PARALLEL OPTICAL EXAMINATIONS OF A SAMPLE

• US 20140286826A1
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Nederland B.V. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Neijzen, Jacobus Hermanus Maria, Dittmer, Wendy Uyen
• Granted Patent: US 9,983,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.05
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/168 Specific optical properties, e.g. reflective coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0325 Cells for testing reactions, e.g. containing reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0328 Arrangement of two or more cells having different functions for the measurement of reactions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6482 Sample cells, cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/552 Attenuated total reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/648 using evanescent coupling or surface plasmon coupling for the excitation of fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• 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 33/54326 Magnetic particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge (400), a sensor device, and a method for the optical examination of a sample. A first output light beam that originates from a total internal reflection at a detection surface of a TIR chamber and a second output light beam (L2′) that comes from the interior of an inspectable chamber (420) are both received within an observation region (OR). Preferably, these output light beams are detected with the same light detector, e.g. an image sensor. The invention hence allows for observing a total internal reflection at the TIR chamber and for looking into the inspectable chamber (420) from the same observation region (OR). This is for example enabled by different inclinations of the windows encountered by the first and the second output light beams, by different optical elements (407) in the paths of the output light beams, and/or by light scattering surface structures in the inspectable chamber.

Claims

1. A cartridge for the optical examination of a sample, comprising:

a) a first sample chamber with a detection surface;

b) a second sample chamber;

wherein a first output light beam (L2) that originates from a total internal reflection at the detection surface and a second output light beam (L2′

) that comes from the interior of the second sample chamber can be received in an observation region (OR) adjacent to the cartridge; and

wherein at least one optical element is provided for redirecting the second output light beam (L2′

).

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the second sample chamber comprises a colorimetric assay.

8. The cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the second sample chamber has an inspection surface through which the second output light beam (L2′

) can leave the chamber, said inspection surface being parallel to the detection surface.

9. The cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the second sample chamber has an inspection surface through which the second output light beam (L2′

) can leave the chamber, said inspection surface having a light scattering surface structure.

10. The cartridge according to claim 9, characterized in that the light scattering surface structure comprises reagents.

12. The cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical element comprises a cavity through which the second output light beam (L2′

) passes.

13. The cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the first output light beam (L2) and the second output light beam (L2′

) leave the material in which the first sample chamber and the second sample chamber are provided through exit windows of different inclination.

14. The cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the second sample chamber has an inspection surface through which the second output light beam (L2′

) leaves the chamber, said inspection surface being oblique to the detection surface.

2. A sensor apparatus for the optical examination of a sample, comprising:

a) a first sample chamber with a detection surface;

b) a second sample chamber;

c) at least one light detector that is arranged at an observation region (OR) to receive a first output light beam (L2) that originates from a total internal reflection at the detection surface and a second output light beam (L2′

) that comes from the interior of the second sample chamber;

wherein at least one optical element is provided redirecting the second output light beam (L2′

).

6. The sensor apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the first output light beam (L2) and the second output light beam (L2′

) are detected with the same light detector.

7. The sensor apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the light detector comprises an image sensor.

15. The sensor apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the detection surface and the second sample chamber are illuminated with input light beams (L1, L1′

) that are parallel to each other.

3. A method for the optical examination of a sample, said method comprising the following steps:

a) filling sample into a first sample chamber with a detection surface and into a second sample chamber;

b) directing an input light beam (L1) to the detection surface such that it is totally internally reflected into a first output light beam (L2) which passes through an observation region (OR);

c) generating a second output light beam (L2′

) in the second sample chamber that leaves said chamber and then also passes through said observation region (OR);

wherein the second output light beam (L2′

) is redirected by at least one optical element provided for redirecting;

d) detecting the first output light beam (L2) and the second output light beam (L2′

) after their passage through the observation region (OR).

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the second output light beam (L2′

) comprises light that was reflected inside the second sample chamber.

11. (canceled)