Medical analyzer and diagnostic sample profiler

Inventors

Joseph, Luke B.

Assignees

Ifirst Medical Technologies Inc

Abstract

A medical analyzer and coagulation profiler performs various interrogations on specimens. A motor with reduction gearing moves and a video camera observes the samples, the cartridges or parts thereof. Changes in images are compared and recorded with a central processor that controls a display. Power supply, temperature controller, motor and gearing are mounted in a box which attaches to a smartphone. The smartphone provides the video camera, illumination and central processor that control the movement, temperature and display. The device makes testing simpler for small hospitals, clinics, ambulances, remote locations and individuals and controls a number of parallel or serial devices operating simultaneously or sequentially. A cartridge insertion actuates a circular motion to generate a blood profile based on changes. Change is analyzed with a video camera and processor such as in a smartphone and is plotted to show an amplitude and time. A smartphone provides a specific movement pattern.

Core Innovation

A portable measuring device measures coagulation of a liquid by activating the device and inserting a cartridge having a well and a disc positioned within the well. A liquid sample is injected into the well, the cartridge is inserted into the portable measuring device, and a contactless magnetic coupling reciprocates the well or the disc within an angular sweep range. The disc is illuminated and observed with a video camera while recording times of changes in movement of the disc.

The device regulates the magnetic actuator by reducing the angular sweep range of the contactless magnetic coupling to follow a reduction in motion caused by coagulation of the liquid sample. The reduction is based at least in part on recorded changes in movement of the disc. The angular sweep range changes to optimize sensitivity of different phases of coagulation while maintaining a constant induced torque profile.

A system is provided with a portable measuring device, a controller, a light source, and a video camera, together with a cartridge configured to be inserted into a receptacle of the portable measuring device. The cartridge includes a well and a disc, and a magnetic actuator reciprocates the well or disc via contactless magnetic coupling over an angular sweep range. The controller is configured to regulate the magnetic actuator by reducing the angular sweep range based on recorded changes in disc movement to optimize sensitivity across phases of coagulation while maintaining a constant induced torque profile.

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes two independent claims, a method claim and a system claim. Both independent claims share the core inventive concept of controlling coagulation measurement by reducing a contactless magnetic coupling angular sweep range based on recorded disc motion, in order to optimize sensitivity across phases while maintaining a constant induced torque profile.

Across both independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on a portable, cartridge-based coagulation measurement where a contactless magnetic actuator reciprocates a disc and a video camera records disc movement changes, and a controller reduces the coupling angular sweep range based on recorded movement to optimize sensitivity across coagulation phases while maintaining a constant induced torque profile.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications