Optics: measuring and testing – For light transmission or absorption – Of fluent material
Patent
1982-01-08
1986-01-07
Bovernick, Rodney B.
Optics: measuring and testing
For light transmission or absorption
Of fluent material
356244, G01N 2101
Patent
active
045630968
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention concerns apparatus for assisting the visual assessment of test objects having multivariate visible characteristics, and processes in which it is used.
Many kinds of testing procedures used in clinical laboratory practice and in manufacturing industry result in complex text objects with a multiplicity of spots or zones: their appearance has to be interpreted in order to obtain the test result. Fully automatic reading apparatus can be impracticable to provide, because in many cases the skill of an operator's trained eye cannot yet be mechanically initiated. On the other hand the reading by a human operator of a large number of items is a process frequently accompanied by error. This can be a source of danger where the test results are used to determine the course of medical therapy or the safe conduct of manufacturing processes. Therefore there is a need for apparatus which can ease the task of a human operator and allow a reduction in the opportunities for mistakes in reading.
According to the invention, this is provided in the form of apparatus for use in and for assisting the visual assessment by a human operator of test objects, in each of which test objects a multiplicity of test locations each has one or more visible characteristics capable of exhibiting any one of a number of conditions to be assessed, the apparatus comprising:
(a) means for positively locating the test object in registration with selective illuminating means;
(b) means for illuminating selected test locations of the test object, (either with sufficient light to enable the operator to see and assess the test location against a background of darkness, or with indicator light sufficient to draw the operator's attention to the test location against a general background light);
(c) means for controlling the illuminating means so that the test locations can be selectively illuminated either singly or in groups, according to a program-determined sequence;
(d) means to enable the operator manually to actuate and control stepping along the sequence;
(e) means arranged for actuation by the operator for recording and storing data input corresponding to the operator's visual assessment of the selectively illuminated location or locations;
(f) means for presenting to the operator a visual check display corresponding to the data input recorded in respect of the test locations under illumination to enable the operator to check the correctness of the data recorded by visually comparing the display with the test location.
The apparatus has particular application for example to the visual assessment of test objects in which a multiplicity of locations each has one or more visible characteristics which are capable of exhibiting any one of a number of conditions, and which may form a pattern capable of interpretative recognition. For example, one type of such a test object is a plate or tray having a plurality of areas each of which is capable of exhibiting visually detectable turbidity, or transparency, or degrees of turbidity. Another type of such a test object is a plate or tray having a plurality of areas each of which is capable of exhibiting a colour, or lack of colour, or degrees of colour, or any one of a number of different colours.
Such test objects can for example be produced as a result of carrying out test or assay routines of chemical, biochemical, biological, microbiological or other kinds upon materials for analysis, using for example arrays of prepared test reagents. The purpose of such tests and assay routines can variously be to quantitate or detect qualitatively any of a variety of constituents, properties or attributes of such materials for analysis. Materials which can be analysed in such ways include for example samples derived from chemical processes or biological sources or derivatives thereof. Among such materials are for example blood, urine, bodily secretions and internal fluids, (e.g. faecal material, spinal fluid, amniotic fluid), sera and antisera, microbial cultures and products thereof, chemical process sa
REFERENCES:
patent: 4252897 (1981-02-01), Axford et al.
patent: 4367043 (1983-01-01), Sweet et al.
Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 66, No. 2, Published in Feb. 1978, (New York, US), W. Randle et al.: "Microprocessors in Instrumentation", pp. 172-181, See in Particular pp. 172-173.
Chidlow John W.
Siebesma Jan
Van Duijn Jan
Bovernick Rodney B.
Internationale Octrooi Maatschappij "Octropa" B.V.
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