Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Means for analyzing liquid or solid sample
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-05
2004-12-14
Ludlow, Jan (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Means for analyzing liquid or solid sample
C422S067000, C422S082050, C702S031000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06830731
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluorometers, and more particularly to a system and method for performing automated fluorescent measurements.
2. Related Art
Conventional medical devices used to perform fluorescent readings are large, dedicated machines. Typical fluorometers are bench-top devices which are not easily transported from location to location. Additionally, conventional fluorometers are not easily capable of being programmed by the user or otherwise configured by the user to perform a plurality of different types of tests. Instead, the conventional fluorometer is factory-programmed to perform a predefined test protocol.
To perform a test using a conventional fluorometer, a laboratory technician obtains a sample. The sample can be a biological fluid, such as blood, serum, plasma, urine, a fecal extract and the like or it can be an environmental sample, such as water, a ground extract, a chemical and the like or it can be an extract of a food product. In the case of a blood sample, the blood is first separated into plasma or serum, which becomes the sample, and cellular fractions using a centrifuge. The sample is then generally deposited into a small test tube that is inserted into the fluorometer. Because the conventional fluorometer can accept several samples, the technician enters an identification of the sample and the location of the test tube into the fluorometer.
Once one or more test tubes containing samples are positioned in the fluorometer, the test begins. Contemporary fluorometers use robotics to pipet the sample and the reagents and to position one or more optical sensors by the sample to obtain the necessary readings. The readings are recorded along with the associated test-tube location designations. The location designation is used to identify the sample.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system and method for performing automated fluorometry. According to the invention, a fluorometer is provided which includes functionality to provide enhanced operational characteristics for the measurement of analytes in a sample. The system and method has particular importance as a laboratory or non-laboratory tool for rapidly and conveniently measuring analytes by skilled laboratorian or by individuals who are unskilled as laboratorians. According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the fluorometer can include an optical block, a removable storage medium, an internal processor, a communications interface, and internal data storage.
The system and method generally comprises the fluorometer and a testing or assay device. The assay device is used in conjunction with the fluorometer to achieve a result regarding the concentration or presence of an analyte in a sample. Examples of analytes include chemicals, proteins, peptides, bacteria, viruses, nucleic acids, cellular organelles, cells, receptors and the like. The assay device can include reagents that are necessary for performing an immunological or chemical reaction, such reaction giving rise to a change in fluorescence of the sample that has been treated with the reagents. The reagents can include chemicals, antibodies, peptides, analytes, analyte analogues and these reagents may or may not be coupled to fluorescent labels or to solid phases.
In one embodiment, the removable storage medium is implemented utilizing a ROM chip or other memory device, which can be interfaced to the fluorometer to provide operating instructions as well as calibration curves and control and calibration data. Preferably, the memory device is mounted on a carrier which provides easy insertion and removal such that a plurality of memory devices containing specific sets of data can be easily interchanged. In this manner, the fluorometer can be easily programmed and re-programmed to perform a variety of tests and calibrations.
Additionally, the removable storage medium can be implemented using a removable medium such as a disk and disk drive. The disk can contain test data sets for one or more types of tests to be performed. The test data sets can include test instructions and calibration curves for the test, as well as other program information and calibration and control information for the instrument.
A communications interface can be included to facilitate communications between the fluorometer and one or more other devices. The communications interface can include a wired and wireless interface to provide direct or networked communications. The communications interface can be used to download test data sets, including, for example, test identifications, test instructions and calibration curves, as well as other program information and calibration and control information. The communications interface can also be used to allow the fluorometer to share processing responsibilities with other devices such as a computer or other processor. Such an interface (wired or wireless) can be implemented, for example, utilizing an RS-232, infrared or modem interface for direct connection, or a network interface for network communications to one or more processors.
In one operational scenario, the communications interface is used to allow a physician or other health care professional at a health care facility (e.g., a doctor's office, clinic, testing center, hospital, or other health care site or facility) to transmit test instructions to the fluorometer with regard to which tests are to be performed for a particular patient. The interface can also be used to forward test results to a health care facility to apprise the health care professional of the results. Results of tests and a catalog of tests performed can be sent to various locations for patient-diagnosis, record-keeping, billing, and other purposes.
In an alternative operational scenario, a patient can perform testing at home, and test results and instructions can be exchanged with a health care facility via the communications interface. In this embodiment, patients who require frequent monitoring can get the necessary tests without traveling to a health care facility each time a test is needed, for example, as may be required by patients taking daily regimens of therapeutic drugs.
In yet another operational scenario, a technician in the field can measure water or ground contamination and transmit the results to a home office via a cellular telephone or other communications medium to inform officials of the progress of a decontamination procedure.
Internal data storage can be used to store program instructions (including test instructions), calibration curves, control and calibration data as well as other data used in the operation of the fluorometer. Internal data storage can also provide register space for operand storage. Internal data storage can be implemented using, for example, RAM or DRAM technology, or other memory technology. Disk or other storage space can be used to supplement the internal data storage, depending on storage cost and access latency tradeoffs. Cache techniques can also be used to optimize performance.
Data storage, either internal or removable, can be used to store test information regarding a test or tests conducted or to be conducted on one or more samples. The test information can include information such as, an identification of the patient and other patient information, a sample identification, an identification of a test or tests performed on the sample, a date and time at which the tests were conducted, test conditions, test results, specific reagent information, such as lot numbers and expiration dates and other pertinent information. The test information can be stored in a record that can be indexed using, for example, the patient identification or other indexing designation.
Various user interfaces can be provided to facilitate user control and to enhance operability of the fluorometer. Input interfaces can include data entry devices such as a keyboard, keypad, touch-screen display, mouse, voice recognition input, or other data entry device. Output interf
Anderberg Joseph M
Buechler Kenneth F.
McPherson Paul H.
Biosite, Inc.
Foley & Lardner LLP
Ludlow Jan
LandOfFree
Immunoassay fluorometer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Immunoassay fluorometer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Immunoassay fluorometer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3336526