Method and device for identifying a marker using a detector substance

• US 20040035938A1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: November Aktiengesellschaft Gesellschaft Fur Molekulare Medizin
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kaiser, Joachim
• Granted Patent: US 7,256,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.03
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks

Abstract

In order to identify a marking (300) which is arranged on a body and contains a marking substance (320) with a specific property, the marking (300) initially is scanned by means of radiation (L1). The marking substance (320) is then brought into contact with a detector substance (310) having a specific property corresponding to the marking substance (320). A combination of the marking and detector substances (320, 310) which results because of the corresponding specific properties exhibits fluorescent behavior. The marking (300) is then scanned by means of the radiation (L1) in a second measurement, and identified by means of the results of the two measurements.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a marking (300) which is arranged on a body (200) and contains a marking substance (320) with a specific property, wherein

a) the marking (300) is scanned by means of radiation (L1) in a first measurement and a reference is determined therefrom,

b) the marking substance (320) is brought into contact with a detector substance (310) having a specific property corresponding to the marking substance (320), so that a combination of the marking and detector substances (320, 310) which results because of the corresponding specific properties exhibits fluorescent behavior,

c) the marking (300) is scanned by means of the radiation (L1) in a second measurement, and

d) the marking (300) is identified by means of the reference and the result of the second measurement.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the first measurement is carried out, the contact is brought about, and the second measurement is carried out in chronological succession.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which a device (100) is moved across the marking (300) for the first and second measurement and for bringing about the contact.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, in which the device (100) is moved manually.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the device (100) is moved across the marking (300) first in a forward direction (R1) and then in a backward direction (R2).

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, in which the first measurement is carried out during the movement in the forward direction (R1).

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the contact is brought about during the movement in the forward direction (R1).

8. The method as claimed in one of claims 5 to 7, in which the second measurement is carried out during the movement in the backward direction (R2).

9. The method as claimed in one of claims 3 to 8, in which the device (100) is brought into direct contact with the marking (300) during the movement.

10. The method as claimed in one of claims 3 to 9, in which a position of the device (100) is recorded during the movement.

11. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which a first and a second nucleotide sequence are respectively used as the detector substance (310) and the marking substance (320).

12. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which a detector substance (310) having a fluorophore component is used.

13. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which the fluorescent behavior of the marking (300) is evaluated with the aid of the first measurement before the marking substance (320) is brought into contact with the detector substance (310).

14. A device for identifying a marking (300) which is arranged on a body (200) and contains a marking substance (320) with a specific property, comprising at least

a) a scanning unit (50) for measuring the marking (300) by means of radiation (L1),

b) a dosing unit (30) which can be filled with a detector substance (310) and is designed to bring the detector substance (310) into contact with the marking substance (320), wherein the detector substance (310) has a specific property corresponding to the marking substance (320), and a combination of the marking and detector substances (320, 310) which results because of the corresponding specific properties exhibits fluorescent behavior, and

c) a control and evaluation unit (10), wherein the scanning unit (50), the dosing unit (30) and the control and evaluation unit (10) are designed for sequentially

d) carrying out a first measurement of the marking (300) and determination, derived therefrom, of a reference,

e) bringing the marking substance (320) and the detector substance (310) into contact,

f) carrying out a second measurement of the marking (300), and

g) carrying out identification of the marking (300) with the aid of the reference and the result of the second measurement.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, in which a scanning position (59) determined by the scanning unit (50) is placed, in relation to a forward direction (R1) of a movement taking place across the marking (300), in front of a delivery position (34) which is determined by the dosing unit (30) and at which the detector substance (310) leaves the dosing unit (30) in order to enter into contact with the marking substance (320).

16. The device as claimed in claim 14 or 15, in which the dosing unit (30) has a roller (33), by means of which the detector substance (310) can be delivered to the marking substance (320).

17. The device as claimed in claim 14 or 15, which is designed for a movement taking place across the marking (300).

18. The device as claimed in claim 17, which is designed for a manually performed movement.

19. The device as claimed in one of claims 16 to 18, which can be moved to and fro by means of a rolling movement of the roller (33) across the marking (300).

20. The device as claimed in one of claims 14 to 19, which is designed for carrying out the first measurement during a movement taking place across the marking (300) in a forward direction (R1).

21. The device as claimed in one of claims 14 to 20, which is designed for bringing the detector substance (310) into contact with the marking substance (320) during a movement taking place across the marking (300) in a forward direction (R1).

22. The device as claimed in one of claims 14 to 21, which is designed for carrying out the second measurement during a movement taking place across the marking (300) in a backward direction (R2).

23. The device as claimed in one of claims 14 to 22, in which positioning unit (20) is provided for recording positions during a movement taking place across the marking (300).

24. The device as claimed in one of claims 14 to 23, in which the scanning unit (50) is designed to generate a radiation pattern at a scanning position (59) on the marking (300), especially one in the form of a line pattern or point pattern advantageously with an elongate outline.

25. The device as claimed in one of claims 14 to 24, in which the scanning unit (50) comprises input and output waveguides (56i, 57i) for the radiation (L1, L2), and the waveguides (56i, 57i) are arranged next to one another so that they are arranged inside an elongate outline at the end facing the marking (300).

26. The device as claimed in claim 25, in which the input and output waveguides (56i, 57i) are arranged next to one another in cyclic alternation.

27. The device as claimed in claim 25 or 26, in which the input and output waveguides (56i, 57i) are grouped so as to form at least two sub-bundles (56, 57).

28. The device as claimed in claim 27, in which the sub-bundles (56, 57) are intended for supplying different-wavelength radiation (L1, L2).

29. The device as claimed in one of claims 14 to 28, in which the dosing unit (30) can be filled with a detector substance (310) comprising a first nucleotide sequence, and the first nucleotide sequence has a property corresponding to a second nucleotide sequence from which the marking substance (320) is formed.

30. The device as claimed in one of claims 14 to 29, in which the dosing unit (30) can be filled with a detector substance (310) which has a fluorophore component.