Diagnostics systems and methods

Inventors

Galen, Peter • Gurkan, Umut • FRAIWAN, ARWA • HASAN, MUHAMMAD NOMAN • Grupp, Daniel E. • Hoyt, Joshua King • Thorne, James • Grimberg, Brian T.

Assignees

Hemex Health Inc

Abstract

A point-of-care diagnostic system that includes a cartridge and a reader. The cartridge can contain a patient sample, such as a blood sample. The cartridge is inserted into the reader and the patient sample is analyzed. The reader contains various analysis systems, such as an electrophoresis detection system that uses electrophoresis testing to identify and quantify various components of the blood sample. The reader can process data from the various patient sample analysis to provide interpretative results indicative of a disorder, condition, disease and/or infection of the patient.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an electrophoresis detection system that receives a patient sample having a component and a component sub-type, and uses an electrophoresis strip to generate optically detectable bands for the component and the component sub-type when an electrically-applied parameter is applied to the electrophoresis strip. An optical detector is programmed to detect the optically detectable bands and to generate band detection data based on the optically detectable bands.

The processing circuitry is programmed to cause the power source to apply an electrical parameter to the electrophoresis strip, where the electrical parameter is a variable current, a variable voltage, a variable application time of the variable voltage or the variable current, or combinations or multiples thereof. The processing circuitry receives the band detection data and analyzes the band detection data to determine one or more band detection characteristics for the optically detectable bands for the component and the component sub-type.

Based on the one or more band detection characteristics, the processing circuitry identifies a component and component sub-type in the patient sample. The processing circuitry is programmed to determine a relative proportion of the optically detectable bands for the component and the component sub-type, and to output one or both of the component sub-type and the relative proportion of the optically detectable bands for the component and the component sub-type.

The system is further described as performing electrophoresis by generating multiple bands under an electrically-applied parameter, analyzing band detection data corresponding to multiple bands, associating each band with a component and component sub-type, and generating diagnostic results based on one or both of the component sub-type and the relative proportion. The optical detector and processing circuitry provide band detection characteristics and diagnostic results, with the system described as using optical imaging to detect bands, determine band locations and intensities, and calculate relative proportions.

Claims Coverage

Two independent claims are provided, each defining an electrophoresis detection system that uses variable electrical parameters to generate optically detectable bands, optically detect the bands, analyze band detection characteristics, identify a component and component sub-type, and determine relative proportions and output results. Across the independent claims, there are approximately 3 core inventive feature groups.

The independent claims focus on electrophoresis on an electrophoresis strip using variable electrical parameters, optical detection that yields band detection data, analysis to determine band detection characteristics, identification of a component and component sub-type, determination of relative proportions, and generation and output of diagnostic results based on the identified sub-type and relative proportions across multiple bands.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found