Devices and methods for reading and interpreting guaiac-based occult blood tests
First Claim
1. A medical analysis system for reading and interpreting a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) device, the device having a continuous test area for spreading a fecal sample and adding a developer, wherein the developer is added to the test area containing the sample, the test area reacting with the sample and the developer producing color patches on or around the sample, the system comprising:
- an image sensor for capturing an image of the entire test area of the FOBT device and for converting the image into a digital data, wherein the image of the entire test area of the FOBT device is captured by the image sensor; and
a data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor, wherein the data processor compares the digital data with predetermined threshold conditions of a positive FOBT by utilizing a spectrographic and morphologic image analysis algorithm and determines a presence of the occult blood in the sample, wherein the image sensor is selected from a group consisting of;
charge-coupled devices (CCD), charge injection devices, translational stage and optical scanners, color complementary metallic oxide semiconductors, photovoltaic diode arrays, color video cameras with frame-grabbing software, and photographic film.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical analysis system for reading and interpreting an occult blood test (OBT) device is provided. The instant system comprises an image sensor for capturing an image of the entire test area of the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) device and for converting the image into a digital data. The system further comprises a data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor. The data processor compares the digital data with pre-determined threshold conditions of a positive FOBT by utilizing a spectrographic and morphologic image analysis algorithm and determines a presence of the occult blood in the sample. A hue angle analysis for data processing may be used. A method of performing FOBT on a sample is also provided.
40 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A medical analysis system for reading and interpreting a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) device, the device having a continuous test area for spreading a fecal sample and adding a developer, wherein the developer is added to the test area containing the sample, the test area reacting with the sample and the developer producing color patches on or around the sample, the system comprising:
-
an image sensor for capturing an image of the entire test area of the FOBT device and for converting the image into a digital data, wherein the image of the entire test area of the FOBT device is captured by the image sensor; and
a data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor, wherein the data processor compares the digital data with predetermined threshold conditions of a positive FOBT by utilizing a spectrographic and morphologic image analysis algorithm and determines a presence of the occult blood in the sample, wherein the image sensor is selected from a group consisting of;
charge-coupled devices (CCD), charge injection devices, translational stage and optical scanners, color complementary metallic oxide semiconductors, photovoltaic diode arrays, color video cameras with frame-grabbing software, and photographic film. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A medical analysis system for reading and interpreting a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) device, the device having a continuous test area for spreading a fecal sample and adding a developer, wherein the developer is added to the test area containing the sample, the test area reacting with the sample and the developer producing color patches on or around the sample, the system comprising:
-
an image sensor for capturing an image of the entire test are of the FOBT device and for converting the image into a digital data, wherein the image of the entire test area of the FOBT device is captured by the image sensor; and
a data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor; and
a data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor, wherein the data processor compares the digital data with predetermined threshold conditions of a positive FOBT by utilizing a spectrographic and morphologic image analysis algorithm and determines a presence of the occult blood in the sample, wherein the data processor comprises a computer system and the image analysis algorithm is selected from a group consisting of;
hue angle image analysis;
a flat-fielding analysis for reducing a non-uniform illumination effect on the test sample;
a vector analysis for better object discrimination in the image;
an image factor analysis coupled with a principal component regression method for providing a multi-wavelength spectroscopic analysis of the image;
a mean-centering analysis for reducing any illumination variance on the test sample during formation of the image;
a morphological analysis;
a feature-specific convolution analysis; and
combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A medical analysis system for reading and interpreting a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) device, the device having a continuous test area for spreading a fecal sample and adding a developer, wherein the developer is added to the test area containing the sample, the test area reacting with the sample and the developer producing color patches on or around the sample, the system comprising:
-
an image sensor for capturing an image of the entire test area of the FOBT device and for converting the image into a digital data, wherein the image of the entire test area of the FOBT device is captured by the image sensor; and
a data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor, anda data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor, wherein the data processor compares the digital data with predetermined threshold conditions of a positive FOBT by utilizing a spectrographic and morphologic image analysis algorithm and determines a presence of the occult blood in the sample, further comprising an illumination source for illumination of the test area of the FOBT device with a light, wherein the illumination source is selected from a group consisting of;
incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, electrochemiluminescent devices, arc discharge lamps, stroboscopic-type flash lamps, light-emitting diodes, fiberoptic illuminators, lasers, and combinations thereof.
-
-
18. A medical analysis system for reading and interpreting a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) device, the device having a continuous test area for spreading a fecal sample and adding a developer, wherein the developer is added to the test area containing the sample, the test area reacting with the sample and the developer producing color patches on or around the sample, the system comprising:
-
an image sensor for capturing an image of the entire test area of the FOBT device and for converting the image into a digital data, wherein the image of the entire test area of the FOBT device is captured by the image sensor; and
a data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor, anda data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor, wherein the data processor compares the digital data with predetermined threshold conditions of a positive FOBT by utilizing a spectrographic and morphologic image analysis algorithm and determines a presence of the occult blood in the sample, further comprising an illumination source for illumination of the test area of the FOBT device with a light, further comprising optical or electronic components for directing the light from the illuminating source onto the test area of the FOBT device, wherein the optical components are selected from a group consisting of;
lenses, prisms, mechanical or optical scanners, shutters, irises, filters, fiber optical devices, and combinations thereof.
-
-
19. A medical analysis system for reading an interpreting a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) device, the device having a test area for placing a sample and adding a developer, wherein the developer is added to the test area containing the sample, the test area reacting with the sample and the developer producing one or more color patches on or around the sample, the system comprising:
-
an illumination source for illuminating the test area of the FOBT device with light;
an image sensor detecting the light reflected from the test area;
the image sensor generating an image of the test area and converting the image into digital data, wherein the image of the entire test area of the FOBT device is captured by the image sensor, wherein the image sensor is selected from a group consisting of;
charge-coupled devices (CCD), charge injection devices, translational stage and optical scanners, color complementary metallic oxide semiconductors, photovoltaic diode arrays, color video cameras with frame-grabbing software, and photographic film; and
a data processor coupled to the image sensor, the data processor applying a hue angle analysis to the received digital data, comparing the digital data with predetermined threshold conditions of a positive FOBT, and identifying a positive test patch indicative of the presence of the occult blood in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method of performing a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) on a sample, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) placing the sample on a test area of the FOBT device;
(b) applying a developer to the test area to produce one or more color patches on or around the sample, wherein the developer is added to the test area containing the sample;
(c) capturing an image of the test area with an image sensor and converting the image into digital data, wherein the image of the entire test area of the FOBT device is captured by the image sensor;
(d) comparing the digital data with predetermined threshold conditions of a positive FOBT by utilizing a data processor with a spectrographic and morphologic image analysis capability to identify a positive test patch; and
(e) correlating a presence of one or more positive test patches on the test device with a presence of the occult blood in the sample, wherein a type of the spectrographic and morphologic image analysis is selected from a group consisting of;
hue angle image analysis, image factor analysis with principal components regression, mean-centering analysis, flat-fielding analysis, vector analysis, feature-specific convolution analysis, morphological analysis, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
-
Specification