System for automatically testing a fluid specimen
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use with a device including a test strip for providing a visual indication of specific chemical components present in a fluid specimen, said apparatus comprising:
- a camera mounted to image said test strip onto the focal plane of said camera;
a processor operable to (1) control said camera to periodically capture sequential images of said test strip and (2) generate a digital representation of each captured image;
said processor further operable to process said digital representations to detect markings on said image indicative of each of said chemical components in said fluid specimen; and
output means for reporting the detection of said markings.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for automatically testing a fluid specimen, e.g., urine, to indicate the presence of specified chemical components in the specimen. The system preferably utilizes an assaying device comprised of a collection cup and a cap which carries at least one test strip. The device includes an integrated aliquot delivery mechanism actuatable to wet the test strip with an aliquot delivered from the fluid specimen. The assaying device is configured to operate in conjunction with an electronic reader device capable of actuating the aliquot delivery mechanism and reading the reaction of the test strip. A preferred reader device defines a keyed receptacle for accommodating a complementary shaped cup housing in a particular orientation. The reader device is comprised of a camera for capturing the image of a test strip, an actuator for actuating an aliquot delivery mechanism, and a microprocessor/controller for (1) controlling the camera and actuator and (2) processing the image.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use with a device including a test strip for providing a visual indication of specific chemical components present in a fluid specimen, said apparatus comprising:
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a camera mounted to image said test strip onto the focal plane of said camera;
a processor operable to (1) control said camera to periodically capture sequential images of said test strip and (2) generate a digital representation of each captured image;
said processor further operable to process said digital representations to detect markings on said image indicative of each of said chemical components in said fluid specimen; and
output means for reporting the detection of said markings.
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2. Automatic test apparatus for use with an assaying device having at least one test strip arranged to visually indicate whether specific chemical components are present and/or absent from a fluid specimen, said apparatus comprising:
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a support structure for supporting said assaying device and placing said test strip in a predefined position;
a camera having a focal plane;
a mounting structure mounting said camera to image said test strip onto said focal plane;
a programmed microprocessor operable to (1) cause said camera to capture said test strip image and generate a digital representation of the test strip image; and
(2) process said digital representation to detect markings on said image indicative of the presence and/or absence of specific chemical components in said fluid specimen; and
output means for reporting the detection of said markings. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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17. A system for locally determining whether a fluid specimen tests “
- negative”
for specific chemical components, said system comprising;
a test strip;
a mechanism for selectively wetting said test strip with a portion of said fluid specimen, said test strip being configured to respond to said wetting to visually indicate whether specific chemical components are present and/or absent in said specimen;
a camera for generating a digital representation of the image of said test strip including any visual indications indicating the presence and/or absence of said specific chemical components;
a programmed digital processor for analyzing said digital representation to detect said visual indications and determine whether said specific chemical components are absent from said specimen; and
means responsive to the absence of specific chemical components in said specimen for reporting a “
negative test result.
- negative”
Specification