SPECIMEN TESTING DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20120122231A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Bio Research Co., Ltd (Precision System Science Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Universal Bio Research Co., Ltd (Precision System Science Co., Ltd)
• Inventors: Tajima, Hideji
• Granted Patent: US 9,335,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/164
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0436 with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0498 Drawers used as storage or dispensing means for vessels or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a specimen testing device and method thereof, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact and reliable specimen testing device and method thereof. The specimen testing device includes one, two or more test cartridge containers which comprise a plurality of accommodation parts which accommodate or can accommodate a specimen and one, two or more reagent solutions or testing tools used for testing the specimen, and which visibly display specimen information for identifying or managing the specimen and test information showing test content; an automatic testing unit which is attached with or supports the testing tools and which causes a reaction of the specimen and the reagent solution accommodated in the test cartridge containers to obtain a predetermined optical state; an optical measurement unit which measures the optical state obtained by the automatic testing unit; and a digital camera which captures an image of content including the specimen information and the test information and displayed on the one, two or more test cartridge containers to obtain image data.

Claims

1. A specimen testing device comprising:

one, two or more test cartridge containers which comprise a plurality of accommodation parts which accommodate or can accommodate a specimen and one, two or more reagent solutions or testing tools used for testing the specimen, and which visibly display specimen information for identifying or managing the specimen and test information showing test content;

an automatic testing unit which is attached with or supports the testing tools and which causes a reaction of the specimen and the reagent solution accommodated in the test cartridge containers to obtain a predetermined optical state;

an optical measurement unit which measures the optical state obtained by the automatic testing unit; and

a digital camera which captures an image of content including the specimen information and the test information and displayed on the one, two or more test cartridge containers to obtain image data;

wherein the digital camera includes;

an analyzing unit which analyzes whether or not there is code data in the obtained image data, and when the code data is specified, converting the code data into analyzed data matching the code data, to obtain analyzed data and a data synthesizing unit which synthesizes the image data and the analyzed data to output.

3. The specimen testing device according to claim 1, wherein the test cartridge container includes:

a visible recording medium which displays or can display the specimen information and the test information; and

a medium attachment part to which the visible recording medium is attached, and further includes a writing mechanism which automatically writes a measurement result of the optical measurement unit in an empty area of the visible recording medium.

4. The specimen testing device according to claim 3, wherein the writing mechanism comprises a thermal transfer printer mechanism which performs heating and printing to display a digital number.

5. The specimen testing device according to claim 3, wherein the visible recording medium is detachably attached to the medium attaching part of the test cartridge containers.

6. The specimen testing device according to claim 1, wherein

the automatic testing unit has a dispenser, the dispenser including:

an suction/discharging mechanism which can suck and discharge gas;

a nozzle which communicates with the suction/discharging mechanism and is detachably attached to the testing tools; and

a moving mechanism which is provided with the nozzle relatively movably with respect to the test cartridge containers, and

the testing tools are accommodated or can be accommodated in the test cartridge containers.

7. The specimen testing device according to claim 6, wherein the test cartridge containers include one, two or more wells which accommodate in advance one, two or more reagents used to test the specimen, and which are sealed with a piercable film, and accommodate or can accommodate a piercing tip which is detachably attached to the nozzle of the dispenser and can pierce the film.

8. The specimen testing device according to claim 6, wherein

the automatic testing unit includes a magnetic member which can apply and remove a magnetic force to and from an inside of the dispenser tip from an outside of the dispenser tip, and

at least one well of the test cartridge containers accommodates a magnetic particle suspension in which magnetic particles are suspended in a liquid.

9. The specimen testing device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic testing unit comprises a temperature controller which can control a temperature in at least one well of the test cartridge containers.

10. The specimen testing device according to claim 9, wherein the automatic testing unit includes:

a cap which is openable with respect to an opening part of the well where the temperature is controlled; and

a cap-blocked-duration functioning mechanism which uses the suction/discharging mechanism or the moving mechanism to enable the cap to be pressed, shaken or moved when the cap blocks the opening part.

11. The specimen testing device according to claim 9, wherein the temperature controller includes:

a block which is provided with a translucent well accommodation hole in which the well is accommodated; and

a heating/cooling unit which heats or cools the block, and

the optical measurement unit can optically measure the interior of the well through the well accommodation hole of the block.

12. The specimen testing device according to claim 10, further comprising a light measuring rod which can be moved by the suction/discharging mechanism or a moving mechanism, wherein

the cap has translucency and is provided to fit to a front end of the optical measurement rod;

and the optical measurement unit can optically measure an interior of the well through the cap by means of the light measuring rod.

13. The specimen testing device according to claim 9, wherein in the test cartridge containers, a mineral oil or silicon oil is accommodated, and in the well where the temperature is controlled, the mineral oil or the silicon oil is introduced.

14. The specimen testing device according to claim 6, wherein the testing tool is a solid-phase built-in tip which can be attached to the nozzle and which are built in a state where a solid-phase can be measured from an outside, the test cartridge containers accommodate or can accommodate the solid-phase built-in tip, and the optical measurement unit can optically measure an interior of the solid-phase built-in tip from an outside.

2. (canceled)

15. A specimen testing method comprising:

visibly displaying specimen information for identifying or managing a specimen and test information showing test content, on one, two or more test cartridge containers which comprise a plurality of accommodation parts which accommodate the specimen and one, two or more reagent solutions or testing tools used to test the specimen;

producing a predetermined optical state by causing a reaction of the specimen and the reagent solutions accommodated in the test cartridge containers, using the testing tools;

measuring the optical state; and

capturing an image of content including the specimen information and the test information and displayed on the test cartridge containers, by means of a digital camera to obtain image data;

wherein the digital camera includes;

an analyzing unit which analyzes whether or not there is code data in the obtained image data, and when the code data is specified, converting the code data into analyzed data matching the code data, to obtain analyzed data and a data synthesizing unit which synthesizes the image data and the analyzed data to output.

16. (canceled)