Application No. 12/810,391
`Reply to Final Office Action dated 2/27/2013
`
`Amendments to the Claims:
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`This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, andlisting, of claims in the
`application.
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`(Currently amended) A specimen measurement method in which a specimen composed
`1.
`of blood or plasmato be tested is temporarily stored in a specimenstorage portion ofa test piece
`for chromatographyafter the specimen is added to the test piece, the specimen is transferred
`from the specimen storage portion to a developmentlayer of the test piece and is developed on
`the development layer, the developmentlayer having an immobilizing portion at which the
`specimenis to be measured, and an amount of a substanceto be measured in the specimenis
`calculated by measuring an optical property of the specimen at the immobilizing portion,
`the method comprising:
`
`obtaining a first image of the specimen storage portion representing showingafirst
`amount of specimen stored in the specimen storage portion of the test piece;
`obtaining a second image of the specimen storage portion representing showing a second
`amount of specimenstored in the specimen storage portion, where the first amount of specimen
`is greater than the second amountof specimen;
`
`measuring an area difference betweenthe first and second imagesto calculate a reduction
`of specimen in the specimen storage portion;
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`comparing the reduction of specimen in the specimen storageportion with a
`predetermined value;
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`measuring the optical property of the specimen at the immobilizing portion if the
`reduction of specimen in the specimen storage portion reaches the predetermined value ; and
`calculating the amountof the substance to be measured in the specimen, based on a
`
`measured value,
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`wherein the specimen storage portion includes a capillary space-and
`
`herein
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`the
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`specimen
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`is blood
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`oxplasmaa,
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`(Previously presented) The specimen measurement methodaccordingto claim 1, further
`2.
`comprising:
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`Application No. 12/810,391
`Reply to Final Office Action dated 2/27/2013
`
`measuring a flowing time from addition of the specimen to the test piece to the reduction
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`of the specimen in the specimen storage portion to the predetermined amountorless;
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`waiting a time period correspondingto the flowing time after the specimen in the
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`specimen storage portion reduces to the predetermined amountor less; and
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`calculating the amount of the substance to be measured in the specimen,after the time
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`period and based on the measured value of the portion to be measured.
`
`3.
`
`(Currently amended) A specimen measurement method in which a specimen composed
`
`. of blood or plasmato be tested is temporarily stored in a specimen storage portion of a test piece
`
`for chromatography after the specimenis addedtothe test piece, the specimenis transferred
`
`from the specimen storage portion to a developmentlayer of the test piece and is developed on
`
`the developmentlayer, the development layer having an immobilizing portion at which the
`
`specimen is to be measured, and an amountof a substance to be measured in the specimenis
`
`calculated by measuring an optical property of the specimen at the immobilizing portion,
`
`the method comprising:
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`measuring an initial storage amountof the specimen in the specimen storage portion of
`
`the test piece, when the specimen is added to the test piece mounted at a predetermined mounting
`
`location or when the test piece on which the specimen has been added is mountedat the
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`predetermined mounting location;
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`measuring a storage amount of the specimen in the specimen storage portion alse after
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`the specimen is added;
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`calculating a reduction of the specimen in the specimen storage portion by comparing the
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`initial storage amount of the specimen with the storage amountof the specimen in the specimen
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`storage portion after the specimen is added;
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`measuring the optical property of the specimen at the immobilizing portion if the
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`reduction of the specimen in the specimen storage portion reaches a predetermined amount; and
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`calculating, based on a measured value, the amountof the substance to be measured in
`
`the specimen;
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`wherein the specimen storage portion includesa capillary space-and
`
`
`
`
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`herein enen-is bloodorplasma,
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`

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`Application No. 12/810,391
`Reply to Final Office Action dated 2/27/2013
`
`4,
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`(Previously presented) The specimen measurement method accordingto claim 3, further
`
`comprising:
`
`measuring a flowing time from addition of the specimen to thetest piece to the reduction
`
`of the specimen in the specimen storage portion by the predetermined amount;
`
`waiting a time period corresponding to the flowing time after the reduction of the
`
`specimen in the specimen storage portion by the predetermined amount; and
`
`calculating the amountof the substance to be measured in the specimen, after the time
`
`period and based on the measured value of the specimen at the immobilizing portion.
`
`5.
`
`(Previously presented) The specimen measurement method according to claim 1, further
`
`comprising:
`
`measuring an initial storage amount of the specimen in the specimen storage portion of
`the test piece, when the specimenis addedto the test piece mounted at a predetermined mounting
`location or when the test piece on which the specimen has been added is mountedat the
`
`predetermined mounting location; and
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`performingat least one of a measurement terminating operation and a warning operation
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`whenthe initial storage amountof the specimen is smaller than predeterminedinitial storage
`
`setting.
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`6.
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`(Previously presented) The specimen measurement method accordingto claim 1,
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`wherein the test piece is a test piece for chromatography.
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`7.
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`(Withdrawn-previously presented) A specimen measurement apparatus in which a
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`specimento be tested is temporarily stored in a specimen storage portion of a test piece after the
`
`specimenis added to thetest piece, the specimenis transferred from the specimen storage
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`portion to a developmentlayer of the test piece and is developed on a developmentlayer, and an
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`amount of a substance to be measured in the specimenis calculated by measuring an optical
`property of the specimen at a predeterminedportion of the developmentlayerofthe test piece,
`the specimen measurement apparatus comprising:
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`an imaging device for imaging the specimen at the predetermined portion and the
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`specimen storage portion of the test piece;
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`

`

`Application No. 12/810,391
`Reply to Final Office Action dated 2/27/2013
`
`a specimen amountdetector for detecting, based on imaging information, an amount of
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`the specimen in the specimen storage portion; and
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`a controller for measuring the specimen at the predeterminedportion, in response to a
`reduction of the specimen to a predetermined amountor less in the specimen storage portion or a
`reduction of the specimen by the predetermined amountor more in the specimen storage portion,
`and calculating, based on a measured value, the amount of the substance to be measured in the
`
`specimen,
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`wherein the specimen storage portion includesa capillary space, and
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`wherein the specimen is blood or plasma.
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`(Withdrawn-previously presented) The specimen measurement apparatus according to
`8.
`claim 7, further comprising an illuminator for illuminating the test piece with measurementlight;
`and a light receiver for receiving reflected light of the measurementlight having illuminated the
`test piece.
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`(Withdrawn-previously presented) The specimen measurementapparatusaccording to
`9.
`claim 8, wherein the illuminator is one of an LED, an LD,and a lamp.
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`(Withdrawn-previously presented) The specimen measurement apparatus according to
`10.
`claim 8, wherein the light receiver is an image sensor.
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`(Withdrawn-previously presented) (Withdrawn-Previously Presented) The specimen
`11.
`measurement apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the test piece is a test piece for
`chromatography.
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`12.
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`(Previously presented) The specimen measurement method accordingto claim 3, further
`
`comprising:
`
`measuring an initial storage amountof the specimen in the specimen storage portion of
`the test piece, when the specimenis addedto the test piece mounted at a predetermined mounting
`location or when the test piece on which the specimen has been added is mountedat the
`
`predetermined mounting location; and
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`

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`Application No. 12/810,391
`Reply to Final Office Action dated 2/27/2013
`
`performing at least one of a measurement terminating operation and a warning operation.
`
`whenthe initial storage amount of the specimen is smaller than predeterminedinitial storage
`
`setting.
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`13.
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`(Previously presented) The specimen measurement method according to claim 3,
`
`wherein the test piece is a test piece for chromatography.
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`14.
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`(Previously presented) The specimen measurement method accordingto claim 3,
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`wherein measuring an initial storage amount of the specimen in the specimen storage portion of
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`the test piece includes: obtaining a first image of specimen stored in the specimen storage
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`portion of the test piece; and
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`measuring a storage amountof the specimen storage portion after the specimen is added
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`includes: obtaining a second image of specimen stored in the specimen storage portion ofthetest
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`piece.
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