Portable, scanning and analyzing apparatus

• US 7,365,849 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Poct-DX, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Unison Biotechnology, Inc.
• Inventors: Lai, Roger, Lo, Shih Yang, Liu, Yung Chuan, Yao, Wen Fa, Hsiung, Kuang Pin, Wang, Chih Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Punnoose; Roy M
• Application Number:
  US11/249,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 356/402, 356/408, 356/409
• US Class Current: 356/402
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6419 Excitation at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6441 with two or more labels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8645 using multidetectors, detector array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8654 Mechanical support; Mounting of sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• 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 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0626 Use of several LED's for spatial resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0627 Use of several LED's for spectral resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/064 Stray light conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0833 Fibre array at detector, resolving

Abstract

A portable, scanning and analyzing apparatus that uses an integrated scan probe for the scanning operation is described. The integrated scanning probe is formed with a light emitting diode array light source and a photodiode detector array. After a test sample finishes the reaction in test strip paper, a scanner device scans the test paper to collect the optical signals at variable, consecutive intervals along the scanning path to obtain the test signal accordingly. Then, the scanner device outputs the test signal for amplification. The amplified test signals are sent to an analog/digital converter such that the amplified test signals are converted into digital signals, which are then output to a computing unit for analyzing for subjective analytical results. The computing unit couples with the controller device, wherein the controller device controls a driver device that drives the scanner device to perform the scanning operation on the test paper.

Claims

1. A portable, scanning and analyzing apparatus, used to scan a test paper and the test paper comprises a test sample thereon, the scanning and analyzing apparatus comprising:

a scanner device, for scanning the test paper and outputting a test signal corresponding to the test sample, wherein the scanner device comprises an integrated modular scanning probe comprising at least a light emitting diode (LED) array light source and at least a photodiode detector array assembled together in the integrated modular scanning probe, wherein the LED array light source emits a light to the test paper and the test paper reflects the light to the photodiode detector array, wherein the light from the LED array light source is incident to a surface of the test paper by an incident angle of 45 degrees from a normal direction of the surface of the test pate and the test paper reflects the incident light by deflecting 90 degrees from the incident angle;

a computing unit, coupled to the scanner device to receive and analyze the test signal, wherein the computing unit receives an incoming command and accordingly outputs a control signal;

a controller, coupled to the computing unit, wherein the controller outputs a driver signal in accordance with the control signal received; and

a driver device, coupled with the controller device and the scanner device, wherein the driver device receives the control signal and accordingly drives the scanner device to scan the test paper.

2. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scanner device comprises of an optical unit integrated from the LED array light source and the photodiode detector array, a step-in motor and a test paper tray for holding the test paper.

3. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the computing unit is used to at least perform an optical signals'"'"' floating baselines management, a test signal summing up manipulation and a driven mechanism to move the optical unit repeatedly over the test paper.

4. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a signal amplifier that is coupled with the scanner device to amplify the test signal.

5. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an analog/digital converter that is coupled with the signal amplifier to receive the amplified test signal, wherein the analog/digital converter converts the amplified test signal into a digital signal that is transferred to the computing unit.

6. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a serial interface that is placed between the computing unit and the controller device to enable the control signal transferring between the computing unit and the controller device.

7. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the interface is a standard RS-232 interface.

8. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test sample comprises a blood sample.

9. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test sample comprises a body fluid.

10. A scanning and analyzing apparatus for scanning a test paper and a test sample thereon, the scanning and analyzing apparatus comprising:

a scanner device that scans the test paper and outputs a test signal in accordance with a test result of the testing sample, wherein the scanner device comprises an integrated scan probe that comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) array light source and at least one photodiode detector array assembled together in the integrated scanning probe, wherein the LED array light source emits a light to the test paper and the test paper reflects the light to the photodiode detector array, wherein the light from the LED array light source is incident to a surface of the test paper by an incident angle of 45 degrees from a normal direction of the surface of the test pate and the test paper reflects the incident light by deflecting 90 degrees from the incident angle;

a signal amplifier that is coupled with the scanner device, wherein the signal amplifier receives, amplifies and then outputs the test signal;

an analog/digital converter that is coupled with the signal amplifier, wherein the analog/digital converter converts the amplified test signal into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal;

a computing unit that is coupled with the analog/digital converter, wherein the computing unit receives and processes the digital signal, and outputs a control signal after receiving a command;

a controller device that is coupled with the computing unit, wherein the controller device receives the control signal and accordingly outputs a driver signal;

an interface that is placed between the computing unit and the controller device, wherein the interface enables the control signal transferring between the computing unit and the controller device; and

a driver device that is coupled with the controller device and the scanner device, wherein the driver device drives the scanner device to scan the test paper in accordance with the driver signal.

11. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the interface is a standard RS-232 interface.

12. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the test sample comprises a blood sample.

13. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the test sample comprises a body fluid.

14. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the scanner device comprises an optical unit integrated from the LED array light source and the photodiode detector array, a step-in motor and a test paper tray for hold the test paper.

15. The scanning and analyzing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the computing unit is used to at least perform an optical signals'"'"' floating baselines management, a test signal summing up manipulation and a driven mechanism to move an optical unit repeatedly over the test paper.