Saliva testing system
Inventors
Skafidas, Efstratios • ABEYRATHNE, Chathurika Darshani • Chana, Gursharan • HUYNH, Duc Hau • KILPATRICK, Trevor John • LUTHER, Alan D. • Luther, Michael • NGUYEN, Phuong Duc • NGUYEN, Thanh Cong
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11690566-B2
Publication Date
2023-07-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for using saliva to measure at least one substance or physiological parameter of a human or animal subject may involve inserting a first end of a sensor into a handheld saliva testing device. The method may also involve receiving saliva from the subject on a second end of the sensor, moving the saliva from the second end of the sensor to the first end, and processing the saliva with the handheld saliva testing device to provide initial saliva data related to the at least one substance or physiological parameter of the subject. In some embodiments, the sensor remains inserted in the handheld device while the subject deposits saliva on the opposite, free end of the sensor.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a saliva testing system that measures at least one substance or physiological parameter of a human or animal subject using a handheld saliva testing device with a sensor slot and a display. A sensor is inserted into the sensor slot and has a first end retained within the handheld device while a second end receives saliva directly from the subject’s mouth. At least one microfluidic channel directs saliva from the second end to the first end so that saliva can be moved along the sensor.
The sensor includes an enzyme mesh embedded between a top layer and a bottom layer of the sensor, and the enzyme mesh is configured to facilitate movement of saliva along a length of the sensor. The handheld saliva testing device is coupled with a computer processor, where the processor processes initial data from the handheld saliva testing device to provide final measurement data describing the at least one substance or physiological parameter.
The invention also includes a handheld device configured to detect a sufficient amount of saliva on a sensor inserted in a slot while saliva is received directly from the subject’s mouth, and to generate initial data related to the at least one substance or physiological parameter from the saliva. The handheld device further transmits the initial data to an additional computer processor separate from the handheld device, where the additional processor processes the initial data to provide additional measurement data.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Across these independent claims, the main inventive features are: a handheld saliva testing device architecture using a sensor with microfluidic channels and an embedded enzyme mesh for directing saliva, and generation of initial data at the handheld device followed by transmission of initial data to a separate computer processor for additional or final measurement data.
Handheld saliva testing device with sensor slot and display receiving mouth-contact saliva directed by microfluidic channels and enzyme mesh
A system comprising a handheld saliva testing device comprising a sensor slot and a display; a sensor having a first end configured for insertion into the sensor slot and a second end configured for receiving saliva directly from the subject's mouth while the first end remains inserted within the handheld saliva testing device; at least one microfluidic channel configured to direct saliva from the second end to the first end; and an enzyme mesh embedded between a top layer and a bottom layer of the sensor configured to facilitate movement of saliva along a length of the sensor.
Processing initial data from handheld saliva testing device to provide final measurement data
A computer processor coupled with the handheld saliva testing device to process initial data from the handheld saliva testing device to provide final measurement data describing the at least one substance or physiological parameter.
Handheld device detecting sufficient saliva on inserted sensor and generating initial data, then transmitting to separate processor
A handheld device for testing saliva to measure at least one substance or physiological parameter, comprising a housing, a sensor slot in the housing, a display on the housing, a computer processor housed in the housing configured to detect a sufficient amount of saliva on a sensor inserted in the slot while saliva is received directly from the subject's mouth and to generate initial data related to the at least one substance or parameter from the saliva, and a transmitter for transmitting the initial data to an additional computer processor separate from the handheld device.
Additional processor processing initial data to provide additional measurement data
The additional computer processor processes the initial data from the handheld device to provide additional measurement data.
In combination, the independent claims cover a handheld saliva testing device and sensor structure that use microfluidic channel(s) and an embedded enzyme mesh to move saliva through the sensor while the device generates initial data. The independent claims further cover transmitting that initial data to a separate computer processor to provide final or additional measurement data describing the at least one substance or physiological parameter.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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