Method and apparatus for analyzing liquids that may contain a sample.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for analyzing a liquid that may contain an analyte. The analysis method comprises the step of acquiring a digital image of an area to be analyzed, using an imaging device with an optical axis directed towards the area to be analyzed, the digital image being exposed for an exposure time and showing spatial variations in intensity corresponding to a detection pattern when the analyte is present in the sample. The method also comprises the step of processing the digital image with a view to identifying the spatial variations in intensity in the digital image. According to the invention, during at least a part of the exposure time, the medium to be analyzed is placed in a magnetic field, referred to as an "illumination" magnetic field, which is generated by an illumination magnetic source. The illumination magnetic field is located parallel to the optical axis of the imaging device over at least a part of the area to be analyzed.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing a liquid that may contain a sample, wherein a sample of the liquid is placed on an analyte area (6e) of an analytical support (6), the analyte area (6e) has a plurality of aspiration zones arranged according to a detection pattern, and the sample is - A magnetic composite comprising the sample and a photoluminescent marker immobilized in the aspiration zone, and / or - The photoluminescent marker that remains dispersed in the liquid, Equipped with, The method described above - A step of acquiring a digital image of the analyte region (6e) during exposure time using an imaging device (11) having an optical axis (AO) directed toward the analyte region (6e), wherein the digital image has spatial variations in intensity according to the detection pattern when the sample is present in the sample, - A step of processing the digital image to identify spatial variations in intensity within the digital image, Equipped with, The method is characterized in that for at least a portion of the exposure time, the analytical support (6) is placed in an illumination magnetic field generated by an illumination magnetic source (15), and the illumination magnetic field is parallel to the optical axis (AO) over at least a portion of the area to be analyzed (6e).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the illumination magnetic source (15) is operable to position the analysis support (6) within the illumination magnetic field, and the method further comprises the step of moving the analysis support (6) relative to the illumination magnetic source (15) to selectively position the analysis support (6) inside or outside the illumination magnetic field.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the movement of the analysis support (6) relative to the illumination magnetic source (15) is controlled so as not to change the direction of the illumination magnetic field in the analysis target region (6e) or to reverse the orientation of the illumination magnetic field during the movement.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the movement of the analytical support (6) relative to the illumination magnetic source (15) is controlled such that the orientation of the illumination magnetic field produces at least one complete rotation.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the acquisition step comprises a plurality of exposure periods for establishing a plurality of digital images, and the method comprises a positioning step in which the relative position of the illumination magnetic source (15) with respect to the analysis support (6) is corrected between two exposure periods.

6. The analytical method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the method comprises the step of aspirating the magnetic composite optionally present in the sample before the acquisition step to fix the magnetic composite in the aspiration zone.

7. The analytical method according to claim 6, wherein the suction step comprises exposing the analytical support (6) to a magnetic field provided by the illumination magnetic source (15).

8. The analytical method according to claim 6, wherein the suction step comprises exposing the analytical support (6) to a magnetic attraction field generated by a magnetic attraction source (18) different from the illumination magnetic source (15).

9. The analytical method according to claim 8, wherein the attraction magnetic field and the illumination magnetic field have the same direction and orientation in the area to be analyzed (6e).

10. The analytical support (6) comprises a magnetic layer (6b) that defines at least a portion of the aspiration zone and a non-magnetic surface film (6c) disposed on the magnetic layer (6b), wherein the magnetic layer (6b) defines the area to be analyzed (6e), according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Analytical device (E), A host support for receiving an analysis target area (6e) of an analysis support (6) and a plurality of suction zones arranged on the analysis target area (6e) according to a detection pattern, and for positioning them at the acquisition location, An imaging device (11) having an optical axis (AO) and depth of field, and positioned so as to receive the area to be analyzed (6e) within its depth of field when the analysis support (6) is in the acquisition position, An illumination magnetic source (15) capable of generating an illumination magnetic field to which the analysis support (6) is exposed when it is in the acquisition position, wherein the illumination magnetic field is parallel to the optical axis (AO) over at least a portion of the analysis target area (6e), An analytical device (E) equipped with the following features.

12. The analytical apparatus (E) according to claim 11, wherein the imaging device (11) is located on one side of the host support, and the illumination magnetic source (15) is located on the other side of the host support.

13. The analytical apparatus (E) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the illumination magnetic source (15) is selectively movable to position the host support within the illumination magnetic field or outside the illumination magnetic field.

14. The analytical apparatus (E) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising an attractive magnetic source (18) separate from the illumination magnetic source (15) for generating an attractive magnetic field.

15. The analytical apparatus (E) according to claim 14, further comprising a transport rail (17) for moving the analytical support (6) from an incubation position where it can receive the attractive magnetic field generated by the attractive magnetic source (18) to the acquisition position where it can receive the illumination magnetic field generated by the illumination magnetic source (15).

16. The apparatus (E) further comprises an analytical support (6) disposed on the host support, the analytical support (6) comprising a magnetic layer (6b) that at least partially defines the aspiration zone and a non-magnetic surface film (6c) disposed on the magnetic layer (6b), the magnetic layer (6b) defining the area to be analyzed (6e), according to any one of claims 11 to 15.

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