Analytical system with means for detecting too small sample volumes

US6055060A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Boehringer Mannheim GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Franz Bolduan · Mannheim, DE
• Bernd Eisenbarth · Bobenheim am Berg, DE
• Karl Miltner · Dossenheim, DE
• Helmut Leininger · Mannheim, DE
• Detlef Thym · Mannheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 16, 1997
• Grant date: Apr 25, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 16, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2035/009
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Analytical system for evaluating test elements having means of determining whether a sufficient amount of sample liquid was evenly applied to an application zone comprising in a first embodiment of the invention at least two sources of light which illuminate separate or at least not fully overlapping areas of the application zone or the evaluation zone of the test strip, a control unit with which the light sources, of which there at least two, can be independently activated, at least one sensor which detects light reflected by the evaluation zone or transmitted by the evaluation zone and supplies an output signal proportional to the intensity of light as well as an evaluation unit which receives a first output signal from the sensor and converts it into a first measured value when the first of the light sources is activated, receives a second output signal from the sensor and converts it into a second measured value when the second of the light sources, is activated and compares the measured values and determines whether the deviation of the first value measured from the second value measured is sufficiently small. In a second embodiment of an analytical system according to the inv…