Techniques for controlling the optical properties of assay devices
First Claim
1. An optical detection system for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample, said system comprising:
- an optical reader that comprises an illumination source and a detector, said illumination source being capable of providing electromagnetic radiation and said detector being capable of registering a detection signal; and
an assay device that includes a porous membrane having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said porous membrane being in communication with detection probes that are capable of producing said detection signal when contacted with said electromagnetic radiation, wherein said first surface of said porous membrane is carried by a support, said support having a thickness of from about 100 to about 5,000 micrometers, wherein said support is provided with an optically functional material that is selectively tailored to one or more optical properties of said optical reader.
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Abstract
A system that employs optical detection techniques to identify the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample is provided. Unlike conventional systems, the optical detection system of the present invention uses the assay device itself to enhance the ability of an optical reader to detect the presence or absence of the analyte. In particular, the support for the assay device is provided with one or more of the optical properties desired for the optical reader to enhance its operation. This allows for the use of optical readers that are relatively simple, portable, and inexpensive.
124 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An optical detection system for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample, said system comprising:
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an optical reader that comprises an illumination source and a detector, said illumination source being capable of providing electromagnetic radiation and said detector being capable of registering a detection signal; and
an assay device that includes a porous membrane having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said porous membrane being in communication with detection probes that are capable of producing said detection signal when contacted with said electromagnetic radiation, wherein said first surface of said porous membrane is carried by a support, said support having a thickness of from about 100 to about 5,000 micrometers, wherein said support is provided with an optically functional material that is selectively tailored to one or more optical properties of said optical reader. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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7. The optical detection system of claim 7, wherein said light guide element is a micro-optic lens.
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22. An optical detection system for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample, said system comprising:
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an optical reader that comprises an illumination source and a detector, said illumination source being capable of providing electromagnetic radiation and said detector being capable of registering a detection signal; and
an assay device that includes a porous membrane having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said porous membrane being in communication with detection probes that are capable of producing said detection signal when contacted with said electromagnetic radiation, wherein said illumination source and said detector are positioned on opposing sides of said assay device so that said porous membrane is positioned in the electromagnetic radiation path defined between said illumination source and said detector;
wherein said first surface of said porous membrane is carried by an optically transmissive support, said optically transmissive support having a thickness of from about 150 to about 2,000 micrometers, wherein said optically transmissive support is provided with an optically functional material that is selectively tailored to one or more optical properties of said optical reader. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte within a test sample, said method comprising:
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providing an optical reader;
providing a chromatographic medium for an assay device;
selectively controlling the optical properties of a support for said chromatographic medium to correspond with one or more optical requirements of said optical reader, said support having a thickness of from about 100 to about 5,000 micrometers. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification