Reading devices and assay devices for use therewith

• US 7,141,212 B2
• Filed: 11/09/1994
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inverness Medical Switzerland GmbH (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Inverness Medical Switzerland GmbH (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Catt, Michael, Mundill, Paul Henry, Prior, Michael Evans
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US08/338,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20030044317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,402 Days
• Field of Search: 422 56- 58, 422/61, 436/164, 436/166, 436/169, 356/432, 356/440, 435/6, 435/7.1
• US Class Current: 422/402
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8618 with an optically integrating part, e.g. hemisphere
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8654 Mechanical support; Mounting of sheet
• 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 2201/06153 the sources being LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0696 Pulsed

Abstract

A method of “reading” the result of an assay effected by concentrating a detectable material in a comparatively small zone of a carrier in the form of a strip, sheet or layer through the thickness of which electromagnetic radiation such as visible light is transmissible, wherein at least a portion of one face or the carrier is exposed to incident electromagnetic radiation which is substantially uniform across the entire portion, the portion including the small zone, and electromagnetic radiation emerging from the opposite face of the carrier is measured to determine the assay result. Preferably the radiation is diffuse light.

Claims

1. An assay result measuring device comprising:

(a) a receiver for receiving an assay device for an analyte and holding it in a position, said assay device having a detection zone in which a light-absorbing material is accumulated when a sample containing the analyte is applied to it;

(b) a source of light of a wavelength that is absorbed by the light absorbing material, wherein light from the source of light is diffuse such that it substantially uniformly irradiates a region of a received assay device which encompasses and extends beyond the detection zone;

(c) a detector disposed to detect light from the diffuse light source after it has passed through the detection zone of a received assay device and any light-absorbing material accumulated therein; and

(d) means for receiving a signal from the detector and generating an assay result therefrom;

wherein the source of diffuse light is a pulsed source, and wherein the detector and/or the means for receiving a signal from the detector provide a signal used in generating an assay result in phase, with the pulsed light source.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the source of diffused light is pulsed at a frequency of at least 1 kHz.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the source of light comprises a light emitting portion and a diffuser, said diffuser being disposed between the light emitting portion and the position of a received assay device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the diffuser is polyester or polycarbonate and titanium dioxide.

5. The device of claim 3, further comprising a second diffuser disposed between the detectors and the position of the received assay device.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second diffuser is polyester or polycarbonate and titanium dioxide.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the source of light comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the source of diffused light is pulsed at a frequency of at least 1 kHz.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a diffuser disposed between the detectors and the position of the received assay device.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the source of light comprises a light emitting portion and a diffuser, said diffuser being disposed between the light emitting portion and the position of a received assay device.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the diffuser is polyester or polycarbonate and titanium dioxide.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a second diffuser disposed between the detectors and the position of the received assay device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second diffuser is polyester or polycarbonate and titanium dioxide.

14. An assay result measuring device comprising:

(a) a receiver for receiving an assay device for an analyte and holding it in a position, said assay device having a detection zone in which a light-absorbing material is accumulated when a sample containing the analyte is applied to it;

(b) a source of light of a wavelength that is absorbed by the light absorbing material, wherein light from the source of light is diffuse such that it substantially uniformly irradiates a region of a received assay device which encompasses and extends beyond the detection zone;

(c) a detector disposed to detect light from the diffuse light source after it has passed through the detection zone of a received assay device and any light-absorbing material accumulated therein;

(d) means for receiving a signal from the detector and generating an assay result therefrom;

(e) a diffuser disposed between the detectors and the position of the received assay device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the source of light comprises a light emitting portion and a second diffuser, said second diffuser being disposed between the light emitting portion and the position of a received assay device.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the diffuser is polyester or polycarbonate, and titanium dioxide.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the diffuser is polyester or polycarbonate, and titanium dioxide.

18. An analyte detection system comprising an assay result measuring device and an assay device having a detection zone in which a light-absorbing material is accumulated when a sample containing the analyte is applied to it, wherein the assay result measuring device comprises:

(a) a receiver for receiving an assay device for an analyte and holding it in a position;

(b) a source of light of a wavelength that is absorbed by the light absorbing material, wherein light from the source of light is diffuse such that it substantially uniformly irradiates a region of a received assay device which encompasses and extends beyond the detection zone;

(c) a detector disposed to detect light from the diffuse light source after it has passed through the detection zone of a received assay device and any light-absorbing material accumulated therein; and

(d) means for receiving a signal from the detector and generating an assay result therefrom,

wherein the source of diffuse light is a pulsed source, and wherein the detector and/or the means for receiving a signal from the detector provide a signal used in generating an assay result in phase with the pulsed light source.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the source of diffused light is pulsed at a frequency of at least 1 kHz.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the assay device is received within the receiving means.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the source of light comprises a light emitting portion and a diffuser, said diffuser being disposed between the light emitting portion and the position of a received assay device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the diffuser is polyester or polycarbonate and titanium dioxide.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a second diffuser disposed between the detectors and the position of the received assay device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the second diffuser is polyester or polycarbonate and titanium dioxide.

25. An analyte detection system comprising an assay result measuring device and an assay device having a detection zone in which a light-absorbing material is accumulated when a sample containing the analyte is applied to it, wherein the assay result measuring device comprises:

(a) a receiver for receiving an assay device for an analyte and holding it in a position;

(b) a source of light of a wavelength that is absorbed by the light absorbing material, wherein light from the source of light is diffuse such that it substantially uniformly irradiates a region of a received assay device which encompasses and extends beyond the detection zone;

(c) a detector disposed to detect light from the diffuse light source after it has passed through the detection zone of a received assay device and any light-absorbing material accumulated therein;

(d) means for receiving a signal from the detector and generating an assay result therefrom; and

(e) a diffuser disposed between the detectors and the position of the received assay device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the source of light comprises a light emitting portion and a second diffuser, said second diffuser being disposed between the light emitting portion and the position of a received assay device.