Method and system for determining a parameter of a fluid - Patents.com

Abstract

A system (10) for determining the refractive index of a sample fluid or the concentration of a component in a sample fluid comprises a transparent sensing element (12) having a number of holes (122) for receiving a fluid. The holes will reflect or scatter radiation emitted by a radiation emitter (14) of the system differently depending on the refractive index of the fluid. The system comprises one or more detectors (16) for detecting reflected and / or scattered radiation. The refractive index of the sample fluid is determined based on the detected scattered and / or reflected radiation when the sample fluid is provided into the holes, the corresponding detected scattered and / or reflected radiation when first and second calibration fluids having a predetermined refractive index and a predetermined absorption at at least two wavelengths are provided into the holes, said predetermined refractive index, and said predetermined absorption. Alternatively, the concentration of a component in the sample fluid that absorbs at a given wavelength is determined based on the detected scattered and / or reflected radiation when the calibration fluid is provided into the holes, the predetermined refractive index of the sample fluid, the predetermined refractive index of the calibration fluid and the absorption at said wavelength, and the detected scattered and / or reflected radiation.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and system for determining a parameter of a fluid, and in particular to a method and system for determining a parameter in a fluid present in a transmissive element having a number of holes and in which calibration is performed using the refractive index of a calibration fluid. [Background technology]

[0002] Related art can be found in U.S. Patent No. 2006 / 285115, U.S. Patent No. 10830695, International Patent No. WO2019 / 197308, and International Patent No. WO2017 / 085162. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for determining the refractive index of a fluid, the method comprising the steps of: a) acquiring a first optical signal from a sensing element having a plurality of pores containing a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a first predetermined absorption at at least a first and a second wavelength; b) acquiring a second optical signal from the sensing element, the bore including a second fluid having a second predetermined absorption at at least the first and second wavelengths and a second predetermined refractive index, the second predetermined refractive index being different from the first predetermined refractive index; c) acquiring a third optical signal from the sensing element, the pore containing a third fluid; and d) determining a refractive index of the third fluid based on the first, second, and third optical signals, the first and second predetermined absorptions, and the first and second refractive indices; Includes.

[0004] According to this aspect of the invention, the desired parameter of the fluid is the refractive index. As explained further below, sensing elements with holes are well suited for determinations where the holes act to reflect or scatter radiation, and this scattering or reflection depends on the refractive index of the fluid.

[0005] The fluid may be a liquid, a gas, a suspension, or the like. The fluid may be used to calibrate the detection environment or system and / or may be a sample. A parameter of the fluid may be desired to be determined. The term "sample" may refer to a whole blood sample, in which case the "liquid" may be a portion that can enter the pores well, such as the plasma fraction of whole blood, spinal fluid, urine, pleural, peritoneal fluid, wastewater, a pre-prepared fluid for any kind of injection, a fluid with a component that can be detected by spectroscopy, or a gas, such as air, a gas containing carbon dioxide, a gas containing carbon monoxide, etc. Of course, a sample that does not include a portion that is filtered out by the pore size may form a liquid.

[0006] The term "whole blood" refers to blood composed of plasma and cellular components. Plasma represents about 50%-60% of the volume, and cellular components represent about 40%-50% of the volume. The cellular components are erythrocytes (red blood cells), leucocytes (white blood cells), and thrombocytes (platelets). Preferably, the term "whole blood" refers to whole blood of a human subject, but may also refer to whole blood of an animal. Red blood cells make up about 90%-99% of the total number of all blood cells. They are constructed as biconcave disks about 7 μm in diameter with a thickness of about 2 μm in the undeformed state. Red blood cells are very flexible, which allows them to reduce their diameter to about 1.5 μm to pass through very narrow capillaries. One core component of red blood cells is hemoglobin, which binds oxygen for transport to tissues and then releases oxygen and binds carbon dioxide to be delivered to the lungs as a waste product. Hemoglobin is responsible for the red color of red blood cells and therefore the red color of blood as a whole. White blood cells make up less than about 1% of the total number of all blood cells. They have a diameter of about 6 to about 20 μm. White blood cells are involved in the body's immune system, for example against bacterial or viral invasion. Platelets are the smallest blood cells, having a length of about 2 to about 4 μm and a thickness of about 0.9 to about 1.3 μm. They are cell fragments that contain enzymes and other substances important for clotting. In particular, they form temporary platelet clots that help seal breaks in blood vessels.

[0007] The term "blood plasma" refers to the liquid portion of blood and lymph that constitutes about half of the volume of blood (e.g., about 50%-60% by volume). Plasma is cell-free. It contains all the clotting factors, especially fibrinogen, and is about 90%-95% water by volume. Plasma components include electrolytes, lipid metabolites, markers, e.g., for infection or tumors, enzymes, substrates, proteins, and further molecular components.

[0008] The term "wastewater" refers to water that has been used in connection with washing, flushing, or in a manufacturing process, and therefore contains waste products and / or particles and is therefore unsuitable for drinking and food preparation.

[0009] According to a first aspect, a first fluid is present in a plurality of pores of the sensing element, the first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a first predetermined absorption at least at a first and a second wavelength. Often, three or more wavelengths are used in the determination, and sometimes the absorption spectrum of the fluid is known within a wavelength interval. The first fluid may be provided in or at the pores by a supply element such as a pump or the like. The first fluid may be provided to or at the pores using capillary action or a similar automated process. Still alternatively, the first fluid may be provided automatically in the pores, such as during the creation of the pores.

[0010] Typically, the optical signal is obtained by emitting radiation of at least a first and a second wavelength towards the pores and detecting the emitted radiation reflected and / or scattered by the pores. The pores may be closed at one end and at the same time have a single opening to the surroundings of the sensing element, such as into a flow channel provided to direct fluid to the pores. The pores may be separate or interconnected. The pores may be more or less parallel and may extend away from the surface on which the openings are provided.

[0011] Pumps, valves, flow channels, fluid reservoirs, and the like may be provided to provide the first and second fluids sequentially to the holes. The sensing element may comprise a translucent slab or element, and possibly a reflective layer applied to the front side of the translucent slab. The translucent slab includes a plurality of holes, preferably small blind holes, that may extend from the front side, through the reflective layer if provided, and into the translucent slab. A radiation source and detector may be arranged to optically probe the contents of the holes and to generate a corresponding signal output that may be used to determine a parameter of the fluid.

[0012] Each of the small holes preferably has an opening through which it can communicate with a fluid space, such as at a side of the translucent slab. Thus, the holes penetrate the reflective layer, if present, to allow fluid communication between the holes and the fluid space. The holes may extend from their respective openings at the front side into the translucent slab, such as in a direction towards the back side. When a hole is "non-through", this means that it terminates within the translucent slab, such that it does not continue through the entire translucent slab to the back side or to any common container or receptacle inside the slab. The hole may then only be in fluid communication with the fluid space at the front side of the translucent slab. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the non-through holes may be crisscross, such that at least some of the holes may be connected to each other to form an X-shape, a Y-shape, a V-shape, or similar interconnected shape. Such a configuration is equally considered non-through because the holes are filled only from the front side and no significant net mass transport through the holes occurs under operation even though the holes cross each other. By appropriately dimensioning the opening of the holes at the front side, it is possible to prevent larger components of the fluid, such as red blood cells of the whole blood sample or debris in the fluid, from entering the holes at the front side of the sensing element while allowing relevant components in the plasma fraction of the whole blood sample to enter the holes, the relevant components being substances that are present in the plasma fraction of the whole blood sample and that are to be measured / detected using the sensor. In particular, proteins, bilirubin, and carbon dioxide are relevant components.

[0013] The holes may extend into the sensing element or slab from one of its surfaces, with radiation being launched towards the holes from a direction at a non-zero angle relative to the surface and / or a non-perpendicular angle relative to the average direction of the holes. Similarly, or alternatively, the detector may be configured to receive radiation directed towards the detector along a non-zero angle relative to the surface and / or at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the average direction of the holes. In this manner, the number of reflections / scatterings may be kept fairly low, allowing more radiation to reach the detector.

[0014] In operation, in step a), a hole, such as the front side of the translucent slab, may be contacted with a first fluid if no fluid is already present in the hole. While the first fluid is in the hole, it is optically probed, as a result of which a first optical signal is provided or detected. After measurement, the first fluid may be expelled from the hole, such as through the same opening.

[0015] Before or after that step, a second fluid is supplied to the hole and optically probed. The optical probe may include emitting radiation of at least a first and a second wavelength toward the aperture, and / or the optical signal may be based thereon. The radiation may be reflected by the aperture in different directions, including toward a detector, such that some of the radiation is detected. The detected radiation may be reflected any number of times. The detected radiation may be reflected / scattered toward the detector by a second aperture of the plurality of apertures.

[0016] It may be preferred that radiation is emitted into a first of the plurality of holes and that the detected radiation originates from a second of the plurality of holes. The first and second holes may be the same hole or entirely different holes, or some of the first holes may also be second holes.

[0017] It may be preferred that there is a large overlap between the first and second holes, such as when more than 50%, such as more than 75%, such as more than 90% of the first holes are also second holes, and / or when more than 50%, such as more than 75%, such as more than 90% of the second holes are also first holes. It may be preferred that there is a smaller overlap, such that no more than 50% of the first holes are second holes, and / or no more than 50% of the second holes are first holes.

[0018] The detector may then be adapted to generate a signal and / or an optical signal representative of the detected radiation. The optical signal may be reflected / scattered radiation, such as radiation reflected / scattered towards the detector or detected by the detector. The optical signal may be considered as an output of the detector based on such radiation. Finally, the optical signal may be the result of an analysis of such output or reflected radiation. The optical signal may represent the intensity change of the radiation due to absorption in the hole and scattering / reflection of the hole.

[0019] Preferably, radiation is emitted toward the same hole, and detection is configured to receive radiation from the same hole throughout the useful life of the sensing element. Thus, the first and second holes are preferably the same during the method, or the useful life of the sensing element, as described above. Alternatively, or in addition, it may be desirable for the relative orientation and position of the radiation emitter (such as a radiation output element), the sensing element, and the detector (such as a radiation receiving element) to be at least substantially the same. In this manner, radiation is emitted toward the same hole from the same angle, and radiation is collected from the same hole and from the same angle. Note, for example, that changing the angle of incidence of the emitted radiation will change the optical structure seen by the radiation, and as a result, the resulting detected radiation may vary for the same incident wavelength, intensity, and for the same fluid in the hole.

[0020] The contents of the pores can be conveniently optically probed from the backside of a translucent slab opposite the surface where the pore opening is viewed. If the sample contains larger components, optical probing can be performed selectively on only the subsample (liquid) inside the pores.

[0021] Incident radiation may be guided / directed into the hole to ensure that the radiation traverses the hole and interacts with the fluid therein. Preferably, the probe radiation is sent into the hole at oblique incidence relative to the longitudinal axis of the hole and / or the surface normal on the plane of the surface in which the hole opening is found to ensure that the light traverses the hole containing the fluid to be probed, thus ensuring maximum optical interaction path length.

[0022] The light emerging from the pores in response to illumination has interacted with the fluid within the pores and therefore carries information about the fluid. The emerging radiation, and / or a signal representative of the emerging radiation, may then be analyzed to develop a value representative of that information, for example, the analyte content in the third fluid. The radiation may represent intensity changes including absorption caused by analytes in the fluid, as well as "losses" or "gains" caused by scattering / reflection of the radiation at the pores. The analysis may include spectroscopically analyzing the emerging / detected radiation and / or signal / data processing, for example, to compare the acquired signal to a signal acquired for a calibration / reference fluid such as the first fluid, for noise filtering, to apply corrections, and to remove artifacts.

[0023] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is the protein content in the plasma that is the third fluid that is optically probed, for example by determining the refractive index of the third fluid. Proteins do not bring about significant radiation absorption, but are involved in defining the refractive index of the plasma.

[0024] The cross-sectional area of ​​the hole may be desired to correspond to a circle whose diameter is within 50% of the wavelength of the radiation, for example within 25% of the wavelength, so that the hole may act like a scattering particle-like element. The wavelength of the radiation may be, for example, the minimum, maximum, or average wavelength used in the determination. Thus, the scattering efficiency of the hole will depend on the difference in refractive index between the fluid in the hole and the material of the sensing element forming the hole. The greater the difference in refractive index, such as when the fluid is a gas such as air, the higher the scattering.

[0025] The first and second fluids have different predetermined refractive indices. Hence, the scattering caused by the holes is different. This is used as a calibration for the determination of the refractive index of the third fluid. The radiation losses, i.e. the intensity changes, between the radiation emitter and the detector are due to absorption and scattering / reflection. Thus, when the absorption of the first and second fluids at at least two wavelengths is known, the contribution caused by scattering / reflection due to the refractive index of the fluids can be determined and calibrated.

[0026] A radiation loss can also be a radiation gain if the absorption is less than the gain from the RI change. When the absorption of one fluid is known at a first and a second wavelength, and the refractive index of that fluid is also known, and when the absorption of another fluid is known at a first and a second wavelength and the refractive index of that fluid is known, a relationship can be determined at the first wavelength between the scattered / reflected received radiation and the absorbed radiation. The same relationship can also be determined at the second wavelength. From these relationships, the amount of scattered radiation and / or the amount of absorbed radiation can be determined for the third fluid, thus allowing both the absorption from multiple compounds and the refractive index of the third fluid to be determined. This may require as many wavelengths (and data of the compound absorption spectrum as a function of wavelength) as the compounds being investigated plus one (for RI determination).

[0027] Thus, each of steps a), b), and c) comprises: - emitting radiation at each of the first and second wavelengths to a sensing element; and - determining the intensity of radiation at each of the first and second wavelengths from the sensing element; Step d) is performed further based on the determined intensity.

[0028] Generally, the wavelength may be the wavelength interval in which the wavelength is provided. Often a single wavelength is not desired or obtainable, and radiation is then emitted and / or received within a desired wavelength interval, such as after filtering.

[0029] Of course, more wavelengths than the first and second wavelengths may be used, and thus radiation including a third wavelength may be emitted to the sensor element and radiation at or within that wavelength may also be detected, with the results of that detection being used in the determination.

[0030] In fact, this calibration can be even more general. In a normal spectrometer or sensing element for determining a concentration based on radiation absorption of components of a sample / fluid or the like, the calibration is based on the absorption of calibration fluids at different wavelengths. The wavelengths are selected based on the components sought. It is desired that the calibration fluid absorbs at each wavelength. However, on the other hand, it is desired to reduce the number of calibration fluids.

[0031] The present invention makes such calibration easier. From the calibration, the intensity change can be determined at all relevant wavelengths, such as the combined effect of absorption and scattering. The contribution from scattering can be determined from fluids with or without significant absorption at these wavelengths. Absorption can be converted into a sensitivity, which is the absorption divided by the concentration of the absorbing component and the molar extinction coefficient of the component. Thus, from the determination of the scattering contribution, e.g. the resulting intensity change, at two wavelengths, and the absorption determination at one of the wavelengths, the absorption at the other wavelength can be assumed or determined from the scattering contribution. The relative difference between the absorption contributions can be assumed to be the same as that observed between the scattering contributions.

[0032] The first fluid may be used to calibrate the method and may be a specific calibration fluid, but may also have other functions, such as a rinsing fluid used before contacting the front side with the second or third fluid, the third fluid being in some embodiments the actual unknown fluid, which is the whole blood sample or fluid to be analyzed. In practice, the first fluid may be a gas and the second fluid may be a fluid with the above properties. Thereby, the hole may be 'primed' by pre-filling with a liquid that has an affinity with the second / third fluid, such as the whole blood sample, and in particular with the plasma phase if the fluid is whole blood, such as aqueous solutions commonly used for rinsing, calibration and / or quality control purposes in blood analyzers. For example, a typical rinsing liquid used for flushing in a whole blood analyzer system may be used as such a liquid. The rinsing liquid is an aqueous solution containing K+, Na+, Cl-, Ca2+, O2, pH, CO2 and HCO3- in concentrations corresponding to human plasma. Non-limiting examples of suitable solutions commonly used for rinsing, calibration and / or quality control purposes are further listed below. When a whole blood sample or fluid is contacted with the front surface, which is then primed with a plasma-compatible liquid / fluid-compatible fluid, a representative sub-sample (fluid) of the components in the plasma phase of the whole blood sample or of the fluid is extracted and transferred in a very efficient and gentle manner by diffusion of the relevant components into the pre-filled pores. In particular, any concentration gradient in the content of analytes between the latter and former fluids in the pores leads to diffusion transfer, thus producing in the pores a sub-sample (fluid) with an analyte concentration representative of the analyte concentration in the fluid.

[0033] As mentioned, it may be desirable for the first fluid to be a gas, such as ambient air. Air has a low refractive index, which may be desirable in calibration. The hole may then be dry, such as the front side of the sensing element. In addition, it may be desirable for the inner surface of the hole to be hydrophilic, so that when the next fluid is aqueous, it can be extracted into the hole by capillary forces.

[0034] The sensing element may be disposable in the sense that when all the fluids have been introduced into it, the sensing element is not used again. It may be desirable not to reuse the sensing element, particularly when one fluid is a gas and the other is a liquid, as this requires complete removal of all liquid from the pores before reuse is possible.

[0035] However, it should be noted that the optical signals from the first and second fluids may be reused for several third fluids, such that the sensing element may be used for more than one third fluid.

[0036] Obviously, another parameter of the third fluid may also be determined when the third fluid comprises a concentration of the substance, and step d) further comprises determining the concentration of the substance in the third fluid, which may be performed in the same manner as described further below in connection with the second aspect of the invention.

[0037] Further according to one embodiment of the sensing element, the cross-sectional dimension of the pore opening is about 1 μm or less, about 800 nm or less, preferably about 500 nm or less, or even about 400 nm or less, and / or the length of the pore in the axial direction along the pore is less than 100 μm, less than 50 μm, preferably less than 30 μm, or about 25 μm.

[0038] By using holes having openings in the front plane of a translucent slab having a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about 1 μm or less, or preferably in the submicron range, e.g., about 800 nm or less, e.g., about 500 nm or less, or about 400 nm or less, any cellular components including red blood cells, white blood cells, and thrombocytes / platelets are prevented from entering the holes when the first or second fluid is whole blood.

[0039] Additionally, pores with openings having cross-sectional dimensions of about 500 nm or less have increased sensitivity compared to larger pores, such as pores having openings with cross-sectional dimensions of about 800 nm or more, but with the same total pore volume / volume porosity.

[0040] Most preferably, the pores have a smallest opening with a respective smallest pore volume to allow efficient extraction of a sufficiently large sub-sample that can still be probed with an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio. Advantageously, the pores have an opening of about 30 nm or more, or 50 nm or more, or 100 nm or more, or about 200 nm or more.

[0041] Suitable holes can be produced, for example, from transparent polymer membranes with so-called track-etched holes, similar to those commercially available from IT4IP (IT4IP sa / avenue Jean-Etienne Lenoir1 / 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve / Belgium), with the modification that the holes are closed at one end. The through holes in the membrane can be closed, for example, by laminating a backsheet on the back side of the porous membrane, or by decelerating the ions so that the ion bombardment tracks, and thus the etched holes following these tracks, stop in the transparent polymer membrane to form blind holes. The membrane is typically backed by a rigid transparent element to provide adequate mechanical strength for the translucent slab or sensing element.

[0042] The sensing element is preferably made of a material that does not absorb radiation at one or more wavelengths, while it is preferably possible to produce blind holes in the material, for example by track etching the material. A suitable material for this is polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), or a PET analogue (polyethylene terephthalate polyester (PETP or PET-P)), or polycarbonate (PC). The sensing element may include a hydrophilic coating, for example of polyethylene glycol (PEG), to increase diffusion into the pores. The hydrophilic coating may be selected according to the use of the sensing element. In some applications, the sensing element never dries out once it is used, and therefore it only needs to be hydrophilic at start-up. In other uses of the sensing element, the sensing element requires a coating that keeps it permanently hydrophilic, so that it dries out and is still usable when the sensing element is then rewetted for further use.

[0043] Further, according to one embodiment of the sensing element, the porosity of a given volume of the translucent slab containing holes is between 50% and 5% by volume, between 30% and 10% by volume, or about 15% by volume. The holes create porosity in the sensing element (or in a given region of the sensing element) with a corresponding front surface area over which the hole openings are distributed. Porosity can be characterized in terms of the volume of voids created in the sensing element by the holes, i.e., the hole volume, which is referred to as the volume of the sensing element penetrated by the holes. This volume is defined here as the volume between the front region over which the holes are distributed and an identical parallel region shifted into the sensing element by the maximum depth of penetration of the holes into the sensing element as seen in an axial direction perpendicular to the front side of the sensing element.

[0044] In addition, porosity can be further characterized in terms of integrated pore volume, which is equal to the fluid volume available to the optical probe. Pore volume can be conveniently expressed as an equivalent pore volume depth DELTA, which is the pore volume referred to the corresponding front side where the pore openings are distributed. Thus, the porosity of the sensing element can be converted to an equivalent pore volume depth DELTA as follows: Pores with openings within a given front side area A have a total pore volume V. The equivalent pore volume depth is then calculated as the total pore volume divided by the given front side area: DELTA=V / A.

[0045] Advantageously, according to some embodiments, the equivalent pore volume depth DELTA is less than 20 μm, or less than 15 μm, or less than 10 μm, or in the range of 3 μm to 5 μm, the equivalent pore volume depth DELTA being defined as the total pore volume V divided by the frontal area A over which the pore openings are distributed.

[0046] In situations where the fluid is whole blood and only serum is of interest, a small sub-sample with a representative concentration of the relevant component is obtained. A small sub-sample volume is desirable to facilitate fast sub-sample exchange, thereby reducing the response time of the sensing element and the cycle time of measurements using the sensing element. A small sub-sample volume is further desirable to avoid the effects of attenuation of the boundary layer of the plasma fraction in the whole blood sample close to the front side of the sensing element. Such attenuation effects may otherwise occur in small stationary samples, where, for example, red blood cells may impede efficient diffusion exchange of the relevant component from the whole blood sample volume towards the boundary layer in front of the sensing element if the equivalent pore volume depth exceeds a critical value.

[0047] Preferably, the equivalent pore volume depth DELTA is at least 1 μm, alternatively at least 2 μm, or in the range of 3 μm to 5 μm, where the equivalent pore volume depth is defined as above. Larger fluid volumes may be desirable to achieve better signal-to-noise levels, since larger fluid volumes contribute to optically probed information regarding the relevant components in the second fluid.

[0048] Furthermore, according to some embodiments, a useful compromise between reducing response times, reducing cycle times and / or avoiding fade effects in small quiescent volumes of fluid, on the one hand, and the required or desired signal-to-noise ratio, on the other hand, is found for an equivalent pore volume depth DELTA in the range of 1 μm to 20 μm, preferably in the range of 2 μm to 10 μm, or about 4 μm to 5 μm.

[0049] As mentioned above, the method may be used to determine the concentration of a component of a third fluid, rather than determining its refractive index, such as from its absorption determined in step c), whereby step d) may instead determine the concentration taking into account the contribution due to the refractive index of the third fluid.

[0050] An aspect of the invention therefore relates to a method for determining a concentration of a fluid, the method comprising: a) acquiring a first optical signal from a sensing element having a plurality of pores containing a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a first predetermined absorption at at least a first and a second wavelength; b) acquiring a second optical signal from the sensing element, the bore containing a second fluid having a second predetermined absorption at at least the first and second wavelengths and a second predetermined refractive index, the second refractive index being different from the first refractive index; c) acquiring a third optical signal from the sensing element, the pore containing a third fluid; and d) determining a concentration of the component of the third fluid based on the first, second, and third optical signals, the first and second predetermined absorptions, and the first and second refractive indices; Includes.

[0051] The determining may include determining a refractive index of a third fluid. Alternatively, the refractive index contribution may be compensated for. The component may absorb radiation at one of the first and second wavelengths, and step c) may include determining an absorption at the first and / or second wavelength, which absorption may be utilized in step d).

[0052] As described above and below, steps a) and b) may include emitting radiation comprising first and second wavelengths to the sensor element and determining an intensity of the radiation at or about the first and second wavelengths received from the sensor element, the determined intensity being used in step c).

[0053] Of course, all considerations, embodiments, and the like of all other aspects of the invention may be equally relevant with respect to this aspect. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for determining a parameter of a fluid, the method comprising: a) acquiring a first optical signal from a sensing element having a plurality of pores containing a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a predetermined absorption at at least one of one or more wavelengths; b) acquiring a second optical signal from the sensing element, the bore containing a second fluid having a second predetermined refractive index, the second refractive index being different from the first refractive index; c) determining a concentration of a component of the second fluid based on the first and second optical signals, the first and second refractive indices, and a predetermined absorption, the component absorbing radiation at at least one of the one or more wavelengths; Includes.

[0054] In this context, the parameter may be any parameter of the fluid, such as the concentration of a component of the fluid, or the refractive index, for example, a parameter that can be determined using radiation, such as based on the absorption of said component at different wavelengths from one wavelength. A typical parameter is the concentration of a component of the liquid, such as a molecule, drug, constituent, or the like. The concentration may be determined based on the absorption of radiation at one or more specific wavelengths, as is well known.

[0055] On the other hand, the refractive index of the fluid may also affect the manner in which radiation travels through the detection environment and may therefore be compensated for. In particularly advantageous embodiments, the second fluid, plasma, is colored by optically probed hemoglobin, e.g. by using a spectrally resolved absorption measurement, or by measuring the spectrally integrated absorption within a spectral range indicative of the presence of bilirubin in the second fluid, e.g. within a spectral range of wavelengths 380 nm to 750 nm, e.g. within a spectral range of wavelengths 400 nm to 540 nm, or over a predefined bandwidth of about 416 nm and / or about 455 nm and / or about 525 nm.

[0056] The first and second fluids have different predetermined refractive indices. Hence, the scattering caused by the holes will be different. This should be taken into account in determining the concentration of the components of the second fluid, since this concentration is often determined based on the intensity of radiation in different wavelengths. The greater scattering then results in more or less radiation being detected for the same sample or fluid, depending on the actual optical environment.

[0057] It should again be noted that scattering and reflection are wavelength independent, within reason, at least to the extent that wavelength sensitivity may not necessarily need to be taken into account in the determination. If the wavelengths used are too different, or the desired accuracy is too high, the wavelength dependence of scattering / reflection at different refractive indices can be determined and taken into account for each individual wavelength.

[0058] Once the first and second optical signals are determined, such as radiation being detected from the optical probes of the first and second fluids, the concentration of a component of the second fluid can be determined based on the detected radiation and the refractive indices of the first and second fluids.

[0059] Steps a) and b) are -emitting radiation at at least one wavelength and another wavelength to a sensing element; and - determining the intensity of radiation at least at one wavelength and at another wavelength from the sensing element; Preferably, Step c) is further based on the determined intensity.

[0060] Usually, absorption at two wavelengths is desired to determine the concentration of a component. For some components, it is often desirable to have at least as many wavelengths as there are components to be determined, and often more, in order to be able to solve the matrix that results in the concentrations of the individual components.

[0061] The wavelengths may be chosen such that some components absorb more at some wavelengths than others, as would be standard to one of ordinary skill in the art. The first fluid, sensing element and holes, as well as the fluid provision, radiation emission and radiation detection may be as described in relation to the first aspect of the invention. The small blind holes allow very efficient and fast fluid uptake and also, if the fluid contains larger molecules or moieties, allows immediate extraction of sub-samples for the optical probe by capillary forces and / or diffusion.

[0062] All embodiments, situations, examples and the like of the first aspect of the invention are equally relevant to the second aspect of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, the refractive indices of the first and second fluids are predetermined and different. The first and second fluids may be selected based on several parameters such as their refractive indices, any absorption at one or more wavelengths, their type (liquid, gas, suspension), whether they are homogeneous or contain large undesired components within the pores, and the like.

[0063] Also, the wavelength can be selected based on any absorption of the wavelength of the sensing element and the fluid, and as explained above, the wavelength can be matched to the pore size or vice versa. As also mentioned in relation to the first embodiment, it is preferable that the same hole can receive radiation from the radiation emitter and scatter / reflect radiation towards the detector, and that the angles of the emitted and detected radiation are the same regardless of which fluid is in the hole.

[0064] In general, it may be desirable for the first and second refractive indices to be sufficiently different, such that the second refractive index is at least 1.05 times the first refractive index, such as at least 1.1 times, such as at least 1.15 times, such as at least 1.2 times, such as at least 1.25 times, such as at least 1.3 times.

[0065] As mentioned above, it may be desirable for the first fluid to be a gas. In such a manner, a large refractive index difference may be obtained between the first and second fluids. The gas may be ambient air, or a gas with non-zero absorption at at least one of the wavelengths. In such a manner, it is possible to determine both the refractive index sensitivity as well as the absorption sensitivity of the system without activating (wetting) the sensor unit. It may also be desirable to determine or control any humidity of the ambient air, since water vapor in the ambient air may cause undesirable absorption at some radiation wavelengths.

[0066] Surprisingly, for whole blood and plasma samples as well as many other samples, the large RI difference between air and water / sample / fluid allows a known RI to be assigned to the sample / fluid even if the RI of the sample / fluid, which is usually 1.33-1.35 (corresponding to the normal protein concentration variations in blood), is not known more precisely. This is because the RI difference from water (RI=1) is much larger than that of the sample / fluid (RI=1.33-1.35). A more accurate calibration can then be obtained since the RI of the sample is known to be within 1 / 33 of the difference from water and the sample / fluid.

[0067] A third aspect of the invention relates to a system for determining the refractive index of a fluid, the system comprising: a sensing element having a plurality of holes; - a controllable radiation providing device configured to emit radiation of one or more wavelengths towards the aperture; a detector configured to detect the emitted radiation reflected / scattered by the hole and to output corresponding information; a controllable fluid providing element configured to provide a fluid to the hole; a controller for controlling the radiation delivery device and the fluid delivery element; - controlling the detector to obtain a first optical signal when the hole contains a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a first predetermined absorption at at least a first and a second wavelength; - controlling the detector to obtain a second optical signal when the hole contains a second fluid having a second predetermined absorption at at least the first and second wavelengths and a second predetermined refractive index, the second refractive index being different from the first refractive index; - controlling the detector to obtain a third optical signal when the pore contains a third fluid; determining a refractive index of the third fluid based on the first, second, and third optical signals, the first and second absorptions, and the first and second refractive indices; A controller configured to Equipped with.

[0068] The third aspect relates to the first aspect of the invention and all considerations regarding fluids, wavelengths, refractive indices, holes, sensing elements and the like are equally relevant in this context. The radiation providing device is controllable. In this context, this may be to select the wavelength or wavelength interval emitted as desired. Alternatively, the intensity emitted within one wavelength, some of the wavelengths, or all of the wavelengths may be controlled. Still alternatively, the emission of radiation onto the holes may be controlled, such as which holes, the position of the holes within the sensing element, the area or volume of the holes that receive the radiation, the angle of incidence, or the like.

[0069] The radiation providing device may comprise one or more radiation emitters, such as a laser, laser diode, LED, OLED, or the like, and one or more optical elements for transporting the radiation to the first aperture. The optical elements may comprise filters, collimators, lenses, light guides, or the like. In many cases, these optical elements will define which aperture is the first aperture.

[0070] The detector may comprise one or more detection elements, such as photodiodes, and optical elements for transporting radiation from the second aperture to the detection elements. These optical elements may comprise lenses, collimators, filters, radiation guides, or the like. In many cases, these optical elements will define which aperture is the second aperture. Filters may be used to split the received radiation into different wavelengths or wavelength intervals that can then be detected individually. Alternatively, the detector may be configured to determine the spectrum of the received radiation.

[0071] Preferably, the radiation providing device and detector maintain a fixed relationship relative to the sensing element during sensing and between optical probes of different fluids. In this manner, the sensing element may be configured to receive radiation from the same aperture over time.

[0072] The detector is configured to output information corresponding to the received radiation, which may correspond to the total intensity received, the intensity determined at different wavelengths, such as one or more wavelengths, or the like, which may be in the form of, for example, individual values ​​or a spectrum of the received radiation.

[0073] The fluid provision element is controllable to provide the desired fluid to the hole. As mentioned above, some fluids may already be provided in the hole, for example from the manufacturing of the sensing element. The fluid provision element may comprise individual containers for the individual fluids. Alternatively, a common container may be provided, in which case the operator may successively supply the desired fluids to the fluid provision element, which may then supply the selected fluid to the hole. The fluid provision element may also remove the former fluid from the hole in the same or a previous step.

[0074] The controller may be any type of controller, such as a processor, FPGA, DSP, software controlled, hardwired, or any combination thereof. The processor may be remote from the sensing elements or may be an integral part of the system. The processor may be divided into different parts that perform different tasks. The processor may communicate with the radiation emitters, detectors, and fluid delivery elements in any manner, such as via wires or wirelessly.

[0075] The controller may then control the system to carry out the above method and / or the method of the first aspect of the invention. As described in relation to the first aspect of the invention, the refractive index of the third fluid may be determined based on the first, second and third information, the first and second absorptions and the first and second refractive indices.

[0076] As indicated above, it may be desirable for the controller to be configured to determine, in the determination, the concentration of the substance in the third fluid. In this context, the controller may be configured to control the fluid providing element to provide a third fluid containing a concentration of the substance. The controller may then be configured to determine, in the determination, the concentration of the substance in the third fluid.

[0077] The controller preferably comprises: - controlling a radiation providing device to emit radiation at each of the first and second wavelengths to the sensing element; A detector, a first intensity of radiation at each of the first and second wavelengths from the sensing element as at least a portion of the first optical signal; and a second intensity of radiation at each of the first and second wavelengths from the sensing element as at least a portion of the second optical signal. and controlling the control to determine determining a refractive index further based on the determined first and second intensities. The present invention is configured to:

[0078] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a system for determining a parameter of a fluid, the system comprising: a sensing element having a plurality of holes; - a controllable radiation providing device configured to emit radiation of one or more wavelengths towards the aperture; a detector configured to detect the emitted radiation reflected by the hole and to output corresponding information; a controllable fluid providing element configured to provide a fluid to the hole; a controller for controlling the radiation delivery device and the fluid delivery element; - controlling the detector to obtain a first optical signal when the hole contains a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a first predetermined absorption at at least one of the one or more wavelengths; - controlling the detector to obtain a second optical signal when the hole contains a second fluid having a second predetermined refractive index, the second refractive index being different from the first refractive index; determining a concentration of a component of the second fluid based on the first and second optical signals, the predetermined first absorption, and the first and second refractive indices, the component absorbing radiation at at least one of the one or more wavelengths; A controller configured to: Equipped with.

[0079] This aspect corresponds to the second aspect of the invention and all considerations made in this respect are equally relevant in respect of this aspect. Of course, all considerations made in relation to the third aspect of the invention relating to controllers, fluids, fluid delivery elements, radiation delivery devices, detectors, sensing elements, and the like are equally relevant in this context.

[0080] The controller preferably comprises: - controlling a radiation providing device to emit radiation at at least one wavelength and another wavelength to the sensing element; A detector, a first intensity of radiation at the at least one wavelength and other wavelengths from the sensing element as at least a portion of the first optical signal; and - a second intensity of radiation at the at least one wavelength and another wavelength from the sensing element as at least a portion of the second optical signal. and controlling the control to determine -determining the ingredients further based on the determined strengths; The present invention is configured to:

[0081] Upon receiving information related to radiation received when the first, second, and third fluids were within the pore, a concentration can be determined based on the first and second information, the first and second absorptions, and the first and second refractive indices, the concentration being a concentration of a component of the second fluid that absorbs radiation at at least one of the one or more wavelengths, as further described above.

[0082] It may be desirable for the first refractive index to be at least 1.05 times the second refractive index. It may be desirable for the fluid providing element to include multiple fluid reservoirs and flow paths from each fluid reservoir to the apertures, In this manner, the fluid providing element may control the flow of at least some of the fluids.

[0083] The system may also include multiple sensing elements so that a sensing element may be discarded after a determination of the refractive index or concentration of a component and a new sensing element used for a subsequent determination. It may be desirable for the sensing element to have a gas, such as ambient air, within the pores as the first fluid.

[0084] As noted above, the radiation emitters preferably emit radiation towards holes that are at least 10% identical, and the detectors are configured to receive radiation from the holes.

[0085] A final aspect relates to a method for determining a parameter of a fluid, the method comprising the steps of: a) acquiring a first optical signal from a sensing element having a plurality of pores containing a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a first predetermined absorption at at least one of one or more wavelengths; b) acquiring a second optical signal from the sensing element, the bore including a second fluid having a second predetermined absorption at at least one of the one or more wavelength indices; c) determining a refractive index of the second fluid based on the first and second optical signals, the first and second absorptions, and the predetermined refractive index; Includes.

[0086] Clearly, all embodiments, circumstances and considerations relating to all other aspects of the invention are equally valid in relation to this aspect of the invention. In this embodiment, knowledge of the scattering caused by radiation absorption and the refractive index of the fluid in the pores can be used to determine the refractive index of the unknown fluid. As mentioned above, the refractive index can be representative of a component that is likely to not absorb radiation, at least at the wavelengths used for the determination, and as a result, the refractive index can be used to arrive at knowledge about this component.

[0087] In the following, preferred embodiments are described with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0088] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 illustrates calibration with a fluid with a defined refractive index and a fluid with known absorption at four wavelengths. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 illustrates the performance of five analyzers when calibrated with conventional optical absorption-based calibration fluids. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates the performance of five analyzers when calibrated with fluids having defined refractive indices. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 illustrates the performance of five analyzers when calibrated with both fluids having defined refractive indices and with conventional optical absorption-based calibration fluids. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates the estimated total protein of the five analyzers when calibrated with conventional optical absorption based calibration fluids. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 illustrates the estimated total protein of five analyzers when calibrated with fluids having defined refractive indices. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0089] In FIG. 1, there is seen a measurement environment 10 comprising a sensing element 12, which may be a semi-transparent slab, containing a number of blind holes 122 into which fluid may travel from a flow channel or flow F.

[0090] The holes can be provided in any manner, such as by etching. There are methods in which the surface of element 12 is modified in some locations, such that when providing a material in an etching solution or fluid, the material is etched and holes are formed in these locations, while the surface is maintained and no substantial etching is seen in other locations. In some methods, the location of the holes is stochastic, such as when the action of the surface is provided using charged particles or ions. In other methods, such as using lithography, the surface can be acted on in locations provided in a pattern, so that the holes can be located in the pattern.

[0091] The depth and width of the holes can be controlled by the etching parameters. In one embodiment, the translucent slab or element 12 is made of a translucent, preferably transparent, polymeric material and has track-etched blind holes 122 with essentially circular cross-section. The holes have openings 126 with a diameter of 400 nm and a depth of 25 μm distributed with a porosity of 15% by volume. Together, the holes distributed over a given front side 124 surface area A have a total volume V and an equivalent hole volume depth DELTA=V / A, which may be 1-100 μm, such as 1-50 μm, such as 1-25 μm, such as 1-10 μm, such as 2-6 μm, such as about 4 μm.

[0092] In one embodiment, the front side 124 is further provided with a mirror surface. For example, this surface can be obtained by directional sputter evaporation of Pd onto the front side of the semi-transparent polymer slab 12 with a direction of evaporation at an incidence angle of 25 degrees with respect to the surface normal on the front side 124, until a reflective layer (not illustrated) with a thickness of 30 nm is obtained on the front side 124 of the semi-transparent slab 12. Holes can then be formed as described.

[0093] In some embodiments, the pores may be crisscrossed, so that at least some of the pores are connected to one another to form an X-shape, a Y-shape, a V-shape, or a similar interconnected shape, in other embodiments, the pores, or a majority of the pores, extend more or less parallel to one another from one surface and into the material of element 12.

[0094] A radiation emitter 14 is provided to emit radiation towards and through the hole 122, where the radiation interacts with the fluid within the hole 122. The radiation also interacts with the fluid at the interface between the hole and the fluid. Thus, the refractive index of the fluid plays a role in the interaction of the radiation with the fluid.

[0095] One or more radiation receivers or detectors 16 are provided for receiving the emitted radiation that has interacted with the fluid within the borehole. Preferably, radiation launched into element 12 is normal to the upper or lower surface 124 / 125 or at a non-zero angle relative to the common direction of the holes. Additionally or alternatively, radiation detected by the detector may be received from a direction normal to the upper or lower surface or at an angle relative to the common direction of the holes.

[0096] The holes that receive radiation from the emitter and the holes that ultimately reflect or direct the radiation towards the detector may be the same, have overlaps, or form different groups of holes. It may be desirable for the radiation to reflect off multiple holes before being detected. This may be achieved by ensuring that the holes that emit radiation from the emitter are not within the field of view of the detector.

[0097] The hole 122 opens to the surroundings at a first side 124 of the element 12. Radiation may be emitted into the element 12 at an opposite side 125. A detector 16 may also be positioned to receive radiation exiting the element 12 at the surface 125, so that, for example, a fluid may be introduced into the hole from the first side 124. This surface may form part of a fluid flow path, such that a fluid may be provided into the hole and the fluid may be removed from the hole again, such as when replaced by another fluid.

[0098] As usual, if the fluid absorbs some of the radiation, the radiation received by the detector 16 may be reduced. From the attenuation or absorption of the radiation, the concentration of the absorbing element within the pores may be determined.

[0099] However, other parameters of the fluid may be determined. It should be noted that the difference in refractive index between the fluid and the material of the sensing element forming the holes 122 will transform the holes into lens-like structures. The parameters of these lens-like structures will then change with the change in the refractive index of the fluid.

[0100] Thus, a beam of radiation projected through a lens-like structure will undergo different focusing, scattering, reflection and dispersion at the different refractive indices of the lens-like structure caused by the different refractive indices of the different fluids.

[0101] The radiation received by the detector will therefore depend on both the refractive index and any absorption of the fluid. Holes are provided in the sensing element 12. Thus, portions of the sensing element 12 are provided between adjacent holes. At the openings 126, the sensing element may form a flat, but porous, surface 124, illustrated by the dashed lines. These flat outer portions between the holes may act to reflect radiation impinging thereon from the sensing element 12, so that this radiation (or a portion of it) is reflected back into the sensing element 12. As explained above, this surface may be further provided with a reflective surface to increase such reflection. However, it may be preferred that the detector 16 is not positioned to receive any radiation from such direct reflection of radiation directly from the emitter 14.

[0102] Additionally or alternatively, a first region or volume of the sensing element 12 may receive radiation directly from the light source 14. The first region or volume of the sensing element 12 may be a region or volume that is within the field of view of an optical element that emits or directs radiation onto and into the element 12. Similarly, a second region or volume of the sensing element 12 may be a region or volume from which the detector 16 receives radiation directly. The second region or volume may be a region or volume of the sensing element 12 that is within the field of view of an optical element that collects or directs radiation towards the element detector 16.

[0103] Because rays of radiation can intersect without interfering, the regions or volumes can be positioned such that radiation delivered toward one volume can pass radiation from another region that is directed toward the detector.

[0104] It may be desirable for the first and second regions or volumes to be different, e.g., have little or no overlap. It may be desirable for 25% or less, e.g. 10% or less, e.g. 5% or less, e.g. 1% or less, of all surfaces of holes 12 in the first region / volume to also be present in the second region / volume. Alternatively, the first and second regions / volumes may have a large overlap, such as one being completely contained within the other.

[0105] Calibration can now be done in a novel manner. In one mode, the present structures can be used to determine the refractive index of an unknown fluid, in another mode, the structures can use the refractive index to calibrate absorption determinations, and hence concentration determinations of absorbing components, of fluids of known refractive index.

[0106] Typically, a first or reference fluid having a first refractive index is provided in the hole. The fluid may be a gas or a liquid. It may be preferable to use ambient air. Ambient air has a refractive index far removed from that of the liquid, which may be advantageous.

[0107] When the first / reference fluid is in the pore, a first detection of radiation intensity, e.g., at a first wavelength or within a first wavelength interval, is performed. If the reference fluid has little or no absorption at the first wavelength, the detected contribution is due solely or primarily to the refractive index of the fluid and its effect on the lens-like structure defined by the fluid in the pore. If the reference fluid absorbs at that wavelength, its contribution can be taken into account.

[0108] Of course, radiation at multiple wavelengths or in multiple wavelength intervals may be launched into element 12. The effect of the refractive index of the reference fluid may be assumed to be the same for all wavelengths, even if it varies slightly, so that the effect of absorption at different wavelengths / intervals may be used to determine and separate the contributions from absorption and refractive index.

[0109] Then, or prior to providing the first / reference fluid to the hole, a second fluid is introduced into the hole and radiation is again fired into the hole and detected. If the refractive index of the second fluid is predetermined or known, the first and second fluids may now form a calibration set for the determination of the refractive index of a third fluid to be supplied to the hole.

[0110] Obviously, the fluid may also exhibit absorption at one or more of the wavelengths, but as long as sufficient determinations are made (such as at a sufficient number of wavelengths), such contributions can be compensated for in the calibration.

[0111] On the other hand, if the refractive index of the second fluid is known, and the absorption of the first fluid at one or more wavelengths is known, even the second fluid may be a fluid with an unknown concentration of absorbing components. In this situation, a calibration using the first fluid may again be sufficient when a sufficient number of wavelengths are used that allow the determination of both the absorption of the components and the refractive index of the second fluid. If a wavelength is used at which the loss of radiation due to absorption can be determined, the effect of the refractive index of the fluid may be determined. This effect may be an increase or decrease in the received radiation intensity, and this effect may be assumed to be the same for all wavelengths, at least within a wide range. Refraction at the interface between two materials of different refractive index is wavelength dependent, but not to any significant degree within a wavelength range of several hundred nm.

[0112] The concentrations of multiple components can be determined when a sufficient number of wavelengths are used, selected such that the components absorb differently within the wavelengths. EXAMPLES

[0113] In the sensing element as described above, different reference fluids were tested for a set of measurements at four different wavelengths WL1, WL2, WL3 and WL4 used to determine the plasma parameters. Two calibrations performed on the same ten analyzers, with three replicates of each sample type, and running four fluids with different degrees of hemolysis, are compared.

[0114] The first calibration fluid (marked O in FIG. 2) is a standard colored calibration fluid. The refractive index of a typical calibration fluid is close to that of blood plasma (1.33). The second calibration fluid (marked with a + in FIG. 2) is a 1500 mM glucose solution that has very little absorption at these wavelengths but results in scattering / reflection due to its refractive index of 1.41.

[0115] In Figure 2, it can be seen that the signal increases until it reaches a steady state value. This is due to the fact that since diffusion is used in this analyzer, it takes very little time for the fluid to enter the pores.

[0116] The change in radiation intensity is determined by the unit normal of pure absorption, mAbs. From the very low intensity change, it can be seen that the sum of scattering and absorption of the typical calibration fluid is very low at two of the wavelengths (WL3 and WL4). This is due to the fact that the calibration fluid does not absorb or scatter any of this radiation. Thus, the calibration of wavelengths WL3 and WL4 may historically be performed based on measurements at WL1 and / or WL2. The sensitivity of WL3 and WL4 may be assumed to be, for example, that of WL2.

[0117] In contrast, the second calibration fluid has high intensity variations at all four wavelengths, where the contribution is mainly caused by changes in the interaction of the radiation at the interface between the pores and the fluid, and hence by the refractive index difference between the fluid and the reference fluid (in this case the fourth fluid).

[0118] In this situation, it is worth noting that the cross section of the hole perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hole is comparable to the wavelength of the radiation, so that the interaction between the radiation and the hole includes scattering. The radiation will therefore be scattered from hole to hole until it is directed out of the element 12. When interacting in the hole, the radiation will also pass through the fluid, and therefore will undergo absorption if the fluid absorbs the radiation. The lower intensity change of the second fluid in WL1 compared to the same fluid intensity change in WL2 is caused by the lower refractive index change sensitivity in WL1 compared to WL2. The same ratio is observed when utilizing an optically absorbing calibration fluid (Cal2), which is not directly evident in FIG. 2, but which is caused by the approximately 1.25 times higher extinction coefficient of tartrazine in WL1 compared to WL2. Thus, surprisingly, an absorption sensitivity ratio between WLs can be converted to a scattering sensitivity ratio between the same WLs, and vice versa.

[0119] In addition to the usual absorption of the calibration fluid, radiation will also be lost due to scattering by the pores, an effect that depends on the refractive index of the fluid. Thus, comparisons can be made between calibrating the five analyzers with the first calibration fluid, with the second calibration fluid, and with both fluids.

[0120] FIG. 3 illustrates the calibration of five analyzers (each illustrated by one of the symbols on the right) using standard calibration fluids after four fluids (RPP0, RPP165, RPP330, and RPP1000) were measured three times in each analyzer, resulting in each of the marks under each fluid.

[0121] RPP is a so-called "Reference Plasma Pool" based on blood samples where hemolysis has released all the color from the red blood cells. Thus, an RPP1000 sample has 1000 mg / dl of free hemoglobin (also called ccfHb) dissolved in plasma. Since the fluids are based on blood, the protein concentration and its RI are the same for all RPP fluids.

[0122] It can be seen that the RPP0 measurement is not at zero when it should be. This is caused by scattering caused by the refractive index of the fluid. It can also be seen that the performance at RPP1000 in mg / dL ccfHb is poorer.

[0123] In Figure 4 the same fluid is analysed using a second calibration fluid, and it can be seen that the RPP0 measurement is now provided with a zero value, as expected. It was also found that the calibration works well in RPP165 and RPP330 fluids, and it is not improved in RPP1000 fluid since the RI calibration is not ideal for calibrating the color signal from cfHb.

[0124] In Figure 5, it can be seen that five analyzers are calibrated using both the first and second calibration fluids and the best of the two calibrations are obtained. The best performance for RPP0, RPP165, and RPP330 fluids is seen from the second calibration fluid, while the better performance in RPP1000 fluid is seen from the first calibration fluid.

[0125] Instead of using radiation absorption to determine the concentration of a component, the concentration of the component can be estimated from the refractive index of the fluid. For example, proteins in plasma do not absorb to any significant degree in any of WL1-WL4, but the concentration of proteins in plasma will define their refractive index.

[0126] In Figure 6, five analyzers calibrated with a first calibration fluid are used to estimate the total protein in each of the fluids RPP0, RPP165, RPP330, and RPP1000. In comparison, Figure 7 illustrates the same analyzer analyzing the same fluids, but now calibrated using a second calibration fluid. It can be seen that the measurement has better performance when using both calibrations.

Claims

1. 1. A method for determining the refractive index of a fluid, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a first optical signal from a sensing element having a plurality of pores containing a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a first predetermined absorption at least at a first and a second wavelength by detecting radiation at least scattered by said pores; b) obtaining a second optical signal from the sensing element by detecting radiation at least scattered by the hole, the hole comprising a second fluid having a second predetermined absorption at the at least first and second wavelengths and a second predetermined refractive index, the second refractive index being different from the first refractive index; c) obtaining a third optical signal from the sensing element by detecting radiation at least scattered by the hole, the hole containing a third fluid; and d) determining a refractive index of the third fluid based on the first, second, and third optical signals, the first and second predetermined absorptions, and the first and second refractive indices; The method includes:

2. 1. A method for determining a parameter of a fluid, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a first optical signal from a sensing element having a plurality of pores containing a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a predetermined absorption at least at one of one or more wavelengths by detecting radiation at least scattered by said pores; b) obtaining a second optical signal from the sensing element by detecting radiation at least scattered by the hole, the hole containing a second fluid having a second predetermined refractive index, the second refractive index being different from the first refractive index; c) determining a concentration of a component of the second fluid based on the first and second optical signals, the first and second refractive indices, and the predetermined absorption, the component absorbing radiation at at least one of the one or more wavelengths; The method includes:

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third fluid comprises a concentration of a substance, and step d) further comprises determining the concentration of the substance in the third fluid.

4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second refractive index is at least 1.05 times the first refractive index.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is a gas.

6. Each of steps a), b), and c) comprises: - emitting radiation at each of said first and second wavelengths to said sensing element; and - determining the intensity of radiation at each of said first and second wavelengths from said sensing element; Including, The method of claim 1 , wherein step d) is performed further based on the determined intensity.

7. Steps a) and b) include - emitting radiation at at least one wavelength and another wavelength to said sensing element; and - determining the intensity of radiation at said at least one wavelength and at said further wavelength from said sensing element; Including, The method of claim 2 , wherein step c) is further based on the determined intensity.

8. 1. A system for determining the refractive index of a fluid, comprising: a sensing element having a plurality of holes; - a controllable radiation providing device configured to emit radiation of one or more wavelengths towards the aperture; a detector configured to detect the emitted radiation at least scattered by said aperture and to output corresponding information; - a controllable fluid providing element configured to provide a fluid to said hole; a controller configured to control the radiation providing device and the fluid providing element; and - controlling said detector to obtain a first optical signal when said hole contains a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a first predetermined absorption at at least a first and a second wavelength; - controlling the detector to obtain a second optical signal when the hole contains a second fluid having a second predetermined absorption at at least the first and second wavelengths and a second predetermined refractive index, the second refractive index being different from the first refractive index; - controlling said detector to obtain a third optical signal when said hole contains a third fluid; determining a refractive index of the third fluid based on the first, second, and third optical signals, the first and second absorptions, and the first and second refractive indices; a controller configured to: A system comprising:

9. 1. A system for determining a parameter of a fluid, comprising: a sensing element having a plurality of holes; - a controllable radiation providing device configured to emit radiation of one or more wavelengths towards the aperture; a detector configured to detect the emitted radiation at least scattered by said aperture and to output corresponding information; a controllable fluid providing element configured to provide a fluid to said hole; a controller configured to control the radiation providing device and the fluid providing element; and - controlling said detector to obtain a first optical signal when said hole contains a first fluid having a first predetermined refractive index and a first predetermined absorption at at least one of one or more wavelengths; - controlling the detector to obtain a second optical signal when the hole contains a second fluid having a second predetermined refractive index, the second refractive index being different from the first refractive index; determining a concentration of a component of the second fluid based on the first and second optical signals, the predetermined first absorption, and the first and second refractive indices, the component absorbing radiation at at least one of the one or more wavelengths; a controller configured to: A system comprising:

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to determine, in the determining, a concentration of a substance in the third fluid.

11. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the second refractive index is at least 1.05 times the first refractive index.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fluid providing element comprises a plurality of fluid reservoirs and a flow path from each fluid reservoir to the hole.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first fluid is a gas.

14. The controller includes: - controlling the radiation providing device to emit radiation at each of the first and second wavelengths towards the sensing element; - said detector, a first intensity of radiation at each of the first and second wavelengths from the sensing element as at least a portion of the first optical signal; and a second intensity of radiation at each of the first and second wavelengths from the sensing element as at least a portion of the second optical signal; and controlling the control to determine determining the refractive index further based on the determined first and second intensities; and The system of claim 8 , configured to:

15. The controller includes: - controlling a radiation providing device to emit radiation at said at least one wavelength and at another wavelength to said sensing element; - said detector, a first intensity of radiation at the at least one wavelength and at the other wavelength from the sensing element as at least a portion of the first optical signal; and a second intensity of radiation at the at least one wavelength and at the other wavelength from the sensing element as at least a portion of the second optical signal; and controlling the control to determine - determining said components further based on said determined intensities; The system of claim 9 , configured to:

16. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the detected radiation is further reflected by the hole.

17. A system as described in claim 8 or 9, wherein the detected emitted radiation is further reflected by the hole.

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