초록 ▼

A clinical sampling system including a reader capable of optically imaging a test cartridge presented thereto and then automatically determining the presence and concentration of a target compound in a liquid sample placed on the test cartridge. The reader includes an optical imaging unit for illumi

A clinical sampling system including a reader capable of optically imaging a test cartridge presented thereto and then automatically determining the presence and concentration of a target compound in a liquid sample placed on the test cartridge. The reader includes an optical imaging unit for illuminating, imaging, and interpreting the test cartridge. The test cartridge houses a reaction strip having a control region and a sample region that reacts to a liquid sample placed on the strip. The presence and concentration of the target compound are interpreted by determining the relative reflected intensities of the control region and sample region and calculating the ratio of the reflected intensities relative to the reflected intensity of the background.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for determining the presence of at least one target compound in a sample, comprising:a housing having a slot formed therein;a cartridge including a reaction strip having a sample region, a control region, and a background region located therein that is adapted for

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for determining the presence of at least one target compound in a sample, comprising:a housing having a slot formed therein;a cartridge including a reaction strip having a sample region, a control region, and a background region located therein that is adapted for insertion into said slot;an optical imaging unit including an optical imager interconnected to a microcontroller positioned with said housing to capture images of said cartridge when inserted into said slot, and wherein said microcontroller is programmed to process said image to identify the location of said sample region, said control region, and said background region after said cartridge is inserted into said slot.