PORTABLE RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST READER

• US 20130203043A1
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Ozcan, Aydogan, Mudanyali, Onur, Dimitrov, Stoyan, Sikora, Uzair, Padmanabhan, Swati, Navrus, Isa
• Granted Patent: US 8,916,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/5
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0118 Apparatus with remote processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/558 Measuring reflectivity and transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/825 Agglutination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8488 the band presenting reference patches
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• 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: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0634 Diffuse illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/543 with an insoluble carrier for immobilising immunochemicals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56905 Protozoa
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5695 Mycobacteria
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56988 HIV or HTLV
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• 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 portable rapid diagnostic test reader system includes a mobile phone having a camera and one or more processors contained within the mobile phone and a modular housing configured to mount to the mobile phone. The modular housing including a receptacle configured to receive a sample tray holding a rapid diagnostic test. At least one illumination source is disposed in the modular housing and located on one side of the rapid diagnostic test. An optical demagnifier is disposed in the modular housing interposed between the rapid diagnostic test and the mobile phone camera.

Claims

1. A portable rapid diagnostic test reader system comprising:

a mobile phone having a camera and one or more processors contained within the mobile phone;

a modular housing configured to mount to the mobile phone, the modular housing including a receptacle configured to receive a sample tray holding a rapid diagnostic test;

at least one illumination source disposed in the modular housing and located on one side of the rapid diagnostic test; and

an optical demagnifier disposed in the modular housing.

2. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 1, wherein the optical demagnifier provides an optical demagnification factor within the range of about 1 to about 50.

3. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination source is disposed on a side of the rapid diagnostic test opposite the side containing the optical demagnifier.

4. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination source is disposed on a side of the rapid diagnostic test that is the same side containing the optical demagnifier.

5. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination source comprises an array of individual illumination sources.

6. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 1, wherein the rapid diagnostic test comprises a fluorescent test, and the at least one illumination source emits illumination at a wavelength that causes the rapid diagnostic test to fluoresce.

7. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 1, further comprising a removable color filter interposed between the camera of the mobile phone and the rapid diagnostic test.

8. A portable rapid diagnostic test reader system comprising:

a mobile phone having a camera and one or more processors contained within the mobile phone;

a modular housing configured to mount to the mobile phone, the modular housing including a receptacle configured to receive a sample tray holding a rapid diagnostic test;

a first illumination source disposed in the modular housing and located on a first side of the rapid diagnostic test;

a second illumination source disposed in the modular housing and located a second, opposing side of the rapid diagnostic test;

an optical demagnifier disposed in the modular housing; and

a switch to selectively illuminate the rapid diagnostic test with either the first illumination source or the second illumination source.

9. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of sample trays, wherein each of the plurality of sample trays is configured to a particular rapid diagnostic test.

10. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 8, wherein the optical demagnifier provides an optical demagnification factor within the range of about 1 to about 50.

11. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 8, wherein the first illumination source comprises an array of individual illumination sources disposed on a side of the rapid diagnostic test opposite the mobile phone, the array of individual illumination sources configured to transmit illumination through the rapid diagnostic test and onto the mobile phone camera.

12. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 11, wherein the second illumination source comprises first and second arrays of individual illumination sources disposed on a side of the rapid diagnostic test nearest the mobile phone, the first and second arrays of individual illumination sources configured to reflect illumination from the rapid diagnostic test and onto the mobile phone camera.

13. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 8, further comprising a power source disposed in the housing.

14. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 8, wherein the first and second illumination sources are powered by a power source of the mobile phone.

15. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 8, wherein the switch is connected to an audio jack of the mobile phone.

16. The portable rapid diagnostic test reader system of claim 8, further comprising a visual indicator configured to indicate proper loading of the sample tray holding a rapid diagnostic test within the housing.

17. A method of reading a rapid diagnostic test using a mobile phone having camera functionality comprising:

securing a rapid diagnostic test reader to the mobile phone;

inserting the rapid diagnostic test into the reader;

illuminating the rapid diagnostic test with illumination from one or more illumination sources;

capturing an image of the rapid diagnostic test with the camera of the mobile phone; and

processing the captured image with at least one processor and outputting a test result to the user based at least in part on the processed image.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more illumination sources comprise a transmission illumination source and a reflection illumination source.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the captured image is processed using one or more processors contained in the mobile phone.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising transferring the test result to a database at a remote location.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting the captured image to a remote location and processing the captured image with one or more remotely located processors.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising returning the test result(s) to the mobile phone via wireless telecommunication.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting the captured image along with a test report to a remote computer.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the test report comprises a test validity indication, image data, and user-input data.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the test report comprises geographical location and time-stamp data.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising querying a remotely located database in the remote computer, the database containing a plurality of test results, and returning a response to the user submitting the query from the remote computer.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the query is submitted from the mobile phone.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the query is submitted from a computer.

29. A method of monitoring a pathological condition over at least one of an extended geographical area or time period using RDT results obtained from a plurality of mobile phones comprising:

receiving a plurality of RDT reports from the plurality of mobile phones at a computer that is remotely located from the plurality of mobile phones;

storing the RDT reports in a database;

receiving a query of the RDT reports contained in the database from a remote location; and

returning query results to the remote location where the query is made.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the query is received from a mobile phone.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the RDT result comprises data corresponding to a positive/negative evaluation.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the RDT result comprises data corresponding to quantification of response, detection, or sensing level.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the RDT result comprises an image.