Optically readable strip for analyte detection having on-strip orientation index
First Claim
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1. An elongated test strip for determining the presence or quantity of an analyte in a liquid by inserting said test strip into an optical reading apparatus;
- said test strip comprising;
a first portion, for having liquid applied thereto, said portion having an area on a major surface of the strip defining a reaction zone, such reaction zone varying in reflectance as a function of the quantity of analyte in the applied liquid;
a second portion comprising that part of said major surface that lies between said reaction zone and a first end of said strip, said second portion consisting of an orientation index zone and a contiguous area, which separated by an interface that is generally perpendicular to the long dimension of said strip;
said orientation index zone having a contrasting reflectance relative to that of said contiguous area;
whereby said apparatus is provided with optical means for sequentially determining reflectance values of the major surface as the strip is inserted into the apparatus and with microprocessing means for detecting the presence of the orientation index zone or for reporting its absence.
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Abstract
A test strip is provided for determining the presence or quantity of an analyte in a liquid by inserting the strip into an optical reading apparatus. The test strip is provided with an orientation index zone having a reflectance that contrasts with the reflectance of areas contiguous thereto and such orientation index zone is employed to affirm that the test strip has not been inserted upside down with respect to the apparatus.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An elongated test strip for determining the presence or quantity of an analyte in a liquid by inserting said test strip into an optical reading apparatus;
- said test strip comprising;
a first portion, for having liquid applied thereto, said portion having an area on a major surface of the strip defining a reaction zone, such reaction zone varying in reflectance as a function of the quantity of analyte in the applied liquid;
a second portion comprising that part of said major surface that lies between said reaction zone and a first end of said strip, said second portion consisting of an orientation index zone and a contiguous area, which separated by an interface that is generally perpendicular to the long dimension of said strip;
said orientation index zone having a contrasting reflectance relative to that of said contiguous area;
whereby said apparatus is provided with optical means for sequentially determining reflectance values of the major surface as the strip is inserted into the apparatus and with microprocessing means for detecting the presence of the orientation index zone or for reporting its absence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- said test strip comprising;
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11. An apparatus for determining the presence or quantity of an analyte in a liquid applied to a test strip and inserted into said apparatus, wherein said test strip comprises:
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a portion for having said liquid applied thereto, said portion having an area on a major surface of said strip defining a reaction zone, said reaction zone varying in reflectance as a function of the quantity of analyte in the applied liquid, and an orientation index zone positioned to lead said reaction zone as said strip is inserted into said apparatus, said orientation index zone having a contrasting reflectance relative to that of the areas of the major surface contiguous to the orientation index zone;
said apparatus comprising;
a longitudinally extending strip passageway having an open end for receiving said strip and an opposed end;
optics comprising a light source for directing light into said passageway at a position between said open end and said opposed end and a light detector for detecting light reflected from said passageway;
conversion means for converting said detected reflected light into a signal;
microprocessing means for receiving said signal to detect the presence or absence of the orientation index zone in the passageway. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a process for determining the presence or quantity of an analyte in a liquid applied to an elongated test strip and inserted into an apparatus, a method for determining that the strip has been properly oriented in said apparatus, said method comprising:
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inserting said strip into said apparatus, said strip comprising a first portion having liquid applied thereto, said portion having an area on a major surface of said strip defining a reaction zone, said reaction zone varying in reflectance as a function of the quantity of analyte in the applied liquid and said strip further comprising a second portion comprising that part of said major surface that lies between said reaction zone and the leading edge of the strip, said second portion consisting of an orientation index zone and a contiguous area, defined by an interface that is generally perpendicular to the long dimension of said strip;
determining the reflectance of the major surface of the strip by directing light at a fixed position in the pathway of the strip as it is inserted and detecting the reflected light;
detecting the presence or absence of reflected light corresponding to the passage of said orientation index zone past said fixed position as the strip is inserted into said passageway.
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Specification