# US 12,379,317 B2 · Reader device for luminescent immunoassays

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,379,317 B2
- Document ID: US12379317B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/465,049
- Filed: 2021-09-02
- Published: 2022-04-28
- Granted: 2025-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-22
- Assignees: Biosensia Patents Limited
- Applicants: Biosensia Patents Limited
- Inventors: Shane Moynihan; Diarmuid Flavin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12379317B2

## CPC

- G01N 21/6486: {Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells (G01N21/6428 takes precedence)}
- 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 21/645: {Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters}
- G01N 21/6454: {using an integrated detector array}
- G01N 21/6456: {Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging}
- G01N 33/5302: {Apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures}
- G01N 33/5304: {Reaction vessels, e.g. agglutination plates (for solid-phase systems G01N33/543)}
- G01N 21/278: {Constitution of standards}
- G01N 21/6452: {Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates}
- G01N 2021/6419: {Excitation at two or more wavelengths}
- G01N 2021/6421: {Measuring at two or more wavelengths}
- G01N 2021/6441: {with two or more labels}
- G01N 2021/6471: {Special filters, filter wheel}
- G01N 2021/7786: {Fluorescence}
- G01N 2201/0624: Compensating variation in output of LED source
- G01N 2201/0627: Use of several LED's for spectral resolution
- G01N 2201/0648: Shutters
- G01N 2201/0693: Battery powered circuitry
- 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

The present disclosure, among other things, describes a reader system comprising a casing, an optical system, an electromechanical motor system, and one or more digital processors.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising a reader for analyzing one or more analytes in a fluid sample, the reader comprising:
a casing comprising at least one port into which a cartridge comprising an immunoassay device with multiple parallel immunoassay channels may be inserted;
a holster which receives and positions the cartridge within the reader;
an optical system comprising:
excitation optics comprising multiple light sources and an excitation lens to direct light from each one of the multiple light sources to a corresponding individual excitation area upon a different immunoassay channel when the cartridge is positioned within the holster; and
collection optics comprising multiple photosensors and a collection lens to collect light emitted from each one of the individual excitation areas and direct the collected light towards a corresponding photosensor;
an electromechanical motor system to move the holster, with the cartridge positioned therein, to interrogate different regions along each of the multiple immunoassay channels; and
one or more digital processors and associated electronics to receive data from and control the optical and electromechanical motor systems,
wherein the casing contains the holster, the optical system, the electromechanical motor system and the one or more digital processors and associated electronics.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the casing comprises a bottom on which the reader rests and a top opposite to the bottom and comprising the port, and
the port leads to the holster, which is oriented in a vertical direction, directed from the port at the top of the casing down, towards, and substantially perpendicular to, the bottom of the casing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, comprising, the cartridge within such that the multiple immunoassay channels are oriented substantially along the vertical direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the reader further comprises memory for storing data including reader operation programs, and wherein the memory:
is in communication with the one or more digital processors,
comprises a batch calibration file comprising positions and numbers of the immunoassay channels of the cartridge to be inserted into the reader, and
causes modification of excitation and read logic to cause the one or more digital processors of the reader to tune light source emission and photon sensor read timings in accordance with the positions and numbers of the immunoassay channels.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the modified excitation and read logic causes the one or more digital processors of the reader to act to only excite and read from immunoassay channels that are present in the immunoassay device of the cartridge.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the emission timings of the light sources and the photosensor read timings are tuned such that only one test is being excited at a specific time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the emission timings of the light sources and the photosensor read timings are tuned such that multiple, but spatially separated, immunoassay channels are illuminated and read simultaneously.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the memory comprises operation parameters and software that cause the one or more digital processors to collect scan data generated when the optical system scans the vertically oriented immunoassay device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the collected scan data comprises data corresponding to optical energy collected by a particular one of the multiple photosensors at points of a scan along a particular one of the multiple immunoassay channels that corresponds to the particular photosensor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises a calibration file that provides peak recognition parameters for detection of optical emission peaks within the scan data.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is positioned within the holster, and wherein a surface of the cartridge comprising the multiple immunoassay channels is localised at an optical plane such that each light source transmits light to a particular one of the individual excitation areas on a different one of the immunoassay channels.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein assays of each of the multiple immunoassay channels of the cartridge are developed, the cartridge having been left for sufficient time for the assays to develop prior to insertion into the reader.

### Claim 13

A system comprising a reader for analyzing one or more analytes in a fluid sample and a cartridge comprising an immune assay device with multiple parallel immunoassay channels, the reader comprising:
a holster in which the cartridge is positioned;
an optical system comprising:
excitation optics comprising multiple light sources and an excitation lens that directs light from each one of the multiple light sources to a corresponding individual excitation area upon a different immunoassay channel of the cartridge; and
collection optics comprising multiple photosensors and a collection lens that collects light emitted from each one of the individual excitation areas and direct the collected light towards a corresponding photosensor; and
an electromechanical motor system to move the holster, with the cartridge positioned therein, to interrogate different regions along each of the multiple immunoassay channels.