Chromatographic reader devices for biodetection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12405220-B2
Application number	US-202118024202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2021
Priority date	Sep 4, 2020
Publication date	Sep 2, 2025
Grant date	Sep 2, 2025

Abstract

A reader device includes a camera board, processing circuitry in communication with the camera board, and an interface in communication with the processing circuitry. The camera board is configured to capture image data associated with an output signal area of a biological chromatographic test strip. The processing circuitry is configured to determine, based on the image data captured by the camera board, a concentration of a target analyte in a test sample submitted via the biological chromatographic test strip. The interface is configured to output data indicative of the concentration of the target analyte determined by the processing circuitry.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reader device comprising:
a camera board configured to capture image data associated with an output signal area of a biological chromatographic test strip;
processing circuitry in communication with the camera board, the processing circuitry being configured to:
identify, from the image data captured by the camera board, a control dot and a test dot displayed in the output signal area of the biological chromatographic strip, based on:
a search of the image data captured by the camera board for pixel groupings;
detecting, in a result of the search, two circles based on each respective circle of the two circles having a respective radius that falls within a predefined range between ten (10) pixels and fifty-five (55) pixels;
identifying a first circle of the two circles as the control dot; and
identifying a second circle of the two circles as the test dot;

determine, based on the image data captured by the camera board, (i) first colorimetric intensity information associated with the control dot identified in the output signal area of the biological chromatographic test strip, and (ii) second colorimetric intensity information associated with the test dot identified in the output signal area of the biological chromatographic test strip;
determine a ratio between the first colorimetric intensity information associated with the control dot and the second colorimetric intensity information associated with the test dot;
determine, based only on the ratio between the first colorimetric intensity information associated with the control dot and the second colorimetric intensity information associated with the test dot, a concentration of a target analyte in a test sample submitted via the biological chromatographic test strip; and

an interface in communication with the processing circuitry, the interface being configured to output data indicative of the concentration of the target analyte determined by the processing circuitry.

2. The reader device of claim 1 , the reader device further comprising a receiving slot, the processing circuitry being further configured to:
determine that the biological chromatographic test strip is properly inserted into the receiving slot; and
determine the respective intensities of the control dot and the test dot based on the biological chromatographic test strip being properly inserted into the receiving slot.

3. The reader device of claim 2 , the processing circuitry being configured to determine that the biological chromatographic test strip is properly inserted into the receiving slot based on a mechanical pin of the reader device is engaged.

4. The reader device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first colorimetric intensity information and the second colorimetric intensity information represents intensity values along individual color channels of an RGB color space.

5. The reader device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first colorimetric intensity information and the second colorimetric intensity information represents intensity values along one or more of a hue channel, a saturation channel, or a value channel.

6. An integrated circuit (IC) configured to:
obtain image data associated with an output signal area of a biological chromatographic test strip;
identify, from the obtained image data, a control dot and a test dot displayed in the output signal area of the biological chromatographic strip, based on:
a search of the image data captured by the camera board for pixel groupings;
detecting, in a result of the search, two circles based on each respective circle of the two circles having a respective radius that falls within a predefined range between ten (10) pixels and fifty-five (55) pixels;
identifying a first circle of the two circles as the control dot; and
identifying a second circle of the two circles as the test dot;

determine, based on the obtained image data, (i) first colorimetric intensity information associated with the control dot identified in the output signal area of the biological chromatographic test strip, and (ii) second colorimetric intensity information associated with the test dot identified in the output signal area of the biological chromatographic test strip;
determine a ratio between the first colorimetric intensity information associated with the control dot and the second colorimetric intensity information associated with the test dot;
determine, based only on the ratio between the first colorimetric intensity information associated with the control dot and the second colorimetric intensity information associated with the test dot, a concentration of a target analyte in a test sample submitted via the biological chromatographic test strip; and
output data indicative of the concentration of the target analyte determined by the processing circuitry.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Schaefer Antonia E
• Gabriel Nicholas T
• Fahey Samuel J
• Nyland Adam C
• Fuller Thaine W
• Kruse John M
• Amell Nicholas G
• Kappel Glendon D
• Mach Patrick A

Classifications

• G06T2207/10024

  Color image · CPC title

• G01N2021/7759

  Dipstick; Test strip · CPC title

• G06T7/90

  Determination of colour characteristics · CPC title

• G01N21/251

  Colorimeters; Construction thereof · CPC title

• G01N21/8483

  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 title