Method and apparatus for inspecting biological samples

• US 8,273,579 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microelectronic Systems Pty. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bizpac (Australia) Pty Ltd. (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Morrison, Allan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, In Suk
• Assistant Examiner(s): KILPATRICK, BRYAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/148,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20050287678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,666 Days
• Field of Search: 436/164, 422/82.05
• US Class Current: 436/164
• 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

Abstract

A method of selecting for analysis a sample of a biological material anisotropically distributed on a substrate, said method comprising the steps of directing a beam of radiation onto said substrate, said radiation being selected to interact with said anisotropically distributed biological material to an extent corresponding to said anisotropy; measuring said interaction at plurality of locations on said substrate; and selecting said sample by reference to said measurements.

An inspection apparatus for selecting for analysis a sample of a biological material anisotropically distributed on a substrate is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises a source of radiation selected to direct a beam of radiation onto said substrate, said radiation being selected to interact with said anisotropically distributed biological material to an extent corresponding to said anisotropy; a detector for measuring said interaction at plurality of locations on said substrate; and a processor coupled to the detector for utilizing the measurement at each of said plurality of locations to select a portion of said sample for further analysis.

Claims

1. A method of selecting for analysis a sample of an anisotropically distributed material, the method comprising:

directing a beam of radiation onto a plurality of locations of an anisotropically distributed material in an absorptive substrate;

measuring an intensity of radiation transmitted through the anisotropically distributed material in an absorptive substrate at each of the plurality of locations;

comparing the intensity of radiation transmitted through the anisotropically distributed material in an absorptive substrate at each of the plurality of locations;

selecting one of the plurality of locations as a sample site based on a comparison of the intensity of radiation transmitted through the anisotropically distributed material in an absorptive substrate at each of the plurality of locations; and

removing the sample site from the absorptive substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the intensity of radiation transmitted through the anisotropically distributed material in the absorptive substrate is measured at the plurality of locations on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the intensity of radiation transmitted through the anisotropically distributed material in the absorptive substrate is measured by a photo-electric detector.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the photo-electric detector produces a voltage proportional to the intensity of the radiation.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising focusing the radiation transmitted through the anisotropically distributed material with a lens between the absorptive substrate and the photo-electric detector.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein directing the beam of radiation comprises directing light from a light source.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising measuring light reflected from the anisotropically distributed material at each of the plurality of locations.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising analyzing the consistency of the light reflected from the anisotropically distributed material at each of the plurality of locations.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein selecting one of the plurality of locations as a sample site is also based on the consistency of the light reflected from the anisotropically distributed material at each of the plurality of locations.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the light source is a high intensity LED.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein the beam of radiation is selected for its absorptive or transmissive interaction with the anisotropically distributed biological material.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein a photodiode is used to measure the intensity of radiation transmitted through the anisotropically distributed material.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein removing the sample site from the absorptive substrate comprises using a punch to remove a portion of the anisotropically distributed material in the absorptive substrate.