Disposable calibration device

US6002482A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Spectrx, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Robert Rothfritz · Marietta, US
• Scott Kerr · Stone Mountain, US
• Glenn Steven Arche · Bothell, US
• Scott Kellogg · Duluth, US
• Gregory J. Newman · Atlanta, US
• Mark A. Samuels · Johns Creek, US
• Richard L. Fowler · Longmont, US
• Shabbir Bambot · Suwanee, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 29, 1998
• Grant date: Dec 14, 1999
• Expiry date: Jul 29, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2201/0221
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A combined infection shield and calibration or reference target for use with a measuring instrument includes a removable calibration/reference layer. The removable calibration/reference layer has predetermined optical characteristics that can be utilized to calibrate or reference the instrument. The calibration/reference layer may have predetermined reflectance or scattering properties, a predetermined transmissivity to light, or it may have predetermined fluorescence properties. When the calibration/reference layer is removed from the remaining portions of the device, the portion of the calibration/reference layer having the predetermined optical characteristics is irrevocably altered such that the calibration/reference layer cannot be reused. The combined infection shield and target may be attached to a shield holder, which in turn is attached to an instrument. Alternatively, the infection shield and target may be attached directly to an instrument.