Colorimeter and assay device
AssigneeHamilton Thorne Research
InventorsDiarmaid H. Douglas-Hamilton, Thomas G. Kenny
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Abstract
A cassette reader for detecting the status of stained samples is provided. The colorimeter includes one or more high power emitting diodes as the source of illuminating the sample. An elliptical mirror, with a central aperture to permit the light to penetrate on to the sample, directs the scattered light on to its focal point at a detector. The colorimeter includes a microprocessor which compares an output signal for the percent ratio value of the detected values of a sample and a standard sample. The colorimeter housing provides position sensors which allow the identification of the well being examined. Finally, the system is modified to measure cell motility by determining the ratio of motile sperms to total cell concentration.
Claims6
A color measurement apparatus for determining the color composition on a specimen having an exposed surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a first light emitting diode for producing light along a light path illuminating the specimen with light;
- a sensing means along the light path for receiving light reflected from said specimen and producing a detection signal representative of the intensity of light reflected from the specimen in response thereto;
- a mirror, elliptically shaped and having an aperture disposed therein, placed along the light path for focusing light reflected from the specimen and directing the reflected light to the sensing means;
- and
- a processor for receiving the detection signal and determining the characteristic of the specimen in response thereto, by strobing the light source and a detector simultaneously.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.