SAMPLE TESTING APPARATUS

Abstract

An apparatus for performing an optical test of a sample comprises a receptacle for accepting a specimen slide, at least one illumination element, an optical lens, and image acquisition apparatus, all having fixed positioned relationships relative to said receptacle.

Claims

1. Optical testing apparatus, comprising a receptacle for accepting a specimen slide, at least one illumination element, an optical lens, and image acquisition apparatus, all having fixed positioned relationships relative to said receptacle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is accessed via a slot provided in the outer wall surrounding the apparatus.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein positioning elements are provided within the receptacle, which are adapted to position the specimen slide in a desired position relative to the optical lens.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the positioning elements comprise bottom and top positioning elements, and wherein the optical lens is provided in said top positioning element.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination element is located below the specimen slide receptacle.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a battery suitable to power it.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a power port adapted to supply power to the apparatus from an external source.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the power port is a USB port.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising circuitry suitable to generate data from the acquired images.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein data and/or raw images is transferred to external data processing apparatus for analysis.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the external data processing apparatus is selected from a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a tablet, or the like.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the data is transferred wirelessly.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the data is transferred via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the data is transferred via physical connection.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the physical connection is a USB connection.

16. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when raw images are transferred to an external device, image-processing software is provided in said external device, which is suitable to perform an assessment of the sample being tested.

17. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the assessment of the sample being tested is performed in the apparatus, further comprising reporting elements adapted to display a result of the analysis to the user.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the reporting elements are selected from a display, one or more lights, and the display or other output means of an external device.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1, for performing a qualitative assessment of a fertility parameter, selected from the motile sperm concentration of semen, total sperm count, sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility, and vitality.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1, for testing a sample selected from blood, urine and saliva.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the drawings:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention, showing a slot adapted to receive a specimen slide;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1, further showing the slot opening into a receptacle for a specimen slide;

[0017] FIG. 3 (a and b) are side views of the device of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention, showing a cable connection port, such as for a USB connection;

[0019] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

[0020] FIG. 6 shows the chassis of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the top removed and the camera assembly mounted in position;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the chassis seen in FIG. 6, taken along the A-A plane;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a slightly more elevated view of the cross-section of FIG. 7;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the cross-section of FIG. 7; and

[0024] FIG. 10 (a and b) show the chassis 101 of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the LED PCB removed and assembled, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] FIG. 1 shows apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the invention, the internal elements of which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 and following figures. The operating elements are contained in a casing consisting of chassis 101, bottom 102, top 103 and cover 104. A slot 105 is provided, through which a specimen slide can be inserted into the apparatus, and in this particular embodiment a supporting ledge 106 is also seen. Slot 105 is further shown in the side view of the device in FIG. 2, from which internal elements can also be seen. As will be apparent from the description to follow, the appropriate positioning of the specimen slide is critical to the accurate performance of the apparatus. Accordingly, this embodiment of the invention provides for positioning elements 107 and 107′, and 108, which will be further described with reference to FIG. 7.

[0026] FIGS. 3 (a) and (b) are two side views of the device of FIG. 1, and require no additional explanation.

[0027] The apparatus of the invention generates data representative of the sample tested, e.g., MSC. The data so obtained—or the results derived therefrom—needs to be displayed to the user. Said data can be transferred to an external device, such as a PC, smart phone, tablet or the like, via wireless link, e.g. Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but additionally or alternatively wired connection can also be provided. This is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, in which a connection port 401 is provided in device 400. The external elements of device 400 are identical to those of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and therefore the same reference numbers are used to indicate them. Except for the data connection means, the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 are identical and, therefore, they will be referred to alternatively throughout this description.

[0028] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 4. Lens housing 501 is adapted to house lens 502, which is positioned at a fixed distance from the specimen slide, once it is inserted into the apparatus via slot 105 (FIG. 1). The specimen has to be illuminated, and this is effected by LED PCB 503. As will be apparent to the skilled person, one of the many advantages of the invention is that by providing illumination by LED PCB 503, constant and controlled lighting of the specimen is obtained, without variations that may result from using outside illumination sources, the quality and intensity of which may vary in an uncontrollable manner.

[0029] In order to acquire images to be analyzed, a camera assembly 504 is provided, which according to the invention is again positioned at a fixed distance from the specimen slide, thus obtaining a system with constant focus and consistent performance.

[0030] The apparatus may be powered by a battery (not shown), or in some embodiments power can be supplied via USB port 401 or through a dedicate power inlet (not shown). Cover 104 is provided on this embodiment to allow access to the top portion of the device, but may not exist in other embodiments.

[0031] Any suitable specimen slide can be employed for the purpose of the invention, which will be easily recognized by skilled persons and, therefore, are not discussed herein in detail, for the sake of brevity. An illustrative example of a suitable slide is that sold by MES Global, Los Angeles, Calif., under the name Vision Fixed Coverslip Slides (Item Number: A-CA-01082-00), but any other suitable slide can be used, and the most appropriate slide will be selected by the skilled person for the specific test intended.

[0032] FIG. 6 shows the chassis 101 with the top 103 removed, and the camera assembly 504 mounted in position. The LED PCB 503 is shown as removed from its position below the plane of the test specimen slide. In this exemplary embodiment the camera assembly is held in a fixed place by screws 601 and 602, but of course any other suitable fixation method can be employed. FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the chassis 101 seen in FIG. 6, taken along the A-A plane. In this figure, bottom positioning elements 107, 107′, and 108 are clearly seen, along with top positioning element 701, which also houses lens 502. These positioning elements cooperate in maintaining the test specimen slide in the correct, fixed position for untouched and immediate focus illumination and image acquisition, in a consistent manner across apparatus made according to the invention. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, this fixed positioning is a major advantage of the invention. Said positioning elements can be made to be resilient, if desired, to facilitate the insertion of the test slide. FIG. 8 is a slightly more elevated view of the cross-section of FIG. 7, allowing the same to be viewed in different detail, and FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the cross-section of FIG. 7, in which camera 901 of camera assembly 504 is seen, illustrating its positioned relationship with respect to slot 105 and bottom positioning elements 107 and 107′.

[0033] FIG. 10 (a and b) show the chassis 101 with LED PCB 503 removed and assembled, respectively. Illumination is performed through opening 1000 (FIG. 10 (a)) and the PCB is held in place using Snap-on elements 1001 and 1002 (FIG. 10 (b)).

[0034] The casing and chassis can be made of any material, and according to one embodiment of the invention they are molded from plastic material such as ABS. Lens 502 can of course be made of any suitable optical material, but according to one embodiment of the invention it is a ball lens with a ×100 optical magnification, images acquired by which can of course be further digitally processed. An illustrative suitable material for this lens is BK7 polished glass. The software used to operate the various components of the apparatus can be easily devised by the skilled person and, therefore, it is not described herein in detail for the sake of brevity. Similarly, the procedure for preparing the test sample slide and for performing the analysis are within the scope of the man of the art and can be, for instance as described in US Patent Publication 2016/0290916 of the same applicant hereof.

[0035] All the above description of preferred embodiments has been provided for the purpose of illustration and is not intended to limit the invention in any way, except as provided for in the claims. Many different alternative arrangements to those shown in the figures can be provided. For instance, the chassis and casing may have different shape, the slide receptacle can be differently positioned and, as a result, the positioning of the lens, camera and LED may be different, and many other modifications can be made without exceeding the scope of the invention.