Patent ID: 6415235
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of analyzing at least one of various chemical and biochemical properties of a given sample comprising the steps of:providing a sample to be analyzed; providing a sensor having a plural element detector array; providing a light source; turning ON the light source; determining whether said sensor is operating; responsive to a determination that the sensor is operating, placing said sensor remote and spaced from said sample to be analyzed; turning OFF the light source; taking a background reference sample measurement with said sensor to determine the intensity of reflected light impinging on said sensor not originating from the light source; with said light source ON, placing said sensor in sufficiently close proximity to said sample to be analyzed to provide a sensor/sample interface and to obtain a sample measurement of said sample to be analyzed; taking a sample measurement of said sample to be analyzed; obtaining air reference, background reference and sample reference measurements; and using said air reference, background reference and sample reference measurements to determine a correction factor and provide a corrected measurement of said sample to be analyzed.