Collection and analysis of data for diagnostic purposes
First Claim
1. A method of obtaining diagnostic data regarding a target, comprising:
- directly illuminating at least a portion of a target with a uniform field of excitation light emitted by at least one light source connected to a housing of a handheld device, the at least one light source emitting at least one wavelength or wavelength band causing at least one biomarker in the illuminated portion of the target to fluoresce;
filtering optical signals responsive to illumination of the target with a filter of the handheld device and permitting passage of optical signals having a wavelength corresponding to bacterial fluorescence of the illuminated portion of the target;
collecting bacterial fluorescence data regarding the illuminated portion of the target with an image sensor of the handheld device, wherein the collected bacterial fluorescence data comprises at least one image containing data relating to bacterial autofluorescence responsive to illumination of the target and/or exogenous fluorescence of bacteria responsive to illumination of the target;
identifying pixels in the image having an intensity above a predetermined threshold; and
determining a bacterial load of the illuminated portion of the target by summing the identified pixels, wherein the bacterial load is the measurable bacteria in the target.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining bacterial load in targets and tracking changes in bacterial load of targets over time are disclosed. An autofluorescence detection and collection device includes a light source configured to directly illuminate at least a portion of a target and an area around the target with excitation light causing at least one biomarker in the illuminated target to fluoresce. Bacterial autofluorescence data regarding the illuminated portion of the target and the area around the target is collected and analyzed to determine bacterial load of the illuminated portion of the target and area around the target. The autofluorescence data may be analyzed using pixel intensity. Changes in bacterial load of the target over time may be tracked. The target may be a wound in tissue.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of obtaining diagnostic data regarding a target, comprising:
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directly illuminating at least a portion of a target with a uniform field of excitation light emitted by at least one light source connected to a housing of a handheld device, the at least one light source emitting at least one wavelength or wavelength band causing at least one biomarker in the illuminated portion of the target to fluoresce; filtering optical signals responsive to illumination of the target with a filter of the handheld device and permitting passage of optical signals having a wavelength corresponding to bacterial fluorescence of the illuminated portion of the target; collecting bacterial fluorescence data regarding the illuminated portion of the target with an image sensor of the handheld device, wherein the collected bacterial fluorescence data comprises at least one image containing data relating to bacterial autofluorescence responsive to illumination of the target and/or exogenous fluorescence of bacteria responsive to illumination of the target; identifying pixels in the image having an intensity above a predetermined threshold; and determining a bacterial load of the illuminated portion of the target by summing the identified pixels, wherein the bacterial load is the measurable bacteria in the target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for acquiring data regarding a wound in tissue, comprising:
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at least one excitation light source configured to directly illuminate a target with a uniform field of excitation light and cause bacteria present on and/or in the target to fluoresce; an optical sensor configured to detect signals responsive to illumination of bacteria on and/or in the target with excitation light, each signal indicative of at least one of endogenous fluorescence, exogenous fluorescence, absorbance, and reflectance in the illuminated target; a processor configured to receive the detected signals, to identify pixels corresponding to bacterial fluorescence emitted from the target and having an intensity above a predetermined threshold, to calculate bacterial load of the target based on the identified pixels, and to output data regarding the bacterial load of the target; and a display for displaying the output data regarding the illuminated target output by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of obtaining diagnostic data regarding a target, comprising:
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directly illuminating at least a portion of a target with a uniform field of excitation light emitted by at least one excitation light source connected to a housing of a handheld device, the housing including an enclosure for receiving a wireless communication device having a digital camera, the at least one light source emitting at least one wavelength or wavelength band causing bacteria in and/or on the illuminated portion of the target to fluoresce; capturing fluorescence of the bacteria responsive to illumination of the illuminated portion of the target with an image sensor of the digital camera of the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device being secured in the housing; identifying pixels in the captured fluorescence having an intensity above a predetermined threshold; determining a bacterial load of the illuminated portion of the target based on the number of pixels identified; and tracking changes in bacterial load of the target over time. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification