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Test element analysis system

  • US RE44,788 E1
  • Filed: 07/14/2009
  • Issued: 03/04/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A test element analysis system for the analytical investigation of a liquid sample, comprising:

  • a test element including a carrier film having at least one flat side and, the test element including a test field secured to the at least one flat side, the test field configured to be contacted, in order to perform an analysis, with a liquid sample in such a manner that liquid sample components penetrate into the test field, wherein the test field contains comprising a detection zone and a reagent system the reaction of which, the detection zone being located on a side of the test field directed towards the carrier film, the reagent system including a reagent which upon reaction of the reagent system with at least one component of the sample causes an optically measurable change in a the detection zone located on a side of the test field directed towards the carrier film, said optically measurable change being characteristic for the analysis, the test field having components causing strong optical scattering and diffusely reflecting light directed at the test field, the detection zone of the test field having a scattering coefficient and an absorption coefficient, and the scattering coefficient being at least ten times greater than the absorption coefficient; and

    an evaluation instrument including a test element holder for positioning a the test element in a measuring position, and a measuring device for measuring the optically measurable change in the detection zone, the measuring device including a light emitter for irradiating primary light onto the detection zone, and a detector for detecting secondary light diffusely reflected from the detection zone;

    wherein the carrier film comprises a comprising at least one light guide layer and a coupling out zone, the carrier film having an elongated, strip-shaped form and the at least one light guide layer extending along the a longitudinal dimension of the carrier film, the at least one light guide layer including an entry surface, a primary light guide section directing light inside the interior of the at least one light guide layer from the entry surface to the detection zone, and a secondary light guide section directing light inside the interior of the at least one light guide layer from the detection zone towards the detector, the coupling out zone being a part of the at least one flat side of the carrier film to which the test field is fixed and within which the detection zone of the test field is in optical contact with the carrier film, in such a manner that light is coupled out from the at least one light guide layer into the detection zone; and

    , wherein the primary light of from the light emitter is being coupled into the primary light guide layer section via an the entry surface and running inside the interior of the at least one light guide layer from the entry surface to the detection zone, in such a manner that the light guide layer provides a light guide section for the light path of the primary light between the entry surface and the detection zone running inside the interior of the light guide layer;

    andwherein secondary light which is diffusely reflected from the detection zone is being reflected into the secondary light guide layer section and the light guide layer provides a light guide section for the light path of the secondary light running inside the carrier film between at least one light guide layer in a direction opposite to the primary light from the detection zone and towards the detector; and

    wherein the test field contains components causing strong optical scattering; and

    wherein the scattering coefficient of the detection zone is at least ten times greater than the absorption coefficient.

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