Method and apparatus for determining properties of a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container

Abstract

A method for determining properties of a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container is presented. The method comprises measuring projections of the laboratory sample container comprising the laboratory sample by irradiating light to the laboratory sample container at different projection angle and determining the properties by tomographic reconstruction based on the projections.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for determining properties of a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container, the method comprising:
 measuring projections of the laboratory sample container comprising the laboratory sample by irradiating light to the laboratory sample container at different projection angles;   determining the properties by tomographic reconstruction based on the projections; and   determining properties of labels attached to the laboratory sample container based on the determined properties.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the light is irradiated to the laboratory sample container in form of parallel rays at the respective projection angles. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the projections form a sonogram. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the properties of the laboratory sample are the light attenuation coefficients of the laboratory sample as a function of a position inside the laboratory sample container. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the irradiated light has a wavelength chosen from the visible or infrared wavelength range. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determined properties are light attenuation coefficients of the laboratory sample as a function of position inside the laboratory sample container. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laboratory sample is a centrifuged blood sample and wherein the blood sample is separated into serum and at least one other component. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one other component is cruor, a separating medium or air. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprises,
 detecting foreign matter in the serum based on the determined properties.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the foreign matter is a clot. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the clot comprises afibrinogenaemia fibers, coagulum, and/or fat/protein agglutination. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the properties of labels comprise if a label is placed on the laboratory sample container, an extension of a label placed on the laboratory sample container, a thickness of a label, and/or number of layers of label. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprises,
 classifying the laboratory sample based on the determined properties.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the classification of the laboratory sample comprises lipemic, hemolytic, icteric, or good classes. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprises
 determining a liquid level of the laboratory sample comprised in the laboratory sample container based on the determined properties.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprises,
 performing a rough cell analysis based on the determined properties.   
     
     
         17 . A method for determining properties of a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container, wherein the laboratory sample is a centrifuged blood sample, the method comprising:
 measuring projections of the laboratory sample container comprising the laboratory sample by irradiating light to the laboratory sample container at different projection angles;   determining the properties by tomographic reconstruction based on the projections;   separating the centrifuged blood sample into serum and at least one other component; and   determining properties of labels attached to the laboratory sample container based on the determined properties.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for determining properties of a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container, the apparatus comprising:
 a light source configured to irradiate light to the laboratory sample container, such that the light passes through the laboratory sample container and the laboratory sample;   a light detector configured to determine projections by measuring an intensity of light based on the irradiated light exiting the laboratory sample container;   a rotating drive configured to rotate the light source and the light detector relative to the sample container to effect different projection angles; and   a processor configured to perform the method of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of linearly arranged laser diodes. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the light detector comprises a plurality of linearly arranged laser photo detectors.