Systems to view and analyze the results from diffraction-based diagnostics

• US 20030107740A1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Atanassov, Zdravko Savov, Kaylor, Rosann Marie, Yang, Difei, Knotts, Michael Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 7,102,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/445
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4788 Diffraction for sizing particles G01N15/0205
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

An analyzer useful in determining the presence of an analyte using a diffraction based sensing device and methods and systems using this device. The present invention may be used with a variety of different diffraction-based diagnostic methods and systems. The analyzer enhances the accuracy and/or usefulness of these devices in detecting analytes, while providing more ease-of-use and convenience to the user. The analyzer may include a light source, a photodiode, a microprocessor and a display system for informing the user of the result. Other features include mirrors, lenses, a sample holder, and a mask for blocking out some light. The analyzer and related method and system may be used in a large number of environments, including commercial, professional, and individual.

Claims

1. A system for detecting an analyte in a sample comprising:

a diffraction-based sensing device; and

an analyzer comprising;

means for causing a diffraction image from a diffraction-based sensing device;

means for measuring an amount of diffracted light;

means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample; and

means for informing a user whether the analyte is present in the sample.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for causing a diffraction image from a diffraction-based sensing device, means for measuring an amount of diffracted light, means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample, and means for informing a user whether the analyte is present in the sample are all contained within a housing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for causing a diffraction image from a diffraction-based sensing device comprises a light source.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the light source is in the visible spectrum.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the light source is selected from an LED light or a laser light.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the light source comprises reflected light.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light comprises a photodiode.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample comprises an unaided eye.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample comprises a microprocessor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample further includes a software element for operating an algorithm to convert the measurement into a result.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for informing a user whether the analyte is present in the sample comprises a display system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the display system is selected from a liquid crystal display or at least one light.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one light comprises two or more lights.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for holding the sample in place.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for holding the sample in place is selected from a tray, a clamp, a slot, or a combination thereof.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for directing or enhancing the light.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for directing or enhancing the light is selected from mirrors, lenses or a combination of both.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mask specific to the diffraction image, and used to block out specific light.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mask is constructed and arranged to allow primarily only diffracted light through it.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the mask also includes means for rotating the mask.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein rotation of the mask arranges it such that primarily non-diffracted light is allowed through it and diffracted light is blocked.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the receptor material is selected from antigens, antibodies, nucleotides, chelators, enzymes, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, bacterial pili, bacterial flagellar materials, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, metals, hormones and receptors for said materials.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein diffraction enhancing elements specific to the analyte are used.

24. A system for detecting an analyte in a sample comprising:

a diffraction-based sensing device; and

an analyzer comprising;

a light source;

a photodiode;

a microprocessor; and

a display system.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the light source is in the visible spectrum.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the light source is selected from an LED light or a laser light.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the light source comprises reflected light.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the microprocessor further includes a software element for operating an algorithm to determine whether an analyte is present in a sample based upon a measurement from the photodiode.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the display system is selected from a liquid crystal display or at least one light.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least one light comprises two or more lights.

31. The system of claim 24, further comprising a holder for holding a sample in place.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the holder is selected from a tray, a clamp, a slot, or a combination thereof.

33. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for directing or enhancing the light selected from mirrors, lenses or a combination of both.

34. The system of claim 24, further comprising a mask specific to the diffraction image, and used to block out specific light.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the mask is constructed and arranged to allow primarily only diffracted light through it.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the mask also includes means for rotating the mask.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein rotation of the mask arranges it such that primarily non-diffracted light is allowed through it and diffracted light is blocked.

38. The system of claim 24, wherein diffraction enhancing elements specific to the analyte are used.

39. The system of claim 24, further comprising a housing for containing the light source, the photodiode, the microprocessor and the display system.

40. An analyzer comprising:

means for causing a diffraction image from a diffraction-based sensing device;

means for measuring an amount of diffracted light;

means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample; and

means for informing a user whether the analyte is present in the sample.

41. The analyzer of claim 40, wherein the means for causing a diffraction image from a diffraction-based sensing device, means for measuring an amount of diffracted light, means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample, and means for informing a user whether the analyte is present in the sample are all contained within a housing.

42. The analyzer of claim 40, wherein the means for causing a diffraction image from a diffraction-based sensing device comprises a light source.

43. The analyzer of claim 42, wherein the light source is in the visible spectrum.

44. The analyzer of claim 42, wherein the light source is selected from an LED light or a laser light.

45. The analyzer of claim 42, wherein the light source comprises reflected light.

46. The analyzer of claim 40, wherein the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light comprises a photodiode.

47. The analyzer of claim 40, wherein the means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample comprises an unaided eye.

48. The analyzer of claim 40, wherein the means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample comprises a microprocessor.

49. The analyzer of claim 48, wherein the means for converting the measurement from the means for measuring an amount of diffracted light to a result indicating whether an analyte is present in a sample further includes a software element for operating an algorithm to convert the measurement into a result.

50. The analyzer of claim 40, wherein the means for informing a user whether the analyte is present in the sample comprises a display system.

51. The analyzer of claim 50, wherein the display system is selected from a liquid crystal display or at least one light.

52. The analyzer of claim 51, wherein the at least one light comprises two or more lights.

53. The analyzer of claim 40, further comprising a means for holding the sample in place.

54. The analyzer of claim 53, wherein the means for holding the sample in place is selected from a tray, a clamp, a slot or a combination thereof.

55. The analyzer of claim 40, further comprising a means for directing or enhancing the light.

56. The analyzer of claim 55, wherein the means for directing or enhancing the light is selected from mirrors, lenses or a combination of both.

57. The analyzer of claim 40, further comprising a mask specific to the diffraction image, and used to block out specific light.

58. The mask of claim 57, wherein the mask is constructed and arranged to allow primarily only diffracted light through it.

59. The analyzer of claim 58, further comprising means for rotating the mask.

60. The analyzer of claim 58, wherein rotation of the mask arranges it such that primarily non-diffracted light is allowed through it and diffracted light is blocked.

61. An analyzer comprising:

a light source;

a photodiode;

a microprocessor; and

a display system.

62. The analyzer of claim 61, further comprising a housing for containing the light source, the photodiode, the microprocessor and the display system.

63. The analyzer of claim 61, wherein the light source is in the visible spectrum.

64. The analyzer of claim 61, wherein the light source is selected from an LED light or a laser light.

65. The analyzer of claim 61, wherein the light source comprises reflected light.

66. The analyzer of claim 61, wherein the microprocessor further includes a software element for operating an algorithm to determine whether an analyte is present in a sample based upon a measurement from the photodiode.

67. The analyzer of claim 61, wherein the display system is selected from a liquid crystal display or at least one light.

68. The analyzer of claim 67, wherein the at least one light comprises two or more lights.

69. The analyzer of claim 61, further comprising a holder for holding a sample in place.

70. The analyzer of claim 69, wherein the holder is selected from a tray, a clamp, a slot, or a combination thereof.

71. The analyzer of claim 61, further comprising means for directing or enhancing the light selected from mirrors, lenses or a combination of both.

72. The analyzer of claim 61, further comprising a mask specific to the diffraction image, and used to block out specific light.

73. The mask of claim 72, wherein the mask is constructed and arranged to allow primarily only diffracted light through it.

74. The analyzer of claim 72 further comprising means for rotating the mask.

75. An analyzer for detecting an analyte in a sample comprising:

a holder for holding the sample;

a light source having a visible light source;

means for directing or enhancing the light selected from mirrors, lenses or a combination thereof;

a photodiode;

a mask for blocking out specific light;

a microprocessor having a software element for operating an algorithm to determine whether the analyte is present in the sample based upon a measurement from the photodiode; and

a display system.

a housing for containing the holder, the light source, the photodiode, the microprocessor and the display system.