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US 7,317,532 B2Granted
Flow sensing for determination of assay results
AssigneeInverness Medical Switzerland GmbH
InventorsStephen P. Sharrock, Andrew P. Phelan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assay result reading device for reading the result of an assay performed using a liquid transport carrier may include at least one light source capable of emitting light incident upon at least one of two or more spatially separated zones of the carrier, a photodetector so positioned as to be capable of detecting light emanating from each of the two said zones and generating signals representing the presence or absence of a fluid sample in the respective zone, and a computation circuit. The computation circuit may be responsive to the signals to calculate a flow rate for a fluid flowing along the carrier, compare the calculated flow rate to upper and lower limits, and reject the assay result if the calculated flow rate is outside the upper and lower limits.
Claims27
An assay result reading device for reading the result of an assay performed using a liquid transport carrier, the device comprising:
- at least one light source capable of emitting light incident upon at least one of two or more spatially separated zones of the carrier;
- a photodetector so positioned as to be capable of detecting light emanating from each of the two said zones and generating signals representing the presence or absence of a fluid sample in the respective zone;
- and
- a computation circuit responsive to the signals to:
- calculate a flow rate for a fluid flowing along the carrier;
- compare the calculated flow rate to upper and lower limits;
- and
- reject the assay result if the calculated flow rate is outside the upper and lower limits.
5 more elements
A method of performing an assay for an analyte of interest in a liquid sample, the method comprising:
- positioning a liquid transport carrier in relation to an assay result reader, the carrier having at least two spatially-separated zones, the reader comprising a housing enclosing at least one light source and at least one photodetector, and the carrier positioned so that the at least one light source emits light incident on at least one of the zones, and so that light emanating from at least one of the zones is incident on the photodetector;
- applying or introducing the liquid sample to the liquid transport carrier;
- calculating a flow rate of the liquid sample along the carrier in response to signals generated by the at least one photodetector representing the presence or absence of the liquid sample in a respective zone;
- determining whether the calculated flow rate is within predetermined acceptable limits;
- and
- performing at least one additional action based on the determination.
3 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a liquid transport carrier in a test position with respect to the housing, the liquid transport carrier being configured to support flow of a liquid applied to a sample application zone of the liquid transport carrier to at least first and second spaced-apart zones of the liquid transport carrier;
- a light source system configured to selectively illuminate each of the first and second spaced-apart zones of the liquid transport carrier;
- a light detection system configured to detect light from the first zone of the liquid transport carrier when the first zone is illuminated by the light source, (b) detect light from the second zone of the liquid transport carrier when the second zone is illuminated by the light source, and (c) output signals indicative of the light detected from the first and second zones;
- and
- a processor configured to determine a flow rate of liquid along the liquid transport carrier based at least in part on the signals indicative of the light detected from the first and second zones.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- illuminating a first zone of a liquid transport carrier with light, the liquid transport carrier being at least partially enclosed within a housing, at least a first portion of the liquid transport carrier being wet with a liquid;
- detecting light from the first zone of the liquid transport carrier;
- illuminating a second zone of the liquid transport carrier with light, the second zone being spaced apart from the first zone;
- detecting light from the second zone of the liquid transport carrier;
- determining a flow rate of the liquid along the liquid transport carrier based at least in part on the light detected from the first zone and the light detected on the second zone;
- and
- performing at least one additional action based on the determined flow rate.
4 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a porous test strip disposed in a test position with respect to the housing, the test strip comprising a sample receiving zone located external to the housing and first and second zones located within the housing, the sample receiving zone, the first zone, and the second zone being spaced apart from one another along a flow path defined by the test strip;
- a light source system configured to illuminate the first zone and the second zone of the test strip;
- a light detection system configured to detect light from the first zone of the test strip when the first zone is illuminated by the light source, output a first signal indicative of light detected from the first zone, detect light from the second zone of the test strip when the second zone is illuminated by the light source, and output a second signal indicative of light detected from the second zone;
- and
- a processor configured to receive the first and second signals and, based at least in part on the first and second signals, determine a result indicative of a time required for a liquid received by the sample receiving zone to flow from the first zone along the flow path to the second zone.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- allowing a liquid to advance from a sample receiving zone to a first zone and subsequently to a second zone of a porous test strip after the liquid had been received by the sample receiving zone, the sample receiving zone being located external of a housing, the first and second zones being located internal of the housing, the sample receiving zone, the first zone and the second zone being spaced apart from one another along the porous test strip;
- illuminating the first zone of the test strip with light from a first light source;
- detecting light from the illuminated first zone using a light detection system;
- providing to a processor a first electronic signal indicative of the light detected from the first zone,
- illuminating the second zone of the test strip with light from a second light source;
- detecting light from the illuminated second zone using the light detection system;
- providing to the processor a second electronic signal indicative of the light detected from the second zone;
- determining, based at least in part on the first and second electronic signals received by the processor, a result indicative of the time required for the liquid received by the sample receiving zone to flow from the first zone to the second zone;
- and
- performing at least one additional action based on the determined result.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.