner that said imaging element receives the transmitted light of said measurement light irradiated onto said immunochromatography test piece;

and

the light absorption of said color pattern is measured on the basis of said transmitted light received by said imaging element.

5. The measuring device for immunochromatography test pieces according to claim 1, wherein said irradiation optical system and said detection optical system are disposed in such a manner that said imaging element receives the reflected light of said measurement light irradiated onto said immunochromatography test piece;

and

the reflectivity of said color pattern is measured on the basis of said reflected light received by said imaging element.