Thermal contrast assay and reader

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9651508-B2
Application number	US-201314375294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2013
Priority date	Jan 31, 2012
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

Assays used in conjunction with a thermal contrast reader are disclosed. In the assay, the test strip includes materials that can develop a thermal response if a target analyte is present in a sample. The thermal contrast reader includes housing having an opening to receive the test strip at a test location, an energy source directed at the test location and a heat sensor directed at the test location. The heat sensor is configured to sense heating of the test strip upon activation of the heat source at the test location, if the target analyte is present in the sample. The heat sensor can provide sensor output using diagnostic circuitry coupled to the sensor output and configured to provide a diagnostic output. The diagnostic output can indicate the diagnostic condition of the patient as a function of the sensor output. The present disclosure also includes methods of detecting target analytes and kits comprising lateral flow assays and thermal contrast reader.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thermal contrast assay reader comprising an energy source, a sensor, I/O circuitry and an opening to receive an assay strip, the reader configured to convert the sensor results to an output signal upon activation of the energy source onto the test region of the assay strip, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor configured to measure thermal contrast in the test region of the assay strip.

2. The reader of claim 1 wherein the energy source is a laser.

3. The reader of claim 1 wherein the infrared sensor is an infrared camera.

4. The reader of claim 1 wherein the test region of the assay strip comprises nanoparticles.

5. The reader of claim 1 wherein the reader is a bench-top device and the output signal is displayed on a display on the bench-top device.

6. The reader of claim 1 wherein the reader is a handheld device and the output signal is displayed on a display on the handheld device.

7. The reader of claim 1 wherein the output signal is transmitted to another device through a wired connection.

8. The reader of claim 1 wherein the output signal is transmitted to another device through a wireless connection.

Assignees

• Univ Minnesota

Inventors

• Bischof John C
• Qin Zhenpeng
• Chan Warren
• Akkin Taner

Classifications

• G01N2021/8488

  the band presenting reference patches · CPC title

• G01N21/8483 Primary

  Investigating reagent band (test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04) · CPC title

• G01N25/48

  on solution, sorption, or a chemical reaction not involving combustion or catalytic oxidation · CPC title

• G01N25/4806 Primary

  Details not adapted to a particular type of sample · CPC title

• G01N33/558

  using diffusion or migration of antigen or antibody {(immunochromatographic test strips G01N33/54387)} · CPC title