Interactive system for analyzing biological samples and processing related information and the use thereof

• US 20020118355A1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vindur Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nagaoka & Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Worthington, Mark Oscar, Virtanen, Jorma Antero, Pal, Andrew Attila
• Granted Patent: US 6,937,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A interactive system for chemical and biological testing with the instant data processing and information analysis capability. The system utilizes a specially designed bio-disc and an optical reader attached to a computer to deliver a wide range of tests, such as clinical laboratory diagnostic tests, biological warfare agent detection, forensic DNA tests, and food and water contamination tests, to a remote location. The test data are analyzed by a central data processing unit connected to the computer through a network, and the result is distributed to authorized users through the network. The interactive system also offer users enhanced information and additional relevant products at the point of need.

Claims

1. An interactive testing system for analyzing biological, chemical and biochemical samples, comprising:

a bio-disc adapted to receive a sample;

a bio-disc drive adapted to process said bio-disc and retrieve information from said sample;

a central processing unit for controlling said bio-disc drive;

means for allowing said central processing unit to communicate over a network; and

a node connected with said network, said node is enabled to interact with said central processing unit.

2. The interactive testing system according to claim 1, wherein said node is implemented so that processing and analysis of said sample is remotely controlled.

3. The interactive testing system according to claim 1, wherein said bio-disc comprises processing software encoded thereon.

4. The interactive testing system according to claim 3, wherein said processing software encoded on said bio-disc is operable after said node verifies authenticity of said bio-disc.

5. The interactive testing system according to claim 1, wherein the node comprises a server.

6. The interactive testing system according to claim 1, further comprising a user terminal connected to the node.

7. A method for analyzing biological, chemical and biochemical samples comprising the following steps:

obtaining a sample;

loading the sample to a bio-disc;

performing a test on said sample on said bio-disc in a bio-disc drive;

collecting test data on said sample by a reader;

processing the test data by a computer in communication with said reader;

transmitting processed test data from said sample to a server through a network;

obtaining a test result from the server.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining information related to said sample;

transmitting the sample-related information to the server;

obtaining a test result analysis from the server based on the test result and the sample-related information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sample-related information is health information from a patient from whom the sample is taken.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

obtaining bio-disc information from the bio-disc; and

authenticating the bio-disc information through the server.

11. A method for analyzing biological, chemical and biochemical samples, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving test data from a remote location, said test data being generated from a sample using a bio-disc and processed by a computer at the remote location;

analyzing the test data to produce a test result; and

storing the test result in a server accessible by authorized users.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

receiving health information of a patient from whom the sample is taken;

storing the test result and the health information into a central data base;

extracting and analyzing information related to the test result and the health information from the data base to produce a test result analysis; and

storing the test result analysis on the server accessible by authorized users.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining bio-disc information from the remote location; and

authenticating the bio-disc information.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the test result in the central server is accessible through a web page.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the network is the Internet and the server is accessible through a web page.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of authenticating bio-disc information contained on the bio-disc.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

receiving test related information;

storing the test result and the test related information into a central database;

extracting and analyzing information related to the test result and the test related information from the central database to produce a test result analysis; and

storing the test result analysis on the server accessible by authorized users.

20. The interactive testing system according to claim 19, wherein said local device further comprises means for processing said plurality of test data.

21. The interactive testing system according to claim 20, wherein said local device processes said plurality of test data after receipt of a processing signal from said remote device.

22. The interactive testing system according to claim 21, wherein said processing signal from said remote device, upon receipt at said local device, enables the processing of said plurality of test data by said local device.

23. The testing system according to claim 19, wherein said local device is located in a medical office and remotely accessible by said remote device, the processing of said plurality of test data at said local device being enabled by the remote device.

24. The interactive testing system according to claim 23, wherein the processing of said test data at said local device is coordinated by said remote device.

25. The interactive testing system according to claim 19, wherein said local device is located in a user'"'"'s home and remotely accessible by said remote device, the processing of said plurality of test data of said local device being enabled by the remote device.

26. The interactive testing system according to claim 19, wherein said local device is a field device remotely accessible by the remote device.

27. The interactive testing system according to claim 19, wherein said local device is in wireless communication with said remote device.

28. The interactive testing system according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of test data sent across said network is encrypted.

29. The interactive testing system according to claim 19, wherein said network is an intranet.

30. The interactive testing system according to claim 19, wherein said network is the Internet.

31. The interactive testing system according to claim 19, wherein said network employs a connection selected from the group consisting of:

a TCP connection, a TCP/IP connection, a UDP connection, a cellular connection, a wireless connection, an infrared connection, and an IPX/SPX networking connection.

32. The interactive testing system according to claim 19, where said local device is in communication with said remote device via the Internet, said communication employing an Internet address.

15. A method for analyzing biological, chemical and biochemical samples, comprising the steps of:

obtaining test data from a remote location through a network;

analyzing the test data on a server to produce a test result; and

storing the test result in the server, said server accessible by authorized users,

wherein the test data is generated by processing a sample in a bio-disc with a bio-disc drive.

19. A interactive testing system for testing samples, said testing system comprising:

a bio-disc device containing means thereon for analyzing a sample and generating a plurality of test data therefrom;

a local device connected to said bio-disc device and receiving said plurality of test data from said bio-disc device; and

a remote device connected to said local device across a network, said plurality of test data being sent from said local device to said remote device across said network, said remote device processing said plurality of test data upon receipt.