Active sample collection system for analyte detection apparatus

• US 20030215939A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OptiScan Biomedical Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.
• Inventors: Gaffney, Robert D.
• Application Number:
  US10/374,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20030215939A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3577 for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water

Abstract

A system for actively collecting and presenting a sample to an analyte detection apparatus includes a pair of elongate, flexible sample carriers adapted to carry a fluid sample across an optical path. The sample carriers are typically elongate sections of a flexible, transparent film. The carriers are generally adapted to be advanced from a pair of supply reels on a first side of the optical path to a pair of respective take-up reels on a second side of the optical path.

Claims

1. An apparatus for presentation of a material sample to an analyte detection system comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation and a detector, the source being in a field of view of the detector, the source and the detector defining an optical path therebetween, the apparatus comprising:

a first elongated sample carrier configured to be advanced from a first supply reel across the optical path;

a second elongated sample carrier configured to be advanced across the optical path in concert with the first sample carrier;

wherein the first and second sample carriers are further configured to hold the material sample therebetween and transport the material sample across the optical path as the first and second sample carriers are advanced.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second supply reel;

wherein the second sample carrier is further configured to be advanced from the second supply reel across the optical path.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second supply reels hold a sufficient length of carrier material to carry a plurality of consecutive samples across the optical path.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising first and second take-up reels adapted to take up the first and second sample carriers after the carriers have crossed the optical path.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an absorbent material adjacent the take-up reels, wherein the absorbent material is configured to absorb the material sample when the material sample has fluid properties and after the material sample has been carried through the optical path.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a cartridge housing the first and second supply reels, the first and second take-up reels and the first and second sample carriers, the cartridge forming a sample inlet.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a used sample collection receptacle proximate the take-up reels.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sample carrier has a first surface configured to contact the source, and the second carrier has a second surface configured to contact the detector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sample carriers comprise an elongate, flexible film.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second sample carriers are substantially transmissive of electromagnetic radiation.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the carriers are transmissive of electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sample carriers is adapted to carry a static electrical charge.

13. A sample collection device for use with an analyte detection system comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation and a detector adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation, the source being in a field of view of the detector, the source and the detector defining an optical path therebetween, the collection device comprising:

first and second flexible elongate sample carriers adapted to move across the optical path and to carry a fluid sample through the optical path;

wherein the sample carriers are adapted to be used for a plurality of consecutive samples, each sample contacting a distinct area of the first and second sample carriers.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising first and second supply reels adapted to hold the first and second sample carriers on a first side of the optical path.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising first and second take-up reels adapted to hold the first and second sample carriers on a second side of the optical path, the second side of the optical path being opposite the first side of the optical path.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the carriers are made of a thin film.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first sample carrier is configured to contact the source, and the second sample carrier is configured to contact the detector.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a fluid sample after the sample has been carried across the optical path.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sample carriers are transmissive of infrared electromagnetic radiation.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a cartridge adapted to contain first and second supply reels and first and second take-up reels configured to hold and supporting the first and second sample carriers;

a sample inlet, and a sample outlet including a material to contain a fluid sample after the sample has been analyzed.