# US 10,871,433 B2 · Optical device for quantitative determination of the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample comprising a mask member between first and second chambers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,433 B2 - Document ID: US10871433B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/303,820 - Filed: 2017-05-24 - Published: 2020-03-05 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-24 - Assignees: Molecular Vision Limited - Applicants: Molecular Vision Limited - Inventors: Gihan Ryu; Gordon Jowett; Neeraj Adsul - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871433B2 ## CPC - G01N 15/06: Investigating concentration of particle suspensions (by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10) - 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)} - G01N 15/075: by optical means - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract An optical device for the quantitative determination of the concentration of at least one analyte in a liquid sample comprises a housing (52) defining a first chamber (56) and a second chamber (60). A sample port (64) is defined in the first chamber (56). The sample port (64) receives light from a plurality of test regions of an assay device when the optical device is engaged with the assay device. The optical device further comprises a plurality of optical detectors (75, 76, 77) provided in the second chamber (60) and a mask member (66) interposed between the first chamber (56) and the second chamber (60) and having an aperture (68) defined therein and configured to direct light from the sample port (64) onto the optical detectors (75, 76, 77). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical device for the quantitative determination of the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample, the liquid sample provided in one or more assay devices, each comprising a lateral flow membrane, the one or more assay devices providing a plurality of test regions for retaining tagging particles in the plurality of test regions in dependence on the concentration of the analyte in the liquid sample, the optical device comprising: a housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber; a sample port defined in the first chamber, the sample port for receiving light from the plurality of test regions of the assay device(s) when the optical device is engaged with the assay device(s); a plurality of optical detectors provided in the second chamber; and a mask member interposed between the first chamber and the second chamber and having an aperture defined therein configured to direct light from the sample port onto the optical detectors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an optical emitter arranged to illuminate a test region of the assay device(s) when the assay device(s) is (are) received at the sample port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An optical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optical emitter is provided in the first chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical detectors is an optical detector array comprising a plurality of optical detector pixels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of detectors is three optical detectors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical detectors is one of a silicon photodiode array, an organic photodiode array, a CCD and a CMOS image sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device does not comprise a lens. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mask has a single aperture defined therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical detectors are physically spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the aperture is between 0.1 millimetres and 0.4 millimetres. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of the aperture is between 1 millimetres and 3 millimetres. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An optical device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the aperture is located substantially centrally between the plurality of optical detectors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical emitter(s) are directed towards side walls of the first chamber and not directed towards the test regions of the one or more assay devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A system for the quantitative determination of the concentration of at least one analyte in a liquid sample, the system comprising: an optical device according to claim 1; and one or more assay devices, each assay device comprising a lateral flow membrane, wherein the one or more assay devices provide a plurality of test regions for retaining tagging particles in the plurality of test regions in dependence on the concentration of the analyte in the liquid sample.