Back to results
US 12,527,472 B2Granted
Systems and methods for dynamic temperature compensation of tear osmolarity
AssigneeTearlab Research, Inc.
InventorsBenjamin Sullivan, Steve Zmina
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices for measurement of the osmotic pressure of fluids and, more particularly, to improving the measurement accuracy and precision of the osmolarity of the tear film. The approaches described herein improves upon the existing art of tear film osmometry to provide better performance in the presence of environmental instability.
Claims20
A device for analyzing a fluidic sample, the device comprising:
- (a) a handheld osmolarity system comprised of a fluid collection device that accepts a disposable test card interface housing a microfluidic chip for tear collection and analysis;
- and
- (b) a microfluidic chip, wherein the volume of the sample fluid operatively covers a sufficient portion of the sample region such that energy imparted to the sample fluid is detected from the sample region to produce an output signal that indicates osmolarity of the sample fluid;
- and
- (c) a fluid collection device-mounted infrared non-contact temperature sensor for minimizing the inaccuracy and imprecision of a linear temperature compensation algorithm implemented therewith.
2 more elements
A microfluidic chip for analyzing a fluidic sample, the chip comprising:
- (a) a substrate that receives an aliquot volume of a sample fluid;
- (b) a sample region of the substrate, sized such that the volume of the sample fluid is sufficient to operatively cover a portion of the sample region, whereupon energy properties of the sample fluid are detectable from the sample region to produce a sample fluid reading, wherein the sample fluid reading indicates osmolarity of the sample fluid;
- (c) wherein the sample region includes a plurality of electrodes disposed to contact the sample;
- and
- (d) a temperature measurement area within a microchip.
2 more elements
A system for analyzing a fluidic sample, the device comprising:
- a fluid collection device;
- a microfluidic chip configured to be mounted on the fluid collection device, the microfluidic chip being configured to collect tear fluid and permit energy to be imparted to collected tear fluid such that an output signal indicating osmolarity of the collected tear fluid is generated;
- a temperature sensor coupled to the fluid collection device to generate a temperature measurement of the collected tear fluid;
- and
- a processor coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to run a temperature compensation algorithm based on the generated temperature measurement,
- wherein the temperature sensor is configured to be positioned relative to the microfluidic chip to reduce one or more of inaccuracy or imprecision of the temperature compensation algorithm.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.