Fluid analyser systems

• US 7,661,301 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oxford Medical Diagnostics Limited (Avacta Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Elan Vital UK Ltd.
• Inventors: Moor, Timothy Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): SHABMAN, MARK A
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHABMAN, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US10/588,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 73/233.5, 73/232, 73/233.7, 731/49, 73/614.8, 73/615.2, 73/530.1
• US Class Current: 73/149
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/68 using high frequency electric fields

Abstract

The radiation emitted by the various components in a sample of a fluid wherein the radiation emitted by activated molecules within the sample of the fluid is used to determine the nature of and quantities of materials present in the fluid and a fluid analyser system comprising a receptacle(s) and an analysis apparatus containing a consistent light condition compartment containing temperature detection device(s) into which the receptacle containing the fluid sample may be placed and means are provided for activating the molecules within the sample so that the radiation emitted by the sample may be detected and amplified.

Claims

1. A fluid analyser system comprising;

a receptacle(s) for the collection of a fluid sample and;

an analysis apparatus containing a consistent light condition compartment into which the receptacle containing the fluid sample may be placed;

means external to said receptacle(s) to provide an excitation discharge within the consistent light condition compartment for activating the molecules within the sample;

means for detecting the radiation emitted by the sample and for generating a signal indicative of said radiation emitted; and

means for magnifying the signal wherein the receptacle is provided with pinholes covered by metallic contacts to be positioned against the means to provide the discharge to control the discharge through the sample when the receptacle is positioned within the consistent light condition compartment for analysis.

2. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1 comprising means for translating the magnified signal into the nature and quantity of the fluids present in the sample said means being referenced according to:

a) the known volume of the inflated receptacle

b) the light condition of the fluid sample

c) the temperature of the fluid sample

d) the duration of a radiation scan and/or

e) the distance of the radiation scan.

3. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1 in which the analyser system is non-invasive.

4. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1, wherein said system is capable of transmitting and/or receiving test data remotely.

5. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1 including one or more of a visual display screen, a printer, a data transmitter/receiver, data storage, rechargeable/universal mains power supply, peripheral ports, keyboard, scroll bar, switches.

6. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1 a comprising a database of fluids and their known wavelengths.

7. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1 which is portable.

8. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1 in which walls of the receptacle have a high optical clarity and are flexible but not elastic.

9. A fluid analyser according to claim 1 in which the receptacle is formed from a fluorocarbon polymer.

10. A fluid analyser according to claim 1 in which the receptacle is formed from a medical grade polypropylene.

11. A fluid analyser according to claim 1 in which the receptacle is provided with a one-way valve.

12. An analyser according to claim 11 in which the valve is in a valve holder which is shaped so that a fluid delivery tube, can be attached to the top of the receptacle.

13. A fluid analyser according to claim 11 in which the valve is in a valve holder which is shaped so that another receptacle or attachment can be attached to the bottom of the receptacle.

14. A fluid analyser according to claim 1 in which the shape of the inflated receptacle is such that it is a firm fit within the consistent light condition environment.

15. A fluid analyser according to claim 1 containing means whereby the peak intensities and peak intensity values are used/calculated and/or correlated with known/unknown peak intensities and/or peak intensity values (nm wavelength values) to indicate the nature of the fluids present in the sample and to determine the concentrations of the fluids in the sample.

16. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1, further comprising means for enhancing the signal from the radiation emitted by the sample.

17. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1, further comprising a timer to measure the duration of the time the means for the detecting the radiation is exposed to the radiation emitted by the activated fluid sample, during or after the excitation discharge.

18. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1, wherein the excitation discharge is a radio frequency discharge such as a radio frequency discharge Telsa Coil or other electric discharge.

19. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1, further comprising means for translating the signal into the nature and concentration of the fluids present in the sample said means being referenced according to:

a) the light condition of the fluid sample and

b) the duration of the radiation scan.

20. A fluid analyser according to claim 1, wherein said metallic contacts are of aluminium adhesive tape.

21. A fluid analyser according to claim 1, wherein the excitation discharge is transverse to the absorption device.

22. A fluid analyser system according to claim 1, further comprising a light meter for determining the consistent light condition environment.

23. A fluid analyser according to claim 1, further comprising computer driven software to provide an advisory status report on the content of the fluid and the conditions under which the analysis was performed.

24. A fluid analyser according to claim 1, wherein the sample may be taken at one location, scanning and analysis system may be used in the same or another location and the detection signal, is transferred to another location for analysis and/or storage or kept in the same location for analysis and/or storage.