CHEMISTRY STRIP READER AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A chemistry strip reader for analyzing chemistry strips, comprising:
- a conveyor having a surface for supporting a plurality of chemical strips in a plurality of imaging positions and for moving the chemical strips through the imaging positions at discrete points in time;
a camera for capturing images of a field of view that includes the plurality of imaging positions and any of the chemistry strips therein, wherein the images are captured at the discrete points in time; and
a processor for determining reflectance values for each of the chemical strips from the captured images at the discrete points in time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A chemistry strip reader and method for analyzing chemistry strips. A conveyor moves chemical strips through different imaging positions at discrete points in lime across the field of view of a camera, which captures images of each chemistry strip at different discrete times. A processor determines reflectance values for each of the chemical strips from the captured images at the discrete points in time. Calibration targets adjacent the chemistry strips can be used to adjust the determined reflectance values. The light source can sequentially illuminate each chemistry strip with three different wavelengths of light, where the processor calculates a concentration determination associated with the chemistry strip by calculating different chromaticity coordinates for the different wavelengths of light, and comparing them to known chromaticity coordinates for known analyte concentrations.
39 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A chemistry strip reader for analyzing chemistry strips, comprising:
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a conveyor having a surface for supporting a plurality of chemical strips in a plurality of imaging positions and for moving the chemical strips through the imaging positions at discrete points in time; a camera for capturing images of a field of view that includes the plurality of imaging positions and any of the chemistry strips therein, wherein the images are captured at the discrete points in time; and a processor for determining reflectance values for each of the chemical strips from the captured images at the discrete points in time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of analyzing a chemistry strip comprising:
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capturing a plurality of images of a chemistry strip at discrete points in time; determining reflectance values for the chemical strip from the captured images; fitting the determined reflectance values for the chemical strip to a curve defined by A exp[−
B(t+to)]+C, where A, B, C, and to are fit parameters; andcalculating a concentration determination associated with the chemical strip by; determining a first slope of the curve for t=−
to, andcomparing the first slope with known first slopes for given analyte concentrations. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of analyzing a chemistry strip comprising:
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placing a chemistry strip on a support surface of a conveyor; moving the conveyor surface to sequentially move the chemistry strip to a plurality of imaging positions at discrete times; capturing an image of the chemistry strip at each of the imaging positions; determining reflectance values for the chemical strip from the captured images; fitting the determined reflectance values for the chemical strip to a curve defined by A exp[−
B(t+to)]+C, where A, B, C, and to are fit parameters; andcalculating a concentration determination associated with the chemical strip by; determining a first slope of the curve for t=−
to, andcomparing the first slope with known first slopes for given analyte concentrations. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification