Portable medical diagnostic systems and methods using a mobile device
First Claim
1. A light box accessory for analyzing colorimetric strips with a mobile device, said mobile device including a central processing unit and a digital camera, the accessory comprising:
- an enclosure including a proximal cover, a perimeter wall and a distal cover, the proximal cover presenting a proximal face and including structure defining a view port that passes through said proximal cover, the distal cover presenting a distal face;
an aperture structure that defines an aperture within said enclosure, said aperture defining a viewing axis that is concentric therewith, said viewing axis being substantially normal to said aperture, said view port of said proximal cover being substantially concentric about said viewing axis;
structure defining a first slot for insertion of a colorimetric strip and a second slot arranged proximate an abutting end of said first slot, said first slot being configured for orienting said colorimetric strip to intersect said viewing axis, and said second slot being configured for verifying insertion of said colorimetric strip into said first slot;
an in situ calibration target disposed within said aperture structure of said light box accessory, said in situ calibration target having predetermined color characteristics;
at least one light source disposed within said enclosure, said at least one light source being arranged for illumination of said colorimetric test strip when said colorimetric test strip is registered within said slot;
a power source disposed within said enclosure and operatively coupled with said at least one light source; and
a switch operatively coupled between said power source and said at least one light source for selective activation of said at least one light source,wherein said accessory is configured to communicate with said central processing unit of said mobile device only through said digital camera of said mobile device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for analysis of colorimetric test strip strips and disease management. The system can include an accessory that is operably coupled to a mobile device, the mobile device acquiring and/or analyzing images of the colorimetric test strips. The light box accessory can be detachably attached to the mobile device, or made to remain attached to the mobile device, but with the capability of having the light box accessory removed from the field of view of the camera for general photography purposes. In other embodiments, an image containing known calibration color(s) and reagent area(s) is obtained sans the light box for comparison with a previous calibration image to model changes in ambient lighting conditions and determine a color correction function. The correction can be applied to the detected reagent area color(s) for matching between the detected reagent area color(s) and reference color(s) on the reference chart. Optionally, the information can be processed and displayed to provide feedback, as well as transmitted to a health provider for analysis.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A light box accessory for analyzing colorimetric strips with a mobile device, said mobile device including a central processing unit and a digital camera, the accessory comprising:
-
an enclosure including a proximal cover, a perimeter wall and a distal cover, the proximal cover presenting a proximal face and including structure defining a view port that passes through said proximal cover, the distal cover presenting a distal face; an aperture structure that defines an aperture within said enclosure, said aperture defining a viewing axis that is concentric therewith, said viewing axis being substantially normal to said aperture, said view port of said proximal cover being substantially concentric about said viewing axis; structure defining a first slot for insertion of a colorimetric strip and a second slot arranged proximate an abutting end of said first slot, said first slot being configured for orienting said colorimetric strip to intersect said viewing axis, and said second slot being configured for verifying insertion of said colorimetric strip into said first slot; an in situ calibration target disposed within said aperture structure of said light box accessory, said in situ calibration target having predetermined color characteristics; at least one light source disposed within said enclosure, said at least one light source being arranged for illumination of said colorimetric test strip when said colorimetric test strip is registered within said slot; a power source disposed within said enclosure and operatively coupled with said at least one light source; and a switch operatively coupled between said power source and said at least one light source for selective activation of said at least one light source, wherein said accessory is configured to communicate with said central processing unit of said mobile device only through said digital camera of said mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for colorimetric analysis of colorimetric test strips that implements a color correction, the method comprising:
-
providing a mobile device that includes a digital camera and a central processing unit (CPU), said CPU being operatively coupled to a storage medium and configured to receive instructions from said storage medium; configuring said storage medium to include instructions readable by said CPU, said instructions including; capturing at least one image of a plurality of standard colors with said digital camera; converting said at least one image of said plurality of standard colors to a plurality of initial calibration color values; providing a colorimetric strip exposed to a test fluid, said colorimetric strip including a reactive area; providing an in situ calibration target disposed within an aperture structure of said light box accessory that includes at least one in situ calibration color thereon, said at least one in situ calibration color being unaffected by the presence of said test fluid, each of said at least one in situ calibration colors being substantially identical to a respective one of said plurality of standard colors; obtaining a digital test image that includes both an image of said reactive area of said colorimetric strip and an image of said in situ calibration target; analyzing portions of said digital test image known to represent said in situ calibration target to obtain a plurality of corresponding in situ quantitative color values; comparing said corresponding quantitative color values with said initial calibration color values; establishing a color correction function based on said corresponding in situ quantitative color values; analyzing portions of said digital test image known to represent said reactive areas of said colorimetric strip to obtain a plurality of test color values corresponding to said reactive areas; and applying said color correction function to said plurality of test color values; and converting said plurality of test color values to at least one test reading. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification