Reader device for luminescent immunoassays

Abstract

The present disclosure, among other things, describes a reader system comprising a casing, an optical system, en electromechanical motor system, and one or more digital processors.

1 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A reader system for analyzing one or more analytes in a fluid sample, the reader system comprising:
 a casing;   a vertically oriented holster within the casing, wherein the casing comprises at least one port leading to the vertically oriented holster;   an insertable and removable cartridge placed in the vertically oriented holster, wherein the cartridge comprises a vertically oriented immunoassay device for analyzing one or more analytes in a fluid sample;   an optical system, comprising:
 excitation optics comprising at least one light source and an excitation lens, wherein the excitation optics transmit excitation light from the at least one light source in a direction that is horizontal relative to the vertically oriented holster and vertically oriented immunoassay device, and wherein the transmitted light excites a region of the vertically oriented immunoassay device, and 
 collection optics comprising at least one photosensor and at least one collection lens, wherein the collection optics collect light from the excited region of the vertically oriented immunoassay device; 
   an electromechanical motor system, wherein the electromechanical motor system moves the vertically oriented holster; and   one or more digital processors, and associated electronics configured to receive data from and control the optical system and to control the electromechanical motor system.   
     
     
         57 . The reader of  claim 56 , further comprising non-volatile or volatile digital memory for storing data generated by the optical system. 
     
     
         58 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the casing further comprises a display screen, a data entry device, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         59 . The reader system of  claim 58 , wherein the data entry device comprises an integrated keypad or a touch-screen. 
     
     
         60 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one light source is a surface mounted light emitting diode. 
     
     
         61 . The reader system of  claim 60 , wherein the surface mounted light emitting diode comprises a collimation lens. 
     
     
         62 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one collection lens is configured to collect emitted light from an entire excited region. 
     
     
         63 . The reader system of  claim 62 , wherein emitted light is directed onto the central portion of a photodiode. 
     
     
         64 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the excitation optics further comprises an optical excitation filter. 
     
     
         65 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the collection optics further comprises an optical collection filter. 
     
     
         66 . The reader system of  claim 65 , wherein the optical collection filter is mechanically actuated. 
     
     
         67 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the excitation optics further comprises a plate with one or more optical apertures. 
     
     
         68 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the vertically oriented immunoassay device comprises one or more immunoassay channels, each channel comprising one or more test lines for analyzing one or more analytes in the fluid sample. 
     
     
         69 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the vertically oriented immunoassay device comprises multiple immunoassay channels and the excitation optics comprises multiple light sources, each with different central wavelengths. 
     
     
         70 . The reader system of  claim 69 , wherein the collection optics comprises multiple photosensors, and the multiple light sources and photosensors are configured in pairs so that they transmit light to and collect emitted light from different immunoassay channels. 
     
     
         71 . The reader system of  claim 69 , wherein the pairs of light sources and photosensors are configured so that different immunoassay channels are interrogated at different points in time. 
     
     
         72 . The reader system of  claim 69 , wherein electronic frequency filtering is used to filter signals from the multiple photosensors. 
     
     
         73 . The reader system of  claim 69 , wherein the multiple immunoassay channels are spatially separated such that cross talk between different immunoassay channels and different photosensors is substantially absent when the multiple immunoassay channels are interrogated simultaneously. 
     
     
         74 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one photosensor monitors the at least one light source. 
     
     
         75 . The reader system of  claim 74 , wherein measurements from the at least one photosensor that monitors the at least one light source are used to control an emission intensity of the at least one light source. 
     
     
         76 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein an optical collection plane of the collection optics and an optical excitation plane of the excitation optics form an angle that is offset from normal. 
     
     
         77 . The reader system of  claim 56 , further comprising at least one sensor for recognizing cartridge insertion or removal. 
     
     
         78 . The reader system of  claim 77 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an optical or mechanical sensor. 
     
     
         79 . The reader system of  claim 56 , further comprising a barcode reading system. 
     
     
         80 . The reader system of  claim 79 , wherein the barcode reading system is two-dimensional, and the two-dimensional barcode reading system is characterized in that it encodes information selected from the group consisting of identification of cartridge type or lot data, lot manufacture and expiry dates, analyte names, cartridge expected response, lot parameters, peak finding parameters, calibration parameters, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         81 . The reader system of  claim 56 , wherein the electromechanical motor system comprises an encoder which is used to detect and report a relative position of the holster. 
     
     
         82 . The reader system of  claim 56 , further comprising alignment features within the vertically oriented holster for ensuring alignment of the cartridge.