Optical format

• US 8,377,381 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Dosmann, Andrew J., Wogoman, Frank W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Turk, Neil N
• Application Number:
  US10/750,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20040142370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,336 Days
• Field of Search: 356/39, 356/40, 356/41, 356/42, 422/55, 422/73, 422/82.05, 422/82.11
• US Class Current: 422/82.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence

Abstract

An optical waveguiding optical format enables consistent optical analysis of small sample volumes. The optical format is comprised of an illumination light guide, a read window upon which a sample is placed, a sample collection needle or capillary, and a detection guide. Light redirecting facets are provided within the format itself such that the format serves as a unitary component for accepting light, directing light through a sample, and emitting light for detection.

Claims

1. A format for optical analysis of samples, said format comprising:

an illumination input area;

an illumination light guide in optical communication with said illumination input area;

a read window disposed approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said illumination light guide;

a detection guide having one end proximate said read window and having a second end forming a detection output, said illumination light guide, said read window, and said detection guide defining a light pathway; and

an overillumination redirection component located adjacent to and in optical communication with said illumination input area and said illumination light guide, said overillumination redirection component comprising four overillumination redirection facets disposed about an outside perimeter of said illumination light guide, said overillumination redirection facets configured to direct overilluminating light away from said light pathway.

2. The format of claim 1 further comprising an illumination redirection facet along said light pathway between said illumination input area and said read window, said illumination redirection facet configured to redirect illuminating light along said light pathway.

3. The format of claim 1 further comprising a detection redirection facet along said light pathway between said read window and said detection output, said detection redirection facet configured to redirect detection light along said light pathway.

4. The format of claim 1 further comprising a needle extending outwardly from said format and adapted to deposit a sample onto said read window.

5. The format of claim 1 further comprising a dried reagent on said read window.

6. The format of claim 1 wherein said illumination light guide has a first cross-sectional area and said detection guide has a second cross-sectional area, said second cross-sectional area being larger than said first cross-sectional area.

7. The format of claim 1 wherein said illumination light guide and said detection guide are molded of a unitary piece of optically clear material.

8. The format of claim 1 wherein said illumination light guide and said detection guide are molded of separate pieces of optically clear material joined into a single optical format.

9. The format of claim 1, wherein said overillumination redirection facets are configured to direct overilluminating light approximately perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said illumination light guide.

10. The format of claim 9 wherein at least two of said overillumination redirection facets are disposed at an approximately 45-degree angle from said illumination light guide.

11. The format of claim 1 further comprising an illumination redirection facet along said light pathway between said illumination input area and said read window, and a detection redirection facet along said light pathway between said read window and said detection output.

12. A format for optical analysis of samples, said format comprising:

an illumination input area;

an illumination light guide in optical communication with said illumination input area, said illumination light guide comprising four sides defining an outside perimeter of said illumination light guide;

a read window proximate to one end of said illumination light guide;

a detection guide having one end proximate said read window and having a second end forming a detection output; and

four overillumination redirection facets located proximate to and in optical communication with said illumination input area and said illumination light guide, said four overillumination redirection facets substantially surrounding said outside perimeter of said illumination light guide such that each overillumination redirection facet is adjacent to and in optical communication with a corresponding side of said illumination light guide.

13. The format of claim 12 wherein at least two of said overillumination redirection facets are disposed at approximately 45 degree angles from a longitudinal axis of said illumination light guide.

14. The format of claim 12 further comprising a needle extending outwardly from said format and adapted to deposit a sample onto said read window.

15. The format of claim 12 further comprising a dried reagent on said read window.

16. A format for optical analysis of samples, said format comprising:

an illumination input area;

an illumination light guide in optical communication with said illumination input area;

a read window disposed along a light pathway;

a detection guide having one end proximate said read window and having a second end forming a detection output, wherein said illumination light guide, said read window, and said detection guide define said light pathway; and

four overillumination facets located adjacent to and in optical communication with said illumination input area and said illumination light guide, said overillumination facets disposed at acute angles relative to said light pathway and configured to direct overilluminating light away from said light pathway.

17. The format of claim 16 wherein said read window is disposed approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said illumination light guide.

18. The format of claim 16 wherein said detection guide is disposed approximately parallel to said illumination light guide.

19. A format for optical analysis of samples, said format comprising:

an illumination light guide adjacent to an illumination input area, said illumination light guide having an outside perimeter;

a detection guide having a first detection end proximate a read window and a second detection end forming a detection area;

an overillumination redirection component proximate said illumination input area and substantially surrounding said outside perimeter of said illumination light guide, said overillumination redirection component comprising one or more overillumination redirection facets each disposed at an acute angle relative to a light pathway defined by said illumination light guide, said read window, and said detection guide such that said overillumination redirection component is configured to direct overilluminating light away from said light pathway.

20. The format of claim 19, wherein said illumination light guide has a polygonal cross-section comprising a plurality of sides that define said outside perimeter.

21. The format of claim 20, wherein each side borders a corresponding overillumination redirection facet.

22. The format of claim 19 wherein said read window is disposed approximately perpendicular to said light pathway.

23. The format of claim 19 wherein said overillumination redirection component is configured to direct overilluminating light approximately perpendicular to light pathway.

24. The format of claim 19 wherein said format further comprises an illumination redirection facet along said light pathway between said illumination input area and said read window, and a detection redirection facet along said light pathway between said read window and said detection area.

25. The format of claim 19 further comprising a needle extending outwardly from said format and adapted to deposit a sample onto said read window.

26. The format of claim 19 wherein said illumination light guide has a first cross-sectional area and said detection guide has a second cross-sectional area, said second cross-sectional area being larger than said first cross-sectional area.

27. The format of claim 19 wherein said illumination light guide and said detection guide are molded of a unitary piece of optically clear material.

28. The format of claim 19 wherein said illumination light guide and said detection guide are molded of separate pieces of optically clear material joined into a single optical format.