Reagentless analysis of biological samples

• US 6,426,045 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1999
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Shain, Eric B., Jeng, Tzyy-Wen, McDowell, Larry L., Oosta, Gary M., Pezzaniti, Joseph Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Snay, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/407,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 422/82.09, 422/102, 422/82.05, 356/72, 356/73, 356/246, 356/128
• US Class Current: 422/82.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4133 Refractometers, e.g. differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/144444 Glucose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/146666 Bile pigment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/147777 Plural nitrogen in the same ring [e.g., barbituates, creatinine, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/171538 Urea or blood urea nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/200833 Carbonyl, ether, aldehyde or ketone containing

Abstract

Apparatus and method for determining at least one parameter, e. g., concentration, of at least one analyte, e. g., urea, of a biological sample, e. g., urine. A biological sample particularly suitable for the apparatus and method of this invention is urine. In general, spectroscopic measurements can be used to quantify the concentrations of one or more analytes in a biological sample. In order to obtain concentration values of certain analytes, such as hemoglobin and bilirubin, visible light absorption spectroscopy can be used. In order to obtain concentration values of other analytes, such as urea, creatinine, glucose, ketones, and protein, infrared light absorption spectroscopy can be used. The apparatus and method of this invention utilize one or more mathematical techniques to improve the accuracy of measurement of parameters of analytes in a biological sample. The invention also provides an apparatus and method for measuring the refractive index of a sample of biological fluid while making spectroscopic measurements substantially simultaneously.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring refractive index of sample comprising:

(a) a source of light capable of transmitting a beam of light through said biological sample;

(b) a sample cell assembly having a chamber for containing said biological sample, said chamber having a first window, a second window, a third window, and a fourth window, said third window and said fourth window perpendicular to said first window and said second window, said third window parallel to said fourth window, said first window not parallel to said second window; and

(c) a detector, said source of light, said first window, and said second window positioned such that a beam of light from said source of light is capable of entering said first window of said chamber, is capable of being transmitted through said sample, is capable of emerging from said second window of said chamber, wherein said beam of light entering said first window is not parallel to said beam of light emerging from said second window and is not perpendicular to said first window.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said source of light is selected from the group consisting of a laser diode, light emitting diode, and incandescent lamp.

3. An apparatus for measuring refractive index of a biological sample comprising:

(a) a source of light capable of transmitting a beam of light through said biological sample;

(b) a sample cell assembly having a chamber for containing said biological sample, said chamber having a first window and a second window, at least one of said first window and said second window of said chamber being curved, whereby a beam of light entering said first window and exiting said second window is caused to focus at a focal point, said chamber further having a third window and a fourth window, said third window and said fourth window perpendicular to said first window and said second window, said third window parallel to said fourth window; and

(c) a detector, said detector positioned such that said beam of light forms a spot on said detector.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said source of light is selected from the group consisting of a laser diode, light emitting diode, and incandescent lamp.

5. An apparatus for measuring refractive index of a biological sample comprising:

(a) a source of light capable of transmitting a beam of light through said biological sample;

(b) a sample cell assembly having a chamber containing said biological sample, said chamber having a first window and a second window, said first window parallel to said second window, said chamber further having a third window and a fourth window, said third window and said fourth window perpendicular to said first window and said second window, said third window parallel to said fourth window; and

(c) a detector substantially adjacent to said second window, said beam of light entering said first window not perpendicular to said first window.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said source of light is selected from the group consisting of a laser diode, light emitting diode, and incandescent lamp.