Automated interactive drug testing system

• US 20110144454A1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danny P. Koester
• Original Assignee: Danny P. Koester
• Inventors: Koester, Danny P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,617,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0009 Testing for drug or alcohol abuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/112 for measuring diameter of pupils
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/145 by video means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4845 Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence

Abstract

An automated interactive drug testing system designed for testing for substance abuse that provides an immediate test result by visual analysis. The system includes at least one remote device and a central computer. Each remote device as well as the central computer include means for receiving a video feed over a network connection such that a testing subject located at a remote device can use its video camera to bi-directionally communicate with a person located at the central computer. In application, the testing subject faces the video camera so that the operator at the central computer can witness the testing and testing results. Preferably, the testing can include an eye scan and a saliva swab drug test. It is important for purposes of testing integrity, that during the entire testing process, the test specimen is never removed from view of the camera and the operator stationed at the central computer such that the operator at the central computer can view the testing samples to determine whether the test is negative or non-negative.

Claims

1. A method for testing for substance abuse that provides an immediate test result by visual analysis, said method comprising the following steps in the sequence set forth:

receiving a video feed over a network connection between a testing subject at a remote device and an operator at a central computer, each said remote device and central computer includes an imaging device to bi-directionally communicate,

capturing a current electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s right eye,

capturing a current electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s left eye,

comparing the current electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s right eye with a baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye stored in the central computer,

comparing the current electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s left eye with a baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye stored in the central computer,

determining whether the testing subject shows symptoms of substance abuse based upon, at least, the above comparing steps,

removing one test swab,

wiping said test swab under the testing subject'"'"'s tongue to obtain a sampling, wherein said testing subject is facing the video camera at the remote device so that the operator at the central computer can witness the testing and sampling,

said operator at the central computer viewing said sampling to determine whether the test is negative or non-negative.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the testing subject shows symptoms of substance abuse includes the step of generating a report indicating the test results and reporting the results to a client.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the saliva sample is visually used to indicate whether the screening test is negative or non-negative.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the testing subject setting up a user profile that includes said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye and said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said user profile further includes an electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s full, frontal facial.

6. A method for testing for substance abuse that provides an immediate test result by visual analysis, said method comprising the following steps in the sequence set forth:

receiving a video feed over a network connection between a testing subject at a remote device and an operator at a central computer, each said remote device and central computer including a video camera to bi-directionally communicate,

verifying the identity of the testing subject,

taking an electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s right eye,

taking an electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s left eye,

retrieving a baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye stored on the central computer and comparing the electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s right eye with the baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye,

retrieving a baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye stored on the central computer and comparing the electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s left eye with the baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye,

determining whether the testing subject shows symptoms of substance abuse based upon, at least, the above comparing steps,

collecting a specimen,

testing the specimen for substance abuse, wherein during said collecting and testing steps the testing subject is facing the video camera at the remote device so that the operator at the central computer can witness the collecting and testing,

determining whether said specimen is negative or non-negative.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining whether the testing subject shows symptoms of substance abuse includes the step of generating a report indicating the test results and reporting the results to a client.

8. The method of claim 7, further including the step of the testing subject setting up a user profile that includes said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye and said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said user profile further includes an electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s full, frontal facial.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the above verifying step includes comparing the testing subject'"'"'s current full, frontal facial with the full, frontal facial electronic photograph in the subject'"'"'s profile.

11. A method for testing for substance abuse that provides an immediate test result by visual analysis, said method comprising the following steps in the sequence set forth:

receiving a video feed over a network connection between a testing subject at a remote device and an operator at a central computer, each said remote device and central computer includes an imaging device to bi-directionally communicate,

removing one test swab,

wiping said test swab under the testing subject'"'"'s tongue to obtain a sampling, wherein said testing subject is facing the video camera at the remote computer so that the operator at the central computer can witness the testing and sampling,

said operator at the central computer viewing said sampling to determine whether the test is negative or non-negative.

12. The method of claim 11, includes the following steps before the removing one test swab step:

verifying the identity of the testing subject,

taking an electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s right eye,

taking an electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s left eye,

retrieving a baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye stored on the central computer and comparing the electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s right eye with the baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye,

retrieving a baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye stored on the central computer and comparing the electronic photograph of the testing subject'"'"'s left eye with the baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye,

determining whether the testing subject'"'"'s substance abuse based upon at least, the above comparing steps.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of the testing subject setting up a user profile.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said user profile includes said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye and said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said user profile further includes an electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s full, frontal facial.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the above verifying step includes comparing the testing subject'"'"'s current full, frontal facial with the full, frontal facial electronic photograph in the subject'"'"'s profile.