Miniature optical readhead for optical diagnostic device
First Claim
1. A miniature readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for illuminating a target area and detecting color information from the target area, the readhead comprising:
- a housing having a hand-held form factor including a holder configured for receiving reagent sample media therein, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample;
the holder sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media;
an array of light sources coupled to said housing, each of said light sources configured to emit light onto a respective one of the test areas;
an array of chambers disposed in said housing;
an array of light detectors respectively disposed within said array of chambers;
said chambers configured to enable each of said light detectors to receive diffuse, non-specular reflections of the light from a respective one of the test areas when the sample media is indexed within said holder; and
said chambers configured to substantially prevent said light detectors from receiving specular reflections of the light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A miniature readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument includes a housing of hand-held form factor, configured for receiving reagent sample media therein. The sample media has a plurality of test areas configured to react with, and change color, according to an amount of an analyte in a sample. The holder is sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media and includes an array of light sources coupled to the housing, each of the light sources configured to emit light onto a respective one of the test areas. An array of chambers respectively containing an array of light detectors, is configured to enable each of the light detectors to receive diffuse, non-specular reflections of the light from the test areas, while substantially preventing the light detectors from receiving specular reflections of the light.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A miniature readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for illuminating a target area and detecting color information from the target area, the readhead comprising:
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a housing having a hand-held form factor including a holder configured for receiving reagent sample media therein, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample; the holder sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media; an array of light sources coupled to said housing, each of said light sources configured to emit light onto a respective one of the test areas; an array of chambers disposed in said housing; an array of light detectors respectively disposed within said array of chambers; said chambers configured to enable each of said light detectors to receive diffuse, non-specular reflections of the light from a respective one of the test areas when the sample media is indexed within said holder; and said chambers configured to substantially prevent said light detectors from receiving specular reflections of the light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A miniature photometric diagnostic instrument comprising:
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a housing having a hand-held form factor; said housing including a holder configured for receiving reagent sample media therein, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample; the holder sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media; an array of light sources coupled to said housing, each of said light sources configured to emit light onto a respective one of the test areas; an array of chambers disposed in said housing; an array of light or color detectors respectively disposed within said array of chambers; said chambers configured to enable each of said light or color detectors to receive non-specular reflections of the light from a respective one of the test areas when the sample media is indexed within said holder; said chambers configured to substantially prevent said light or color detectors from receiving specular reflections of the light; a processor operatively coupled to said light or color detectors and to said light sources;
said processor configured to analyze the reflections received by said light or color detectors; andsaid processor configured to derive a diagnosis value from said analysis, and to generate an output corresponding thereto. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for reading reagent sample media, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving the sample media into a sample holder of a readhead of a photometric diagnostic device, the readhead having a hand-held form factor, and the sample holder configured to maintain the sample media in an indexed fit therewith; (b) sequentially emitting light onto a respective one of the test areas; (c) sequentially capturing diffuse, non-specular reflectances of the test areas with respective ones of an array of light or color detectors; (d) preventing specular reflections of the light from reaching the array of light or color detectors during said sequentially capturing (c); (e) determining the color of the non-specular reflectances; (f) deriving the amount of an analyte in the sample from said determining (e); and (g) generating an output signal corresponding to the amount. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A miniature readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for illuminating a target area and receiving light from the target area, said readhead comprising:
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housing means having a hand-held form factor; said housing means including holding means for receiving reagent sample media therein, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample; the holding means sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media; illumination means coupled to said housing means, for emitting light onto a respective one of the test areas; chamber means disposed in said housing; color detection means respectively disposed within said array of chambers; said chamber means configured to enable each of said light or color detectors to receive diffuse, non-specular reflections of the light from a respective one of the test areas when the sample media is indexed within said holder; and said chamber means configured to substantially prevent said color detection means from receiving specular reflections of the light.
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35. A photometric diagnostic instrument comprising:
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housing means having a hand-held form factor; said housing means including holding means for receiving reagent sample media therein, the sample media having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas configured to react with a sample when disposed in contact with the sample and to change color according to an amount of an analyte in the sample; the holding means sized and shaped for forming an indexed fit with the sample media; illumination means coupled to said housing, for emitting light onto a respective one of the test areas; an array of chamber means; color detection means respectively disposed within said array of chamber means; said chamber means configured for enabling said color detection means to receive non-specular reflections of the light from the test areas when the sample media is indexed within said holding means; said chamber means configured to substantially prevent said color detection means from receiving specular reflections of the light; processing means operatively coupled to said color detection means and to said illumination means; said processing means configured to analyze the reflections received by said color detection means; and said processing means configured to derive a diagnosis value from said analysis, and to generate an output corresponding thereto.
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Specification