Video test strip reader and method for evaluating test strips
First Claim
1. A video test strip reader for reading reagent test strips, said test strips each having test pads, each of said test pads reacting with a sample when contacting said sample and changing color according to one or more read times for each of said test pads and an amount of a constituent or property in said sample, comprising:
- a video imager adjacent to a viewing area for converting an image of said viewing area to an analog signal representing said image;
a signal converter responsive to said analog signal, said signal converter converting said analog signal into a digital signal representing said image;
an image handler responsive to said digital signal, said image handler storing said image represented by said digital signal; and
a processor coupled to said image handler for analyzing said image to determine a placement of a test strip at any location on said viewing area, said processor determining the location and orientation of a test strip on said viewing area and identifying a test pad for said test strip, said processor including a timing mechanism for tracking an elapsed time from said placement of each of said test strips, said processor analyzing a portion of said image representing an identified test pad of said test strip after said read times for said test pad, said processor calculating said amount of said constituent or property in said sample from said analysis of said portion of said image.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A video test strip reader uses a video imager or camera for viewing a viewing field containing reagent test strips each having test pads reacted with a specimen containing constituents of interest. The video imager produces an analog signal representing an image of the viewing field. An image handler coupled to the video imager converts or digitizes the analog signal into a digital signal representing the image and stores the image in the form of an array of pixels representing the image. Each pixel contains color information broken down into red, green or blue (RGB). A processor coupled to the image handler analyzes the array of pixels, determines the location and orientation of a test strip, identifies the test areas on the test strip, measures the corresponding test areas on the strip at the proper times and calculates the test results, such as the concentration of the constituents of interest in the specimen or other measurable properties of the specimen such as color or specific gravity, etc. Accordingly, the video test strip reader can simultaneously locate, color analyze and time track multiple test strips on the viewing field.
217 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A video test strip reader for reading reagent test strips, said test strips each having test pads, each of said test pads reacting with a sample when contacting said sample and changing color according to one or more read times for each of said test pads and an amount of a constituent or property in said sample, comprising:
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a video imager adjacent to a viewing area for converting an image of said viewing area to an analog signal representing said image; a signal converter responsive to said analog signal, said signal converter converting said analog signal into a digital signal representing said image; an image handler responsive to said digital signal, said image handler storing said image represented by said digital signal; and a processor coupled to said image handler for analyzing said image to determine a placement of a test strip at any location on said viewing area, said processor determining the location and orientation of a test strip on said viewing area and identifying a test pad for said test strip, said processor including a timing mechanism for tracking an elapsed time from said placement of each of said test strips, said processor analyzing a portion of said image representing an identified test pad of said test strip after said read times for said test pad, said processor calculating said amount of said constituent or property in said sample from said analysis of said portion of said image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A video test strip reader for reading reagent test strips, said test strips each having test pads, each of said test pads reacting with a sample when contacting said sample and changing color in proportion with one or more read times for each of said test pads and an amount of a constituent or property in said sample, comprising:
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a video imager adjacent to a viewing area for converting an image of said viewing area to an analog signal representing said image; a signal converter responsive to said analog signal, said signal converter converting said analog signal into a digital signal representing said image; an image handler responsive to said digital signal, said image handler storing said image represented by said digital signal; a transport mechanism with at least a portion of said transport mechanism being in said viewing area, said transport mechanism receiving said test strips and transporting said test strips across said viewing area; and a processor coupled to said image handler for analyzing said image to determine a location and orientation for a test strip placed at any location on said viewing area, said processor identifying a test pad relative to said location and orientation for said test strip, said processor including a timing mechanism for tracking an elapsed time from the placement of said test strip, said processor analyzing a portion of said image representing a test pad of said test strip after said read time for said test pad, said processor calculating said amount of said constituent in said sample from said analysis of said portion of said image. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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- 27. A video test strip analyzer for analyzing an image represented by a digital signal, said image being of a viewing field with reagent test strips, said test strips each having test pads, each of said test pads reacting with a sample when contacting said sample and changing color according to one or more read times for each of said test pads and an amount of a constituent or property in said sample, comprising a processor analyzing said image to determine a location and orientation for a test strip placed at any location on said viewing area, said processor identifying a test pad for said test strip, said processor including a timing mechanism for tracking an elapsed time from said placement of said test strip, said processor analyzing a portion of said image representing a test pad of said test strip after said read times for said test pad, said processor calculating said amount of said constituent or property in said sample from said analysis of said portion of said image.
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32. A method for reading reagent test strips each having test pads, each of said test pads reacting with a sample when contacting said sample and changing color in proportion to one or more read times for each of said test pads and an amount of a constituent or property in said sample, comprising the steps of:
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converting an image of a viewing area into a digital signal representing said image; storing said digital signal representing said image; detecting a test strip placed at any location on said viewing area by analyzing said digital signal representing said image; determining the location and orientation of said test strip on said image; identifying portions of said image representing a test pad on said test strip; timing said test strip starting at said detection of said test strip to obtain a current time for said test strip; determining whether said read time for said test pad has expired by comparing said read time with the current time for said test strip; analyzing said portion of said image representing said expired test pad to obtain a raw reflectance value for a portion of said image representing said expired test pad; and calculating said mount of said constituent or property in said sample from said raw reflectance value for said portion of said image representing said expired test pad. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for reading reagent test strips each having test pads, each of said test pads reacting with a sample when contacting said sample and changing color according to one or more read times for each of said test pads and an amount of a constituent or property in said sample, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a test strip; transporting said test strip across a viewing area; converting an image of said viewing area into a digital signal representing said image; storing said digital signal representing said image; determining a location and orientation for said test strip at any location on said viewing area by analyzing said image represented by said digital signal; identifying portions of said image relative to said location and orientation representing a test pad on said test strip; timing said test strip starting at said receiving of said test strip to obtain a current time for said test strip; determining whether said read time for said test pads of said test strip has expired by comparing said read time with said current time for said test strip; analyzing a portion of said image representing said expired test pad to obtain a raw reflectance value for said portion of said image representing said expired test pad; and calculating said amount of said constituent or property in said sample from said raw reflectance value for said portion of said image representing said expired test pad. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for analyzing an image represented by a digital signal, said image being of a viewing field with reagent test strips each having test pads, each of said test pads reacting with a sample when contacting said sample and changing color according to one or more read times for each of said test pads and an amount of a constituent or property in said sample, comprising the steps of:
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determining a location and orientation of a test strip placed at any location on said viewing field; identifying portions of said image representing a test pad on said test strip; timing said test strip to obtain a current time for said test strip; determining whether said read time for said test pad on said test strip has expired by comparing said read time with the current time for said test strip; analyzing said portion of said image representing said expired test pad to obtain a raw reflectance value for a portion of said image representing said expired test pad; and calculating said amount of said constituent or property in said sample from said raw reflectance value for said portion of said imaging representing said expired test pad. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification