Chromatographic reader devices for biodetection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467911-B2
Application number	US-202118024241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2021
Priority date	Sep 4, 2020
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus includes a mobile computing device ( 902 ) physically coupled to a lightbox ( 904 ). The apparatus includes camera hardware configured to capture image data associated with an output signal area of a biological chromatographic test strip ( 410 ) inserted into a receiving slot of the lightbox. The apparatus further includes processing circuitry in communication with the camera hardware, the processing circuitry being configured to determine, based on the image data captured by the camera hardware, a concentration of a target analyte in a test sample submitted via the biological chromatographic test strip. The apparatus further includes 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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising a mobile computing device physically coupled to a lightbox, the mobile computing device comprising:
camera hardware configured to capture image data associated with an output signal area of a biological chromatographic test strip inserted into a receiving slot of the lightbox; processing circuitry in communication with the camera hardware, the processing circuitry being configured to:
identify, from the image data captured by the camera hardware, 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 hardware 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 hardware, (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 in the test sample as determined by the processing circuitry.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device is a smartphone.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the camera hardware is included in one of a rear-facing camera of the smartphone or in a front-facing camera of the smartphone.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device is a tablet computer.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interface is a touchscreen display.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the lightbox comprises a reflective surface configured to reflect light emitted by a light source positioned near lens hardware of the camera hardware.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the lightbox comprises a light cavity configured to provide backlighting of the biological chromatographic test strip.

8 . The apparatus 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.

9 . The apparatus 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.

10 . An apparatus comprising a mobile computing device physically coupled to a lightbox, the mobile computing device comprising:
camera hardware configured to capture image data associated with an output signal area of a biological chromatographic test strip inserted into a receiving slot of the lightbox; processing circuitry in communication with the camera hardware, the processing circuitry being configured to:
identify, from the image data captured by the camera hardware, 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 hardware 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;
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 hardware, (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 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; and
detect, 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 presence 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 presence of the target analyte in the test sample as determined by the processing circuitry.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of the first colorimetric intensity and the second colorimetric intensity intensities represent intensities along individual color channels of an RGB color space.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , 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.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the mobile computing device is a smartphone.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the camera hardware is included in one of a rear-facing camera of the smartphone or in a front-facing camera of the smartphone.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the mobile computing device is a tablet computer.

16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the interface is a touchscreen display.

17 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein an inner surface of the lightbox comprises a reflective surface configured to reflect light emitted by a light source positioned near lens hardware of the camera hardware.

18 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein an inner surface of the lightbox comprises a light cavity configured to provide backlighting of the biological chromatographic test strip.

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

• G01N2030/8881

  Modular construction, specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• G01N2030/8813

  biological materials · CPC title

• G01N2021/8494

  Measuring or storing parameters of the band · 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

• G01N2021/7759

  Dipstick; Test strip · CPC title