US 6,249,593 B1 · Optical specimen analysis system and method

Abstract

A method and system for automatic analysis of a testing substrate for an analyte in a liquid sample. The sample is applied to a testing substrate having an immobilized thereon, in a limited region of the testing substrate, a receptor capable of binding to the analyte. A labeled reagent, capable of binding to the analyte, is added to the testing substrate. If the analyte is present, a color is generated at the area of the testing substrate where the receptor is immobilized. The testing substrate is then illuminated and, using electronic equipment a digital image of the testing substrate is acquired and automatically scanned to locate an area of the testing substrate having the highest color density and generating a first measurement of color density. Next, an area peripheral to the area of highest color density is located and a second measurement of color density is generated. This peripheral area represents tho background density of the substrate, which can be considered to be the background “noise”. The presence or absence of the analyte in the liquid sample is calculated by adjusting the first measurement with said second measurement in accordance with a predefined mathematical function.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for determining the presence of at least one biological analyte in a liquid sample suspected of containing said one analyte comprising:

a) applying said liquid sample to a testing substrate having at least one receptor immobilized thereon in at least one receptor area of said testing substrate, said one receptor being capable of directly or indirectly binding to said analyte, said one receptor area being located in a limited region of said testing substrate;
b) applying a reagent capable of binding directly or indirectly to said one analyte and capable of generating a color at said one receptor area when said one analyte is present;
c) illuminating said testing substrate and acquiring a digital image of said testing substrate;
d) using data processing equipment,
(i) automatically scanning said digital image to locate an optically densest portion of said one receptor area and generating a first measurement of the density of said densest portion;
(ii) locating an area peripheral to said one receptor area and generating a second measurement of density of said area peripheral to said one receptor area;
and
(iii) generating an output signal by adjusting said first measurement with said second measurement in accordance with a predefined mathematical function in order to generate an output signal that indicates whether said one analyte is present in said liquid sample.

5 more elements

A method for determining the presence of an analyte in a liquid sample suspected of containing said analyte comprising:

a) applying said liquid sample to a testing substrate having a receptor immobilized thereon at a receptor area of said testing substrate, said receptor capable of directly or indirectly binding to said analyte, said receptor area being located in a limited region of said testing substrate;
b) applying a reagent capable of binding directly or indirectly to said analyte and capable of generating a color at said receptor area when said analyte is present;
c) illuminating said testing substrate and acquiring a digital image of said testing substrate;
d) using data processing equipment;
(i) automatically scanning said digital image to locate a portion of said receptor area having greatest density of a predefined color, and generating a first measurement of the density of said predefined color at said located portion;
(ii) locating an area peripheral to said receptor area and generating a second measurement of the density of said predefined color at said area peripheral to said receptor area;
and
(iii) generating an output signal by adjusting said first measurement with said second measurement in accordance with a predefined mathematical function in order to generate an output signal that indicates whether said analyte is present in said liquid sample.

5 more elements

A system for analyzing an analyte derived from a biological specimen, wherein said analyte is bound to a receptor area of said substrate wherein a portion of said substrate is not covered by said receptor area, comprising:

means for acquiring a digital image of said substrate;
and
data processing means, coupled to said image acquiring means, for automatically scanning said digital image to locate an optically densest portion digital image depicting said analyte and to locate a background portion of said digital image not depicting said analyte;
said data processing means including means for (A) generating a first measurement of the density of said densest portion, (B) generating a second measurement of the density of said background portion of said substrate, and (C) generating an output signal by adjusting said first measurement with said second measurement in accordance with a predefined mathematical function.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical specimen analysis system and method

Life of this patent

Optical specimen analysis system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16