Automated interactive drug testing system

• US 8,617,066 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danny P. Koester
• Original Assignee: Danny P. Koester
• Inventors: Koester, Danny P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIAN, SHIRLEY XUEYING
• Application Number:
  US12/928,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20110144454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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:

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, and wherein said testing subject is facing the imaging device at the remote device during the testing method so that the operator at the central computer can witness each step of the testing;

performing an eye scan test comprising the following steps;

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

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

visually 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, wherein said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye is stored at time of the subject'"'"'s enrollment,

visually 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, wherein said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye is stored at the time of the subject'"'"'s enrollment,

determining from said visual comparisons whether the eye scan test is negative or non-negative and in the event said eye scan test is negative then reporting the results of the eye scan test; and

, in the event said eye scan test is non-negative then performing a swab test comprising the following steps in the sequence set forth;

removing one test swab, said test swab including a swab holder having a controlled fluid,

wiping said test swab under the testing subject'"'"'s tongue to obtain a sampling,

inserting the test swab with the sampling into the swab holder,

said operator viewing said sampling from the imaging device at the central computer to determine whether the swab test is negative or non-negative,

reporting the results from the swab test.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reporting the results from the eye scan test includes the step of generating a report indicating the test results and reporting the results to a client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reporting the results from the swab test includes the step of generating a report indicating the test results and reporting the results to a client.

4. A method for testing for substance abuse that provides an immediate test result by visual analysis, said method comprising the following steps:

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, and wherein said testing subject is facing the video camera at the remote device during the testing method so that the operator at the central computer can witness each step of the testing,

verifying the identity of the testing subject,

performing a first substance abuse test comprising the following steps;

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, wherein said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s right eye is stored at the time of the subject'"'"'s enrollment,

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, wherein said baseline electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s left eye is stored at the time of the subject'"'"'s enrollment,

determining whether the first substance abuse test is negative or non-negative based upon, the above comparing steps,

performing a second substance abuse test comprising the following steps;

collecting a specimen, wherein said specimen is saliva taken from under the testing subject'"'"'s tongue using a test swab and a swab holder having controlled fluid that reacts to said test swab,

testing the specimen for substance abuse, wherein during said testing steps the testing subject is facing the video camera at the remote device and the operator is viewing said specimen from the video camera at the central computer,

determining whether said specimen is negative or non-negative,

reporting the results from the first and second substance abuse tests.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of reporting the results includes the step of generating a report indicating the test results and reporting the results to a client.

6. The method of claim 5, 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.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said user profile further includes an electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s full, frontal facial.

8. The method of claim 7, 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.

9. A method for testing for substance abuse that provides an immediate test result by visual analysis, said method comprising:

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, and wherein said testing subject is facing the imaging device at the remote device during the testing method so that the operator at the central computer can witness each step of the testing,

verifying the identity of the testing subject,

removing one test swab,

wiping said test swab under the testing subject'"'"'s tongue to obtain a sampling,

inserting the test swab with the sampling into a holder having a controlled fluid that reacts with said test swab,

said operator viewing said sampling from the imaging device at the central computer to determine whether the test is negative or non-negative,

reporting the results from the swab test.

10. The method of claim 9, includes performing an eye test before the removing one test swab step, said eye test comprising the steps of:

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 subjects 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 eye test is negative or non-negative based upon the above comparing steps.

11. The method of claim 10, further including the step of the testing subject setting up a user profile.

12. The method of claim 11, 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.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said user profile further includes an electronic photograph of the subject'"'"'s full, frontal facial.

14. The method of claim 13, 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.