US 12,442,826 B2
Lateral flow test strip readers, cartridges and related methods
Joona-Pekko Kakko, Turku (FI); Henna Päkkilä, Turku (FI); Teemu Korpimäki, Turku (FI); Mikko Sairanen, Turku (FI); and Ville Veikkolainen, Turku (FI)
Assigned to WALLAC OY, Turku (FI)
Filed by WALLAC OY, Turku (FI)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/590,325.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/144,195, filed on Feb. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0244277 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 33/543 (2006.01); C12N 5/073 (2010.01); G01N 33/50 (2006.01); G01N 33/76 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/76 (2013.01) [C12N 5/0604 (2013.01); G01N 33/5005 (2013.01); G01N 33/54388 (2021.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of evaluating and/or monitoring function and/or viability of an embryo grown in vitro, the method comprising:
contacting a lateral flow assay strip and a fluid sample comprising culture media in which the embryo was cultured, wherein the fluid sample contacts a labeled conjugate comprising an up-converting nanoparticle (UCNP) that binds to a target analyte, when present in the fluid sample, and the lateral flow assay strip comprises an absorbent pad with a test region and a control region such that the fluid sample flows by capillary action through the absorbent pad to produce a signal at the test region, when the target analyte is present;
generating an excitation laser light beam;
optically expanding the excitation laser light beam in a direction across the control region and the test region such that the excitation laser light beam is configured to simultaneously impinge and excite both the test region and the control region; and
detecting an image comprising a test signal and a control signal simultaneously from the test region and the control region, respectively, wherein the test signal indicates the presence of the target analyte due to photon emission of the up-converting nanoparticle (UCNP).