Universal rapid diagnostic test reader with trans-visual sensitivity
Inventors
Karlovac, Neven • Mudanyali, Onur • Gerrick, Sophie Lorraine • Delcher, Ray Carlisle • Tseng, Derek Kuochao
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10571395-B2
Publication Date
2020-02-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A universal rapid diagnostics test reader is disclosed and described herein that includes a set of control electronics, a digital camera component, an illumination component, a housing component, and a rapid diagnostics test tray, wherein the tray can hold at least one rapid diagnostics test having a shape and a size in a fixed position relative to the digital camera component and the illumination component, and wherein the reader can accommodate more than one different rapid diagnostics test. Methods are also disclosed that include: providing at least one first rapid diagnostics test having a first physical size, first feature and first format; providing at least one second rapid diagnostics test having a second physical size, second feature and second format; inserting the first rapid diagnostics test in a universal rapid diagnostics test reader; analyzing the first rapid diagnostics test using the universal rapid diagnostics test reader; removing the first rapid diagnostics test from the reader; inserting the second rapid diagnostics test in a universal rapid diagnostics test reader without any mechanical adjustments of the reader or without the use of any additional parts or additional inserts; and analyzing the second rapid diagnostics test using the universal rapid diagnostics test reader.
Core Innovation
The invention is a universal rapid diagnostics test reader that uses a smartphone with a digital camera and wireless communication components to image a rapid diagnostic test. The reader includes control electronics with processor electronics that control an illumination component having at least one light-emitting diode, and a transmission mode of operation where the rapid diagnostic test is located between the light-emitting diode and the camera component.
The invention provides a single rapid diagnostics universal test tray that includes a series of cradles formed by ridges at different heights, orientations, and lateral extensions. The tray holds at least two different types or kinds of rapid diagnostics tests in a fixed position relative to the digital camera component and the illumination component, while holding only one test at one time, without additional mechanical adaptation, without a mechanical adapter surrounding each test, and without additional mechanical components applied to each test before placement in the tray.
The reader is implemented in a housing component that isolates the rapid diagnostic test from ambient light by providing a light-tight enclosure. In one mode, the illumination operates in reflection mode using one or more light-emitting diodes with the camera located on the front side of the rapid diagnostic test and a light-emitting diode axis roughly perpendicular to the rapid diagnostic test plane.
The invention further incorporates wireless/flash-controlled initiation and engagement through the wireless communication component initiated and engaged by a flash in the digital camera component and a photo-detector in the control electronics, with the flash controlling an illumination component. Non-optical functions are selected from WiFi, IEEE standard Bluetooth, or Near Field Communications.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage defines the universal rapid diagnostics test reader architecture and includes seven inventive features. The features combine processor-controlled illumination, flash-initiated wireless engagement, transmission and reflection imaging geometries, a light-tight housing, and a universal tray that fixes different rapid diagnostic test types without mechanical adaptation.
Universal rapid diagnostics test reader architecture with processor-controlled illumination
A universal rapid diagnostics test reader comprising control electronics with processor electronics that control an illumination component; a smartphone with a wireless communication component; a digital camera component operatively located in the smartphone; an illumination component with at least one light-emitting diode; a housing component; and a single rapid diagnostics universal test tray.
Flash-initiated wireless engagement between smartphone and control electronics
A smartphone and control electronics arrangement where the wireless communication component comprises a wireless connection operatively initiated and engaged by a flash in the digital camera component and a photo-detector in the set of control electronics, and wherein the flash controls an illumination component.
Illumination component with transmission mode between LED and camera
An illumination component comprising at least one light-emitting diode and a transmission mode of operation where the rapid diagnostic test is located between the light-emitting diode and the camera component.
Universal test tray with cradles defined by ridges at different heights, orientations, and lateral extensions
A single rapid diagnostics universal test tray comprising a series of cradles formed by ridges at different heights, orientations, and lateral extensions, wherein the single tray can hold at least two different types or kinds of rapid diagnostics test having a shape and a size in a fixed position relative to the digital camera component and the illumination component, wherein the single tray can only hold one test at one time.
Accommodation without mechanical adaptation to each rapid diagnostic test
A single rapid diagnostics universal test tray that can accommodate different types or kinds of rapid diagnostics tests in the same universal test tray without additional mechanical adaptation to each test before it is placed in the tray, without a mechanical adapter surrounding each test before it is placed in the rapid diagnostics universal test tray, or without additional mechanical components applied to each test before it is placed in the rapid diagnostics universal test tray.
Light-tight enclosure housing component isolating the test from ambient light
A housing component providing a light-tight enclosure so the rapid diagnostic test is illuminated only by the reader’s illumination and not by ambient light.
Reflection mode geometry with camera on front side and LED axis roughly perpendicular
An illumination operation in reflection mode using one or more light-emitting diodes and a camera located on the front side of the rapid diagnostic test with the light-emitting diode axis roughly perpendicular to the test plane.
Across the provided independent-claim coverage, the reader is universal due to a single ridge-cradle tray that fixes multiple rapid diagnostic test types without mechanical adaptation. Imaging is coordinated by processor-controlled LED illumination and smartphone flash-triggered wireless engagement with control-electronics photo-detection, implemented within a housing that can provide a light-tight enclosure; imaging modes include transmission positioning between LED and camera and a reflection-mode geometry between LED and camera relative to the test plane.
Stated Advantages
Provides a universal rapid diagnostics test reader that can accommodate different types or kinds of rapid diagnostics tests in the same universal test tray without additional mechanical adaptation to each test before placement.
Illuminates the rapid diagnostic test only by the reader’s illumination and not by ambient light.
Enables transmission mode imaging where the rapid diagnostic test is located between the light-emitting diode and the camera component.
Supports reflection mode imaging with a defined LED-to-camera geometry relative to the rapid diagnostic test plane.
Only one test is held at one time in the universal test tray.
Documented Applications
Rapid diagnostic tests imaged by the universal rapid diagnostics test reader using the smartphone-based reader and the universal test tray, with examples including Oratect Plus, ThyroChek, BioThreat Alert anthrax, Cardiac Panel, OptiMAL-IT malaria, Uni-Gold HIV, and a custom bacterial antigen assay.
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