Arrangement and method for the analysis of body fluids

• US 20060014295A1
• Filed: 01/11/2003
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Automation Solutions GmbH (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Automation Solutions GmbH (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Ziegler, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/164
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/05 in blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/5923 Determining zones of density; quantitating spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/5957 using an image detector type detector, e.g. CCD
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/5973 where the cuvette or tube is moved
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00504 combined with carousels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0406 Individual bottles or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/041 lifting items out of a rack for access
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0493 Locating samples; identifying different tube sizes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/51 inside a container, e.g. in an ampoule G01N21/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00603 Reinspection of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for the analysis of body fluids (21), whereby an image recording device (30) is arranged in a low-reflection, preferably zero-reflection chamber (16), provided with an illumination device (45) and connected to an electronic image analyzer. The image recording device (30) is focused on a container (20), containing the body fluid (21) in an analysis position (22), in order to take at least one image of the body fluid (21), analyzed by means of an image analysis software which determines the quality of the body fluid (21).

Claims

1. An arrangement for analyzing body fluids, having an image recording device that is connected to an electronic image evaluation apparatus, characterized in that the body fluid is provided in a chamber, with few optical reflections, in a container, and in that the image recording device is aligned with and focused on the container, which is in an analysis position, and in that an illuminating device for illuminating the container containing the body fluid is provided in the chamber that has few optical reflections, preferably no optical reflections.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the image recording device is a photographic still camera, a color image camera, a video camera or a spectral camera.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the chamber is a chamber with no optical reflections.

4. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in its vertical alignment, the image recording device is aligned with and focused on the container at an acute angle.

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the illuminating device is arranged above the container.

7. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 1 or 6, characterized in that arranged in each case on both sides of the container located in the analysis position is a lateral lamp, the arrangement being such that the mid points of the two lamps and the mid point of the container lie on a straight line (A), and in that a further, middle lamp is provided and arranged in such a way that the mid points of this middle lamp and of the container likewise lie on a straight line (B), which runs perpendicular to the line (A).

8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the optical axis of the image recording device runs in a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the line (A), the line (B) lying in this vertical plane.

9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the lamps have the same horizontal spacing from the container.

10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the spacing of each lamp from the container is sixty [60] millimeters.

11. The arrangement as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the vertical height of the lateral lamps arranged on both sides of the container located in the analysis position is of greater dimension than the vertical height of the middle lamp.

12. The arrangement as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the difference in height between the lateral lamps and the middle lamp is sixteen [16] millimeters.

13. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a scanner is provided that is aligned with the container located in the analysis position.

14. The arrangement as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the scanner is a bar code scanner.

15. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an antireflection plate is provided that is arranged on the side of the container turned away from the image recording device.

16. The arrangement as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the antireflection plate is provided with a white surface, and has a concave depression adapted to the peripheral shape of the container.

17. The arrangement as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the depression merges with the aid of rounded-off portions into in each case a flat surface of the antireflection plate, and the surfaces end in each case in a sharp-edged vertical edge, each edge serving as a measuring edge.

18. The arrangement as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the antireflection plate is arranged such that it can be moved away from the container from a position bearing against the container in the direction of the optical axis of the image recording device, and such that it can be moved up to the container again.

19. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that lifting rotary gripper, is provided for moving a container from its transport position into its analysis position.

5. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. A method for analyzing body fluids, characterized in that at least one image of the body fluid that is analyzed by means of image processing software is produced by means of an image recording device, and in that one or more detailed images are produced that are combined to form an overall image by means of the image processing software.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the end edges of a label located on the container are detected by means of a scanner, and in that the container is subsequently brought by means of control software into an analysis position in which the label lies on the side of the container averted from the image recording device.

23. (canceled)