Patent ID: 11860095
Assignee: RADIOMETER MEDICAL APS
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 17:
18. A fluid sample analyzer adapted for performing the method of contaminant detection according to claim 1, the fluid sample analyzer comprising the measurement chamber with inlet and outlet ports for feeding and discharging the fluid sample to the measurement chamber and the optical sensor for the detection of a contaminant, the optical sensor comprising the sensor layer with the sensor surface forming the interface to a sample space, stimulus means, detection means, data storage means, and a signal processor,
wherein the sensor layer comprises the luminophor adapted to emit luminescence radiation in response to an excitation stimulus applied to the luminophor;
wherein the stimulus means is arranged for providing the excitation stimulus to the luminophor in the sensor layer;
wherein the detection means is arranged to detect luminescence radiation emitted by the luminophor in response to the excitation stimulus;
wherein the data storage means comprises programmed instructions for:
receiving the time sequence of measurement values for detected luminescence as signals from the optical sensor as an input;
determining the actual value of the first parameter and the actual value of the second parameter, based on the time sequence, wherein one of the first and second parameters is sensitive to the change in refractive index across the interface between the sensor layer and the sample space, and wherein the other one of the first and second parameters is not sensitive to said change in refractive index across the interface between the sensor layer and the sample space;
providing feedback on the contamination state based on the actual value of the first parameter and the actual value of the second parameter,

wherein the signal processor is operable to execute said programmed instructions so as to produce an output indicative of the feedback on the contamination state, and
wherein the optical sensor is arranged such that the sensor surface faces into the sample space defined by the measurement chamber.