HAND-HELD SCANNER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR READING POINT OF CARE TEST RESULTS

• US 20140343860A1
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nexus Dx, Inc. (Sphingotec GMBH)
• Original Assignee: Nexus Dx, Inc. (Sphingotec GMBH)
• Inventors: EGAN, Richard, LIDGARD, Graham, BOOKER, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,222,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/84 Systems specially adapted for particular applications
• 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 2201/0446 Multicell plate, sequential
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/126 Microprocessor processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/487 of liquid biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A diagnostic assay system including a test device and a scanning device are described. In one implementation, the scanning device includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, an optics assembly, a detector, and a microprocessor disposed within a chassis. The test device and scanning device may be configured to be movable relative to each other during operation of the scanning device.

Claims

1-65. -65. (canceled)

66. A device, comprising:

an energy source configured to generate an excitation signal;

an optical assembly coupled to the energy source, the optical assembly configured to direct the excitation signal onto a test device;

a detector configured to detect a response signal from the test device in response to the excitation signal, the response signal indicative of one or more indicia and one or more test lines; and

a microprocessor configured to generate test result data based on the response signal.

67. The device of claim 66, wherein the detector is a single detector configured to detect an emission or radiation from the one or more test lines and from the one or more indicia as the response signal.

68. The device of claim 66, further comprising a chassis coupled to one or more of the energy source, the optical assembly, the detector, or the microprocessor.

69. The device of claim 66, further comprising:

an aperture configured to permit the excitation signal to be directed onto the test device; and

a shield configured to surround the aperture to prevent entry of ambient light.

70. The device of claim 66, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to:

detect, based on the response signal, relative movement between the apparatus and the test device; and

when generating the test result data, compensate for the relative movement.

71. The device of claim 66, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to:

detect, based on the response signal, a relative angular offset between the apparatus and the test device; and

when generating the test result data, compensate for the relative angular offset.

72. The device of claim 66, wherein the detector includes one or more of a photomultiplier tube, photodiode, a PIN photodiode, a silicone photodiode, a differential photodiode, a double diode, a fourfold diode, a double wedge diode, a circular ring diode, one or more photo diode lines, a matrix photo diode, a PIN array, a linear diode array, a photodiode array (PDA), a charge-coupled device (CCD), a CMOS device or a light emitting diode (LED) photodiode.

73. The device of claim 66, wherein the detector is configured to detect one or more of reflectance, transmission, fluorescence, chemo-bioluminescence, magnetic, electromagnetic or an electric current.

74. A method, comprising:

generating an excitation signal;

directing the excitation signal onto a test device;

detecting, in response to the excitation signal, a response signal from the test device, the response signal indicative of one or more indicia and one or more test lines; and

generating test result data based on the response signal.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the detector is a single detector configured to detect an emission or radiation from the one or more test lines and from the one or more indicia as the response signal.

76. The method of claim 74, further comprising detecting, based on the response signal, relative movement between the apparatus and the test device, the generating the test result data including compensating for the relative movement.

77. The method of claim 74, further comprising detecting, based on the response signal, a relative angular offset between the apparatus and the test device, the generating the test result data including compensating for the relative angular offset.

78. The method of claim 74, wherein the response signal is detected via one or more of a photomultiplier tube, photodiode, a PIN photodiode, a silicone photodiode, a differential photodiode, a double diode, a fourfold diode, a double wedge diode, a circular ring diode, one or more photo diode lines, a matrix photo diode, a PIN array, a linear diode array, a photodiode array (PDA), a charge-coupled device (CCD), a CMOS device or a light emitting diode (LED) photodiode.

79. The method of claim 74, the detecting including detecting one or more of reflectance, transmission, fluorescence, chemo-bioluminescence, magnetic, electromagnetic or an electric current.

80. The method of claim 74, the generating the test result data including employing one or more of data reduction, curve fitting, or a trained neural network.

81. A kit, comprising:

a test device;

a scanner device, comprising;

an energy source configured to generate an excitation signal during use;

an optical assembly coupled to the energy source, the optical assembly configured to direct the excitation signal onto the test device;

a detector configured to detect a response signal from the test device in response to the excitation signal, the response signal indicative of one or more indicia and one or more test lines; and

a microprocessor configured to generate test result data based on the response signal.

82. The kit of claim 81, wherein the test device includes a test strip, the test strip including the one or more test lines, the test device including the one or more indicia.

83. The kit of claim 81, further including a sample collection device.

84. The kit of claim 81, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to:

detect, based on the response signal, relative movement between the apparatus and the test device during use; and

when generating the test result data, compensate for the relative movement.

85. The kit of claim 81, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to:

detect, based on the response signal, a relative angular offset between the apparatus and the test device during use; and

when generating the test result data, compensate for the relative angular offset.