METHOD FOR DETECTING A RESPONSE OF EACH PROBE ZONE ON A TEST STRIP

• US 20070196862A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific Systems LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wang, Kuo-Jeng
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.1
• 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

1-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A test strip comprising:

one or more color lines, wherein at least one of said color lines represents a probe zone of said test strip and wherein said color lines are adapted to have a color change in response to one or more drugs of abuse in said tested solution; and

a scan line that is substantially perpendicular to said color lines, whereby said scan line has a reference pixel position associated with a border portion of said test strip and respective pixel positions associated with said one or more color lines, wherein said response is related to a pixel value of at least one said pixel position corresponding to at least one said color line.

29. The test strip of claim 28 further comprising:

two or more color lines, wherein one said color line is adapted to change color in response to said tested solution and the other said color lines have a color change in response to one or more drugs of abuse in said tested solution.

30. The test strip of claim 29 wherein each of said other said color lines have a color change in response to a different drug of abuse in said tested solution.

31. The test strip of claim 28 wherein said respective pixel positions associated with said one or more color lines are assigned by sequential positions of said one or more color lines.

32. The test strip of claim 28, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum red pixel value is set to correspond to the image of the border portion of said test strip.

33. The test strip of claim 28, 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 border portion of said test strip.

34. The test strip of claim 28 further comprising a light color base.

35. The test strip of claim 34 further comprising a white color base.

36. The test strip of claim 28 further comprising a plurality of color lines.

37. The test strip of claim 36 wherein said plurality of color lines are arranged substantially parallel to one another.

38. The test strip of claim 28 wherein said border portion corresponds to an edge of said test strip.

39. A method for detecting a response for a 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 first portion of said test strip to a second portion thereof, the site of a said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip;

capturing an image of said test strip;

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

selecting a reference pixel position associated with a first edge of said test strip; and

associating respective pixel positions of said scan line with said color lines of said test strip by using said reference pixel position and in accordance with the sequence of said color lines displayed on said test strip, wherein said response is related to a pixel value of at least one said pixel position associated with at least one said color line.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum red pixel value is set to correspond to the image of the first edge of said test strip.

41. The method of claim 39, 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 first edge of said test strip.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein said test strip has a white base.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein said test strip is a kind of drug abuse test paper having a plurality of probe zones, wherein one probe zone has a color change in response to said tested solution and one or more other probe zones have a color change in response to a drug of abuse in said tested solution.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein said tested solution comprises a biological fluid collected from a subject.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said biological fluid comprises a urine specimen fluid.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein the image of said test strip is captured by a scanner associated with a charge-coupled device.

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

providing a test strip having 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 first portion of said test strip to a second portion thereof, the site of a said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip;

capturing an image of said test strip;

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

selecting a reference pixel position associated with the image of a first edge of said test strip and using said reference pixel position to identify respective pixel positions of said color lines of said test strip on said scan line so as to identify the positions thereof on the image.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum red pixel value is set to correspond to the image of the first edge of said test strip.

49. The method of claim 47, 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 first edge of said test strip.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein said test strip has a white base.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein said test strip is a kind of drug abuse test paper having a plurality of probe zones, wherein one probe zone has a color change in response to said tested solution and one or more other probe zones have a color change in response to a drug of abuse in said tested solution.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein said tested solution comprises a biological fluid collected from a subject.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein said biological fluid comprises a urine specimen fluid.

54. The method of claim 47, wherein the image of said test strip is captured by a scanner associated with a charge-coupled device.

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

providing a test strip having one or more color lines, wherein at least one of said color lines represents a probe zone of said test strip;

capturing an image of said test strip;

selecting at least one scan line from the image, said scan line being substantially perpendicular to said one or more color lines;

selecting a reference pixel position of said scan line associated with a border portion of said test strip; and

associating respective pixel positions of said scan line with said color lines of said test strip by using said reference pixel position and in accordance with the sequence of said color lines displayed on said test strip, wherein said response is related to a pixel value of at least one said pixel position corresponding to at least one said color line.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said test strip comprises two or more color lines, wherein one said color line is adapted to change color in response to said tested solution and the other said color lines have a color change in response to one or more drugs of abuse in said tested solution.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein each of said other said color lines have a color change in response to a different drug of abuse in said tested solution.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein said respective pixel positions corresponding to said one or more color lines are assigned by sequential positions of said one or more color lines.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum red pixel value is set to correspond to the image of the border portion of said test strip.

60. The method of claim 55, 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 border portion of said test strip.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein said test strip has a light color base.

62. The method of claim 55 wherein said test strip has a white color base.

63. The method of claim 55 wherein said test strip has a plurality of color lines.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said plurality of color lines are arranged substantially parallel to one another.

65. The method of claim 55 wherein said border portion corresponds to an edge of said test strip.

66. An article, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in;

capturing an image of a test strip, wherein said test strip has 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 first portion of said test strip to a second portion thereof, the site of a said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip;

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

selecting a reference pixel position associated with a first edge of said test strip; and

associating respective pixel positions of said scan line with said color lines of said test strip by using said reference pixel position and in accordance with the sequence of said color lines displayed on said test strip, wherein said response is related to a pixel value of at least one said pixel position associated with at least one said color line.

67. The article of claim 66, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum red pixel value is set to correspond to the image of the first edge of said test strip.

68. The article of claim 66, 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 first edge of said test strip.

69. The article of claim 66, wherein said test strip has a white base.

70. The article of claim 66, wherein said test strip is a kind of drug abuse test paper having a plurality of probe zones, wherein one probe zone has a color change in response to said tested solution and one or more other probe zones have a color change in response to a drug of abuse in said tested solution.

71. The article of claim 66, wherein said tested solution comprises a biological fluid collected from a subject.

72. The article of claim 71, wherein said biological fluid comprises a urine specimen fluid.

73. The article of claim 66, wherein the image of said test strip is captured by a scanner associated with a charge-coupled device.

74. An article, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in;

capturing an image of a test strip, wherein said test strip has 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 first portion of said test strip to a second portion thereof, the site of a said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip;

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

selecting a reference pixel position associated with the image of a first edge of said test strip and using said reference pixel position to identify respective pixel positions of said color lines of said test strip on said scan line so as to identify the positions thereof on the image.

75. The article of claim 74, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum red pixel value is set to correspond to the image of the first edge of said test strip.

76. The article of claim 74, 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 first edge of said test strip.

77. The article of claim 74, wherein said test strip has a white base.

78. The article of claim 74, wherein said test strip is a kind of drug abuse test paper having a plurality of probe zones, wherein one probe zone has a color change in response to said tested solution and one or more other probe zones have a color change in response to a drug of abuse in said tested solution.

79. The article of claim 74, wherein said tested solution comprises a biological fluid collected from a subject.

80. The article of claim 74, wherein said biological fluid comprises a urine specimen fluid.

81. The article of claim 74, wherein the image of said test strip is captured by a scanner associated with a charge-coupled device.

82. An article, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in;

capturing an image of said test strip, wherein said test strip has one or more color lines and wherein at least one of said color lines represents a probe zone of said test strip;

selecting at least one scan line from the image, said scan line being substantially perpendicular to said one or more color lines;

selecting a reference pixel position of said scan line associated with a border portion of said test strip; and

associating respective pixel positions of said scan line with said color lines of said test strip by using said reference pixel position and in accordance with the sequence of said color lines displayed on said test strip, wherein said response is related to a pixel value of at least one said pixel position corresponding to at least one said color line.

83. The article of claim 82 wherein said test strip comprises two or more color lines, wherein one said color line is adapted to change color in response to said tested solution and the other said color lines have a color change in response to one or more drugs of abuse in said tested solution.

84. The article of claim 82 wherein each of said other said color lines have a color change in response to a different drug of abuse in said tested solution.

85. The article of claim 82 wherein said respective pixel positions corresponding to said one or more color lines are assigned by sequential positions of said one or more color lines.

86. The article of claim 82, wherein the pixel position of said scan line having a minimum red pixel value is set to correspond to the image of the border portion of said test strip.

87. The article of claim 82, 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 border portion of said test strip.

88. The article of claim 82, wherein said test strip has a light color base.

89. The article of claim 82 wherein said test strip has a white color base.

90. The article of claim 82 wherein said test strip has a plurality of color lines.

91. The article of claim 82 wherein said plurality of color lines are arranged substantially parallel to one another.

92. The article of claim 82 wherein said border portion corresponds to an edge of said test strip.

93. An apparatus comprising:

means for capturing an image of a test strip, wherein said test strip has 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 first portion of said test strip to a second portion thereof, the site of a said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip;

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

means for selecting a reference pixel position associated with a first edge of said test strip; and

means for associating respective pixel positions of said scan line with said color lines of said test strip by using said reference pixel position and in accordance with the sequence of said color lines displayed on said test strip, wherein said response is related to a pixel value of at least one said pixel position associated with at least one said color line.

94. An apparatus comprising:

means for capturing an image of a test strip, wherein said test strip has 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 first portion of said test strip to a second portion thereof, the site of a said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip;

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

means for selecting a reference pixel position associated with the image of a first edge of said test strip and using said reference pixel position to identify respective pixel positions of said color lines of said test strip on said scan line so as to identify the positions thereof on the image.

95. An apparatus comprising:

means for capturing an image of said test strip, wherein said test strip has one or more color lines and wherein at least one of said color lines represents a probe zone of said test strip;

means for selecting at least one scan line from the image, said scan line being substantially perpendicular to said one or more color lines;

means for selecting a reference pixel position of said scan line associated with a border portion of said test strip; and

means for associating respective pixel positions of said scan line with said color lines of said test strip by using said reference pixel position and in accordance with the sequence of said color lines displayed on said test strip, wherein said response is related to a pixel value of at least one said pixel position corresponding to at least one said color line.

96. An apparatus comprising:

an image capturing device, wherein said image capturing device is capable of capturing an image of a test strip, wherein said test strip has 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 first portion of said test strip to a second portion thereof, the site of a said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip; and

a computer that is capable of being connected to said image capturing device, wherein said computer is capable of selecting at least one scan line from the image, said scan line being substantially perpendicular to the image of said color lines, selecting a reference pixel position associated with a first edge of said test strip, and associating respective pixel positions of said scan line with said color lines of said test strip by using said reference pixel position and in accordance with the sequence of said color lines displayed on said test strip, wherein said response is related to a pixel value of at least one said pixel position associated with at least one said color line.

97. An apparatus comprising:

an image capturing device capable of capturing an image of a test strip, wherein said test strip has 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 first portion of said test strip to a second portion thereof, the site of a said color line representing a probe zone of said test strip; and

a computer capable of being connected to said image capturing device, wherein said computer is capable of selecting at least one scan line from the image, said scan line being substantially perpendicular to the image of said color lines, and selecting a reference pixel position associated with the image of a first edge of said test strip and using said reference pixel position to identify respective pixel positions of said color lines of said test strip on said scan line so as to identify the positions thereof on the image.

98. An apparatus comprising:

an image capturing device, wherein said image capturing device is capable of capturing an image of said test strip, wherein said test strip has one or more color lines and wherein at least one of said color lines represents a probe zone of said test strip;

and a computer capable of being connected to said image capturing device, wherein said computer is capable of selecting at least one scan line from the image, said scan line being substantially perpendicular to said one or more color lines, selecting a reference pixel position of said scan line associated with a border portion of said test strip, and associating respective pixel positions of said scan line with said color lines of said test strip by using said reference pixel position and in accordance with the sequence of said color lines displayed on said test strip, wherein said response is related to a pixel value of at least one said pixel position corresponding to at least one said color line.