METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYTE MEASUREMENT

• US 20140170757A1
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iXensor Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: iXensor Inc.
• Inventors: TSAI, Tungmeng, CHEN, Yenyu, CHEN, Chieh Hsiao
• Granted Patent: US 9,778,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/55
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/293 with colour charts, graduated scales or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• 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: Y10T 436/12 Condition responsive control

Abstract

A method is provided for a portable computing device to read a reaction area on a test strip, which is located in a peripheral device placed over an image sensor and a light source of the portable computing device. Light is provided with the light source, which the peripheral device directs to the reaction area. An image including the reaction area is captured with the image sensor. An analyte characteristic is determined based on a color of the captured reaction area in the image.

Claims

1. A method for a portable computing device to read a reaction area on a test strip, which is located in a peripheral device placed over an image sensor and a light source of the portable computing device, the method comprising:

providing light with the light source, wherein the peripheral device directs light from the light source to the reaction area;

capturing an image with the image sensor, wherein the image includes the reaction area; and

determining an analyte characteristic based on a color of the captured reaction area in the image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing light with the light source comprises emitting light with a portion of a screen or a flash of the portable computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the screen comprises a touchscreen.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the portable computing device comprises a smart phone or a tablet computer.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying on the screen a boundary within which to locate the reaction area by adjusting a placement of the peripheral device on the portable computing device; and

displaying on the screen a live preview of what the image sensor will capture.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on the screen an alignment marker for the peripheral device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the test strip includes a reference area and, prior to capturing an image including the reaction area, the method further comprises:

determining an imaging condition based on the reference area; and

adjusting an image sensor setting based on the imaging condition.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the reference area is a color chart, a gray card, or a purely black or white zone, and the imaging condition is a shutter speed, an f-stop, or a film speed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the test strip includes a color calibration area, the image includes the color calibration area, and the method further comprises determining the color of the captured reaction area based on the captured color calibration area in the image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the color calibration area is a color chart, a gray card, or a purely black or white zone.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

changing the portion of the screen to a different color; and

capturing another image including the reaction area, wherein determining an analyte characteristic is further based on another color of the captured reaction area in the other image.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen comprises a touchscreen and the method further comprises sensing areas on the test strip or the peripheral device contacting the screen.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining an arrangement of the areas, an orientation of the areas, or a combination thereof; and

based on the arrangement of the areas, the orientation of the areas, or the combination thereof, determining an analyte type, a production batch number of the test strip, an orientation of the reaction area on the test strip, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the areas comprises conductive dots made of conductive rubber, conductive fiber, conductive cloth, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the test strip or the peripheral device includes a visible code;

the image includes the code; and

the method further comprises determining an analyte type, a production batch number of the test strip, an orientation of the reaction area on the test strip, or a combination thereof based on the captured code.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the test strip includes a temperature sensor and the method further comprises:

electrically reading the temperature sensor to determine a temperature of the test strip; and

correcting the analyte characteristic based on the temperature of the test strip.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the test strip includes a temperature indication area, the image further includes the temperature indication area, and the method further comprises correcting the specimen characteristic based on the captured temperature indication area in the image.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source area comprises at least two parts of different colors and determining an analyte characteristic comprises determining the analyte characteristic based on colors of the at least two parts of the captured reaction area in the image.

19. A peripheral device to be placed over an image sensor and a light source of a portable computing device to assist the portable computing device in reading a reaction area on a test strip in the peripheral device, the peripheral device comprising:

a light guide to direct light from the light source to the test strip; and

an alignment feature to aid placement of the peripheral device relative to the image sensor and the light source on the portable computing device.

20. The peripheral device of claim 19, wherein the light source comprise a flash and the peripheral device further comprises a color filter to filter light from the flash.

21. The peripheral device of claim 19, further comprising a hollow case, wherein the light guide comprises a reflective interior of the hollow case and light from the light source reflects from the reflective interior of the hollow case, reflects from the test strip, and impinges the image sensor.

22. The peripheral device of claim 21, wherein the alignment feature comprises a lip of the hollow case to abut an edge of the portable computing device.

23. The peripheral device of claim 21, wherein the hollow case defines a slot to receive the test strip.

24. The peripheral device of claim 21, wherein the hollow case has a top opening to provide access the reaction area and an open bottom to provide.

25. The peripheral device of claim 21, wherein:

the hollow case has a closed top and an open bottom so the test strip is substantially illuminated by the light source when the peripheral device is placed on the portable computing device; and

the peripheral device further comprises a capillary or the capillary is part of the test strip, the capillary having a first end to receive a specimen sample and a second end to deliver the specimen sample to the reaction area.

26. The peripheral device of claim 21, wherein the hollow case comprises a body and a lid hinged to the body.

27. The peripheral device of claim 26, wherein:

the lid has a closed top and the body has an open bottom so the test strip is substantially illuminated by the light source when the peripheral device is placed on the portable computing device; and

the lid further comprises a capillary or the capillary is part of the test strip, the capillary having a first end to receive a specimen sample and a second end to deliver the specimen sample to the reaction area.

28. The peripheral device of claim 19, further comprising a lancet or a microneedle array.

29. The peripheral device of claim 19, further comprising the test strip integrated with the light guide and the alignment feature.

30. The peripheral device of claim 19, wherein the light guide comprises a covered transparent block so the test strip is substantially illuminated by the light source when the peripheral device is placed on the portable computing device.

31. The peripheral device of claim 19, wherein the light guide includes a reflective surface, and light from the light source reflects from the reflective surface, passes through the test strip, and impinges the image sensor.

32. The peripheral device of claim 19, wherein light from the light source travels along the light guide, reflects from the test strip, and impinges the image sensor.

33. The peripheral device of claim 19, wherein the light guide comprises first and second reflective surfaces, and light from the light source reflects from the first reflective surface, reflects from the test strip, reflects from the second reflective surface, and impinges the image sensor.

34. The peripheral device of claim 19, wherein the light guide comprises first and second reflective surfaces, and light from the light source reflects from the test strip, reflects from the first reflective surface, reflects from the second reflective surface, and impinges the image sensor.

35. The peripheral device of claim 19, wherein the light guide comprises a scattering material, and light from the light source scatters within the light guide, reflects from the test strip, and impinges the image sensor

36. The peripheral device of claim 19, further comprising areas to be detected by a touchscreen.

37. The peripheral device of claim 36, wherein the areas are conductive dots that are arranged to indicate an analyte type, a production batch number of the peripheral device, an orientation of the reaction area on the test strip, or a combination thereof.

38. The peripheral device of claim 37, wherein the conductive dots comprises conductive rubber, conductive fiber, conductive cloth, or a combination thereof.

39. A test strip to detect an analyte characteristic in a specimen sample, comprising:

a reaction area to receive the specimen sample; and

conductive dots to be detected by a touchscreen.

40. The test strip of claim 39, wherein the conductive dots are arranged to indicate an analyte type, a production batch number of the test strip, an orientation of the reaction area on the test strip, or a combination thereof.

41. The test strip of claim 39, wherein the conductive dots comprises conductive rubber, conductive fiber, conductive cloth, or a combination thereof.

42. The test strip of claim 39, further comprising a reference area to determine an imaging condition.

43. The test strip of claim 42, wherein the reference area comprises a color chart, a gray card, or a purely black or white zone.

44. The test strip of claim 39, further comprising a color calibration area to determine a color of the reaction area after receiving the specimen sample.

45. The test strip of claim 39, wherein the color calibration area comprises a color chart, a gray card, or a purely black or white zone.

46. The test strip of claim 39, further comprising a temperature sensor or a temperature indication area to measure a temperature.