Method for detecting a response of each probe zone on a test strip

• US 20040131238A1
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hiyes International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Kuo-Jeng
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/805 Test papers

Abstract

A method for detecting a response of each probe zone on a test strip is provided. The present method includes providing a test strip having a color pattern displayed thereon. The color pattern occurs in response to a tested solution contacting with the test strip and including a plurality of color lines displayed in sequence from a bottom portion of the test strip to a top portion thereof. The site of each color line represents a probe zone of the test strip. Capturing a whole image of the test strip and selecting at least one scan line perpendicular to the image of the color lines therefrom. Setting a pixel position of the scan line having a minimum pixel value corresponding to a bottom edge of the test strip and using the pixel position as a reference to identify respective pixel positions of the color lines on the scan line so as to identify the image positions thereof on the whole image. A response of each probe zone of the test strip related to a gray level of a corresponding image position is thus obtained.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a response for each probe zone on a test strip, comprising:

providing a test strip having a light color base and a color pattern displayed thereon, said color pattern occurring in response to a tested solution contacting with said test strip and including a plurality of color lines displayed in sequence from a bottom portion of said test strip to a top portion thereof, the site of each said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip;

capturing a whole image of said test strip;

selecting at least one scan line from the whole image, said scan line being perpendicular to the image of said color lines;

setting a pixel position of said scan line having a minimum pixel value corresponding to the image of a bottom edge of said test strip; and

assigning respective pixel positions of said scan line corresponding to each of said color lines of said test strip by using said pixel position with the minimum pixel value as a reference and in accordance with the sequence of said color lines displayed on said test strip, thereby a response of each probe zone of said test strip related to a respective pixel value of one said pixel position corresponding to one said color line is obtained.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum red pixel value is set to correspond to the image of the bottom edge of said test strip.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum average pixel value formed of red, green, blue pixel values is set to correspond to the image of the bottom edge of said test strip.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said test strip has a white base.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said test strip is a kind of drug abuse test paper having a plurality of probe zones, wherein one top probe zone has a color change in response to said tested solution and the other probe zones respectively have a color change in response to a specific drug of abuse in said tested solution.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said tested solution includes a biological fluid collected from a subject.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said biological fluid includes a urine specimen fluid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the whole image of said test strip is captured by a scanner associated with a charge-coupled device.

9. A method for selecting a reference to identify an image of a response of each probe zone on a test strip, comprising:

providing a test strip having a light color base and a color pattern displayed thereon, said color pattern occurring in response to a tested solution contacting with said test strip and including a plurality of color lines displayed in sequence from a bottom portion of said test strip to a top portion thereof, the site of each said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip;

capturing a whole image of said test strip;

selecting at least one scan line from the whole image, said scan line being perpendicular to the image of said color lines; and

setting a pixel position of said scan line having a minimum pixel value corresponding to the image of a bottom edge of said test strip and using said pixel position corresponding to the bottom edge of said test strip as a reference to identify respective pixel positions of said color lines of said test strip on said scan line so as to identify the image positions thereof on the whole image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum red pixel value is set to correspond to the image of the bottom edge of said test strip.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum average pixel value formed of red, green, blue pixel values is set to correspond to the image of the bottom edge of said test strip.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said test strip has a white base.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said test strip is a kind of drug abuse test paper having a plurality of probe zones, wherein one top probe zone has a color change in response to said tested solution and the other probe zones respectively have a color change in response to a specific drug of abuse in said tested solution.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said tested solution includes a biological fluid collected from a subject.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said biological fluid includes a urine specimen fluid.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the whole image of said test strip is captured by a scanner associated with a charge-coupled device.