A system for analyzing bio-samples

Abstract

A system (200) for analyzing bio-samples is provided. The system (200) includes a reaction ring (202) including a plurality of holders (204). Each holder (204) of the plurality of holders (204) is configured to accommodate a specimen container (206) holding a bio-sample for analysis. At least one light source (208), specifically a light emitting diode (LED), is positioned within the reaction ring (202) to emit light towards the bio-sample. The system (200) further includes at least one multi-spectral optical sensor (210) positioned outside the reaction ring (202) to capture light passed through the bio-sample, for determining one or more properties of the bio-sample.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING BIO-SAMPLESFIELD

[0001] The present embodiments generally relate to medical equipment. More specifically, the present embodiments are related to a system for performing bio-chemical tests for medical use.BACKGROUND

[0002] The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.

[0003] Many medical conditions may be diagnosed by sophisticated systems, such as a chemistry (CH) analyzer. Such systems provide one or more parameters related to a biosample of a human, such as levels of plasma, metabolites, electrolytes, dings, and proteins with the help of optical analysis of the bio-sample.

[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a conventional spectrophotometer 100 for analyzing bio-samples, in accordance with prior art. The conventional spectrophotometer 100 includes a reaction ring 102 having a plurality of holders (not illustrated). Each holder of the plurality of holders accommodates a specimen container carrying a bio-sample to be analyzed.

[0005] The conventional spectrophotometer 100 further includes a lamp 104 for emitting a light towards the specimen container carrying the bio-sample. The light incidents on the biosample and incidents on a photometer 106. The photometer 106 includes multiple lens 108 for directing the light towards a photo detector assembly 110.

[0006] The photo detector assembly 110 includes dichroic splitters 112-1 to 112-n for reflecting the light having a specified wavelength and transmitting the light having a wavelength other than the specified wavelength. For example, the dichroic splitter 112-1 reflects the light having wavelength of 805 nm and transmits the light having waving other than the wavelength of 805 nm. Similarly, the dichroic splitter 112-n reflects the light having wavelength of 658nm and transmits the light having a wavelength other than the wavelength of 658 nm. The photo detector assembly 110 further includes band pass filters 114-1 to 114-nfor allowing the light having a selected frequency range and blocking the light having a frequency other than the selected frequency range. The photo detector assembly 110 further includes photodiodes 1 16-1 to 116-n for detecting the light passed through the band pass filters 114-1 to 114-n.

[0007] As discussed above, the conventional spectrophotometer 100 utilizes multiple elements, such as dichroic splitters, photodiodes, and band pass filters. Usage of multiple elements leads to increase in overall size, cost of manufacturing, and complexity of the luminometer.

[0008] In addition, the lamp 104 of the conventional spectrophotometer 100 requires a liquid coolant for cooling purpose. For appropriate cooling of the lamp 100, the liquid coolant is to be frequently refilled manually in the lamp 100. The problem of frequent refilling of the liquid coolant in the conventional spectrophotometer 100 is not addressed yet. Further, the usage of the liquid coolant in the lamp 104 increases an operational cost of the conventional spectrophotometer 100.

[0009] Therefore, there exists a need of a system for analysis of bio-samples that addresses the above-mentioned shortcomings of conventional spectrophotometer.SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION

[0010] The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary.

[0011] The present embodiments may obviate one or more of the drawbacks or limitations in the related art. For example, a system for analyzing bio-samples is provided.

[0012] As another example, the properties of multiple bio-samples are analyzed simultaneously.

[0013] As yet another example, a size of an illuminating unit used in a system for analysis of bio-samples is reduced.

[0014] As another example, the complexity is reduced by hardware reduction in a system for analysis of bio-samples.

[0015] As yet another example, the power consumption of the system for analyzing of biosamples is reduced.

[0016] As another example, portable or mobile chemistry analyzers for point of care or point of need settings are allowed for. The low power consumption, low cost, reduced complexity, and robustness are to be provided for a compact chemistry analyzer.

[0017] This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a system for analyzing biosamples. The system is used for measuring concentration of a certain substances in a given sample, and the aspects are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is the summary intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0018] In an embodiment, the system for analyzing bio-samples is disclosed. The system includes a reaction ring including a plurality of holders. Each holder of the plurality of holders is configured to accommodate a specimen container containing a bio-sample for analysis. The system further includes at least one light source positioned at a location within the reaction ring to emit light towards the bio-sample. At least one multi-spectral optical sensor is positioned outside the reaction ring to capture the light passed through the biosample, for determining one or more parameters of the bio-sample.

[0019] In one aspect, the at least one light source is a light emitting diode (LED) emitting white light.

[0020] In another aspect, a plurality of multi-spectral digital sensors are positioned at multiple locations outside the reaction ring to capture the light passed through the bio-sample to increase the accuracy of detection of the light.

[0021] In another aspect, the multi-spectral optical sensor is operable in a whole spectrum range.

[0022] In another aspect, the bio-samples include blood, urine, liquid bone marrow, and amniotic fluids. The one or more parameters of the bio-sample that may be determined include levels of plasma, metabolites, electrolytes, drugs, and proteins.

[0023] In another aspect, the multi-spectral optical sensor is developed using standard CMOS silicon via nano-optic deposited interference fdter technology.

[0024] In another aspect, each multi-spectral optical sensor of the plurality of multi-spectral optical sensors is positioned to capture the light passing through a bio-sample held in a respective specimen container.

[0025] Other aspects and advantages of the present embodiments will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present embodiments.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the description and are used toprovide a further understanding of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a conventional spectrophotometer for analyzing bio-samples, in accordance with prior-art.

[0028] Figure illustrates a block diagram of a system for analyzing bio-samples, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0029] Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of a system for analyzing multiple bio-samples simultaneously, in accordance with an embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the present embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

[0031] The present embodiments pertain to a system for analyzing bio-samples by calculating a concentration of a certain substances in a bio-sample. The bio-sample may be blood, urine, liquid bone marrow, and amniotic fluid.

[0032] Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a system 200 for analyzing bio-samples, in accordance with an embodiment. The system 200 may include a reaction ring 202 including a holder 204. The holder 204 may accommodate a specimen container 206 containing a biosample for analysis. The specimen container may be a test tube or a beaker made from a transparent material. The specimen container may be of cylindrical or cuboidal shape. The holder 204 may be configured to cause minimal interference with transmission of the light passing through the specimen container 206. The holder 204 may be of a shape that may hold the specimen container 206 effectively. The system 200 may further include a light source 208 for emitting light towards the bio-sample. The light source 208 may be positioned at any location within the reaction ring 202, such as at center of the reaction ring 202. The light source 208 may be a light emitting diode (LED) emitting white light.

[0033] The system 200 may further include a multi-spectral optical sensor 210 for detecting the light passing through the bio-sample. The multi-spectral optical sensor 210 is operable inone or more of Infrared region, visible region, and ultraviolet region. The multi-spectral optical sensor 210 may be developed using a semiconductor technology where filters are integrated into standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) silicon via nano-optic deposited interference filter technology. Comparative analysis of the white light and the light passing through the bio-sample indicates one or more components of the white light absorbed by the bio-sample. The one or more components of the white light absorbed by the bio-sample are indicative of one or more parameters associated with the bio-sample. The one or more parameters of the bio-sample may include levels of plasma, metabolites, electrolytes, drugs, and proteins.

[0034] In one implementation, multiple multi-spectral optical sensors 210 may be used for detecting the light passing through the bio-sample. Such arrangement increases accuracy of detection of the light passing through the bio-sample and is beneficial in circumstances where any multi-spectral optical sensor becomes faulty or calibration of any multi-spectral optical sensor gets affected.

[0035] In one embodiment, multiple bio-samples may be simultaneously analyzed using a system 300, as illustrated in Figure 3. The system 300 may include a reaction ring 302 including a plurality of holders 304. Each holder of the plurality of holders 304 accommodates a specimen container containing a bio-sample for analysis. The system 300 may further include a plurality of LEDs 306 positioned within the reaction ring 302. The plurality of LEDs 306 simultaneously emit light towards the multiple bio-samples held in the plurality of holders 304.

[0036] The system 300 may further include a plurality of multi-spectral optical sensors 308 positioned outside the reaction ring 302. The plurality of multi-spectral optical sensors 308 simultaneously detect the light passing through respective bio-sample positioned next to the plurality of multi-spectral optical sensors 308. The light detected by the plurality of multi- spectral optical sensors 308 may be utilized to determine one or more parameters associated with each of the multiple bio-samples. Analysis of the multiple bio-samples at once increases throughput of the system 300.

[0037] The above-described embodiments provide a number of technical advancements as mentioned henceforth. A system for analyzing bio-samples utilizes an LED for illumination and a multi-spectral optical sensor for detecting the light emitted by the LED. The LED does not need any coolant, as the LED has a low thermal profile. Further, the multi-spectral optical sensor has multiple filters integrated into standard CMOS silicon via nano-optic depositedinterference filter technology. As a result, the multi-spectral optical sensor is able to detect the light of multiple wavelengths without requiring bulky hardware, such as dichroic splitters, photodiodes, and band pass filters. Further, the compact and economical multi-spectral optical sensor results in simultaneous analysis of multiple bio-samples. As a result, readout time of the system is reduced and throughput of the system is increased.

[0038] In view of the present disclosure, which describes the present embodiments, all changes, modifications, and variations within the meaning and range of equivalency are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiment of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. A number of the aspects and embodiment may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

[0039] The elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims may, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent. Such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.

[0040] While the present invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and / or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.

Claims

We claim:

1. A system (200) for analyzing bio-samples, the system comprising: a reaction ring (202) comprising a plurality of holders (204), each holder (204) of the plurality of holders (204) configured to accommodate a specimen container (206) holding a bio-sample for analysis; at least one light source (208) positioned within the reaction ring (202), the at least one light source (208) being configured to emit light towards the bio-sample; and a multi-spectral optical sensor (210) positioned outside the reaction ring (202), the multi- spectral optical sensor (210) being configured to capture the light passing through the bio- sample for determining one or more parameters of the bio-sample.

2. The system (200) of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source (208) is a light emitting diode (LED).

3. The system (200) of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of multi-spectral optical sensors (210) positioned at multiple locations outside the reaction ring (202), the plurality of multi-spectral optical sensors (210) being configured to capture the light passed through the bio-sample to increase accuracy of detection of the light, the plurality of multi-spectral optical sensors (210) comprising the multi-spectral optical sensor (210).

4. The system (200) of claim 1, wherein the bio-sample includes blood, urine, liquid bone marrow, and amniotic fluid.

5. The system (200) of claim 1. wherein the one or more parameters of the bio-sample include levels of plasma, metabolites, electrolytes, drugs, and proteins.

6. The system (200) of claim 1, wherein the multi-spectral optical sensor (210) is operable in an infrared region, a visible region, an ultraviolet region, or any combination thereof.

7. The system (200) of claim 1, wherein the multi-spectral optical sensor (210) is developed using standard CMOS silicon via nano-optic deposited interference filter technology.

8. The system (200) of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of multi-spectral optical sensors (210), each multi-spectral optical sensor (210) of the plurality of multi-spectral opticalsensors (210) being positioned to capture the light passing through a bio-sample held in a respective specimen container (206).

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the light transmitted by the LED is a white light.

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