Miniature Optical Readhead and Colorimeter for Analysis Media
First Claim
1. A miniature readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for detecting color information from a target area using ambient light, the readhead comprising:
- a housing having a hand-held form factor, including a plate and a tray configured for being superposed with one another, said tray configured for receiving reagent sample media therein, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample;
the tray sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media;
said plate being optically transmissive, wherein ambient light is transmissible therethrough to the sample media indexed within the tray;
an array of light detectors disposed in spaced relation along said plate;
said array including sets of light detectors configured to respectively detect light of at least three mutually distinct wavelengths;
each set configured to receive diffuse, non-specular reflections of light from a respective one of the test areas when the sample media is indexed within said tray;
a plurality of light shields superposed with each of said light detectors to selectively permit ambient light to pass to the tray, while substantially preventing ambient light from reaching the light detectors prior to reflecting from the test areas; and
said readhead being operable free of any non-ambient light sources.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A miniature readhead is provided for photometric color detection using ambient light. The readhead is hand-held, including a superposed plate and tray. The tray receives sample media configured to react and to change color according to an amount of analyte in a sample. The plate is optically transmissive, so that ambient light is transmissible therethrough to the sample media indexed within the tray. An array of light detectors is disposed along the plate, including sets of detectors configured to detect light of at least three mutually distinct wavelengths reflected from the test areas. Light shields superposed with each of the light detectors selectively permit ambient light to pass to the tray, while substantially preventing ambient light from reaching the light detectors prior to reflecting from the test areas. The readhead may be incorporated into a photometric diagnostic instrument configured to analyze the reflections and derive a diagnosis value.
17 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A miniature readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for detecting color information from a target area using ambient light, the readhead comprising:
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a housing having a hand-held form factor, including a plate and a tray configured for being superposed with one another, said tray configured for receiving reagent sample media therein, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample; the tray sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media; said plate being optically transmissive, wherein ambient light is transmissible therethrough to the sample media indexed within the tray; an array of light detectors disposed in spaced relation along said plate; said array including sets of light detectors configured to respectively detect light of at least three mutually distinct wavelengths; each set configured to receive diffuse, non-specular reflections of light from a respective one of the test areas when the sample media is indexed within said tray; a plurality of light shields superposed with each of said light detectors to selectively permit ambient light to pass to the tray, while substantially preventing ambient light from reaching the light detectors prior to reflecting from the test areas; and said readhead being operable free of any non-ambient light sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 39)
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17. A photometric diagnostic instrument for detecting color information from a target area using ambient light, the instrument comprising:
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a miniature readhead including; a housing having a hand-held form factor, including a plate and a tray configured for being superposed with one another, said tray configured for receiving reagent sample media therein, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample; the tray sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media; said plate being optically transmissive, wherein ambient light is transmissible therethrough to the sample media indexed within the tray; an array of light detectors disposed in spaced relation along said plate; said array including sets of light detectors configured to respectively detect light of at least three mutually distinct wavelengths; each set configured to receive diffuse, non-specular reflections of light from a respective one of the test areas when the sample media is indexed within said tray; a plurality of light shields superposed with each of said light detectors to selectively permit ambient light to pass to the tray, while substantially preventing ambient light from reaching the light detectors prior to reflecting from the test areas; and said readhead being operable free of any non-ambient light sources; a processor operatively coupled to said light detectors; said processor configured to analyze the reflections received by said light detectors; and said processor configured to derive a diagnosis value from said analysis, and to generate an output corresponding thereto. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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40. A method for reading reagent sample media, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving the sample media into a sample tray of a readhead of a photometric diagnostic device, the readhead having a hand-held form factor, including a plate and a tray configured for being superposed with one another, said tray configured for receiving reagent sample media in an indexed fit therewith, said plate being optically transmissive, wherein ambient light is transmissible therethrough to the sample media indexed within the tray; (b) exposing the readhead to ambient light wherein the sample media is illuminated by ambient light transmitted through the plate; (c) capturing diffuse, non-specular reflectances of the test areas with respective sets of light detectors within an array of ambient light detectors disposed in spaced relation along said plate, said sets configured to respectively detect light of at least three mutually distinct ambient light wavelengths; (d) preventing ambient light from reaching the array of light detectors prior to reflecting from the test areas during said capturing (c); (e) determining the color of the non-specular reflectances; (f) deriving the amount of an analyte in the sample from said determining (e); and (g) generating an output signal corresponding to the amount. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A miniature readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for detecting color information from a target area using ambient light, the readhead comprising:
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housing means having a hand-held form factor; said housing means including plate means and tray means configured for being superposed with one another, said tray means configured for receiving reagent sample media therein, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample; the tray sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media; said plate means being optically transmissive, wherein ambient light is transmissible therethrough to the sample media indexed within the tray; light detection means disposed in spaced relation along said plate means; said light detection means including sets of light detectors configured to respectively detect light of at least three mutually distinct wavelengths; each set configured to receive diffuse, non-specular reflections of light from a respective one of the test areas when the sample media is indexed within said tray; light shield means superposed with each of said light detectors to selectively permit ambient light to pass to the tray, while substantially preventing ambient light from reaching the light detectors prior to reflecting from the test areas; and said readhead being operable free of any non-ambient light sources. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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Specification