ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING A SAMPLE ON AN ANALYTICAL TEST ELEMENT

• US 20080144022A1
• Filed: 12/22/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Steeg, Klaus-Dieter, Schulat, Jochen
• Granted Patent: US 7,808,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/213
• 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 33/50 Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms, compositions or test papers therefor; processes for forming such compositions, condition responsive control in microbiological or enzymological processes C12Q

Abstract

The invention relates to an analysis system for analysing a sample on an analytical test element. The analysis system comprises a measuring module for carrying out measurements on the sample on the analytical test element and an optical module which comprises a lens and a diaphragm by which the light can be focused. The lens and the diaphragm of the optical module are combined as one piece in a multi-component injection-molded part.

Claims

1. An analysis system for analyzing a sample on an analytical test element, comprising:

a measuring module for carrying out measurements on the analytical test element;

an optical module having a lens and a diaphragm by which light can be focused; and

the lens and the diaphragm of the optical module together comprising a one piece multi-component injection molded part.

2. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the one piece multi-component injection molded part comprises a translucent plastic component and an opaque plastic component.

3. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises a diaphragm body of an opaque plastic and a diaphragm aperture that is filled with a translucent plastic.

4. The analysis system of claim 3, wherein the lens is formed from the translucent plastic.

5. The analysis system of claim 4, wherein the lens and the diaphragm aperture comprise a continuous region of the translucent plastic.

6. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises a diaphragm body of an opaque plastic and a diaphragm aperture, the diaphragm aperture forming a clearance in the diaphragm body.

7. The analysis system of claim 1, wherein the measuring module contains the optical module, the optical module being adapted to carry out optical measurements on a sample deposited on the analytical test element.

8. The analysis system of claim 7, wherein the measuring module comprises a light source, a detector, a test element holder and a test element arranged in the test element holder, the measuring module being arranged such that light from the light source passes through a translucent region of the multi-component injection-molded part to the test element and is reflected by the test element through the translucent region to the detector.

9. The analysis system of claim 1, further comprising a reading module configured to read optically coded data, the reading module containing the optical module or a further optical module.

10. The analysis system of claim 9, wherein the reading module comprises a light source, a detector and a magazine holder arranged such that light from the light source passes through a translucent region of the multi-component injection-molded part to a test element magazine held in the magazine holder and is reflected by the test element magazine through the translucent region to the detector.

11. The analysis system of claim 10, wherein the light source and the detector are arranged on a printed circuit board which is connected to the optical module.

12. A method for producing an analysis system for analyzing a sample on an analytical test element, the analysis system containing a measuring module and an optical module, the optical module comprising a lens and a diaphragm, the method comprising the following steps:

injection molding the lens and the diaphragm as a one-piece multi-component injection-molded part; and

positioning and mounting the multi-component injection-molded part in the analysis system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming the one piece multi-component injection molded part from a translucent plastic component and an opaque plastic component.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming the diaphragm with a diaphragm body of an opaque plastic and a diaphragm aperture that is filled with a translucent plastic.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming the lens from the translucent plastic.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the injection molding of the lens and the diaphragm comprises sandwich molding.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the injection molding of the diaphragm and the lens are performed in separate steps.

18. A device for the photometric evaluation of test elements, comprising:

a test element holder configured to hold a test element;

a light source configured to illuminate a test element held in the test element holder;

a lens and diaphragm positioned between the light source and the test element holder to focus light from the light source, the lens and diaphragm being formed as a one-piece injection molded part; and

the diaphragm defining an aperture that is filled with translucent plastic, wherein the lens and diaphragm aperture define a continuous region of translucent plastic.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the one piece injection molded part comprises an opaque plastic defining the diaphragm.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising a detector, wherein during use of the device, light from the light source passes through the continuous region of the translucent plastic to a test element held in the test element holder and is reflected by the test element through the continuous region of the translucent plastic to the detector.

21. The device of claim 18, further comprising a reading module configured to read optically coded data, the reading module containing the optical module or a further optical module.

22. The device of claim 18, further comprising a detector and a printed circuit board, wherein the light source and the detector are arranged on the printed circuit board.