ANALYTE DISPOSABLE MEANS AND DEVICE FOR READING INFORMATION

• US 20090212109A1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: List, Hans, Asfour, Jean-Michel, Harttig, Herbert, Kocherscheidt, Gerrit, Roesicke, Bernd, Thoes, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 8,448,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1473 error correction

Abstract

An arrangement is provided for reading information from a disposable with an information carrier which comprises a code formed by graphic symbols for the machine-readable provision of information and an optical reading device for the code which has a light source and a sensor. Generally according to the embodiments of the present invention, the information. carrier comprises a code applied to a transparent or translucent substrate which can be read under stationary transillumination by means of the light source as a shadow image projected onto the sensor.

Claims

1. An analytical disposable for an analytical system, comprising at least one test unit and an information carrier which comprises a two-dimensional code formed by graphic symbols configured for machine-readable provision of test-specific information, wherein the code comprises a base code area containing the information and at least one generally adjacent copy code area containing a copy of at least a section of the base code area.

2. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the code area comprises a quadratic base code area framed by a plurality of copy code areas.

3. The analytical disposable according to claim 2, wherein the copy code areas each are displaced one or more of vertically, horizontally and diagonally, relative to the base code area.

4. The analytical disposable according to claim 2, wherein starting from the base code area, the copy code areas are alternately in an inverted and non-inverted form.

5. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the at least one copy code area is adjacent to at least an edge of the base code area without overlap and is adjoined by a quiet zone therebetween.

6. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein each copy code area contains a complete copy of the base code area.

7. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the at least one copy code area is formed by code segments of the base code area where the code segments contain at least one edge section of the base code area.

8. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the code comprises matrix-like symbols formed by optically distinguishable modules.

9. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the code comprises a 2D matrix code having an information content of at least 100 bit.

10. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the code is applied to a transparent or translucent substrate and is readable under transillumination as a shadow image projected onto a flat sensor.

11. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the code is detectable by an optical reading system that operates reflectively.

12. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the size of the base code area is generally about 0.5-fold to about 1.0-fold the size of the sensor area of a reading device configured to detect the code.

13. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the code contains alignment patterns in the form of one or both of rows and columns.

14. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the test unit comprises a section of a test tape and the information carrier is applied to a tape cassette containing the test tape.

31. The analytical disposable according to claim 1, wherein the code comprises a 2D matrix code having an information content of at least 500 bit.

15. An arrangement for reading information on a disposable with an information carrier, comprising a code formed by graphic symbols configured for machine-readable provision of information, and an optical reading device for the code comprising a light source and a sensor, wherein the code is applied to a transparent or translucent substrate and is configured to be read under stationary transillumination by means of the light source as a shadow image projected onto the sensor.

16. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the information carrier is arranged at a distance from the sensor of between about 5 mm and 0 mm, wherein 0 mm includes direct contact with the sensor.

17. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the light source is located on the side of the information carrier that faces away from the sensor.

18. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the light source comprises a point light source.

19. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the light source generates an irradiated path between the light source and the information carrier, and wherein the irradiated path is at least about 5-times longer than the distance between the information carrier and the sensor.

20. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein a light path generated between the light source and information carrier is folded by one of a mirror and an optical system.

21. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the area of the code is generally uniformly transilluminated by a beam of rays originating from the light source.

22. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the code comprises one of a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional matrix code.

23. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the information carrier is affixed to the disposable like a label and the disposable comprises an aperture in the area where the code is affixed.

24. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the information carrier is configured as an integral part of the disposable where the substrate is formed by a transparent or translucent wall area of the disposable.

25. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises one of a CMOS sensor and a CCD sensor, and wherein the light-sensitive sensor surface comprises a plurality of pixels.

26. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the reading device is configured as a part of a device designed to exchange the disposable.

27. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the reading device comprises a flexible spring-mounting for the sensor configured to compensate for positioning tolerances between the reading device and the information carrier.

28. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the light source comprises a light guide extending into the interior of the disposable and the sensor is arranged outside the disposable.

29. A system comprising a disposable and an arrangement for reading information according to claim 15, wherein the disposable can be inserted into a holder configured to position the information carrier relative to the arrangement.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the holder comprises a portable hand-held device.