SALIVA TESTING SYSTEM
20190150836 ยท 2019-05-23
Inventors
- Efstratios Skafidas (Thornbury, AU)
- Chathurika Darshani Abeyrathne (Mitcham, AU)
- Gursharan Chana (Carlton, AU)
- Duc Hau Huynh (Lalor, AU)
- Trevor John Kilpatrick (Parkville, AU)
- Alan D. Luther (Edina, MN, US)
- Michael Luther (Austin, TX, US)
- Phuong Duc Nguyen (Albion, AU)
- Thanh Cong Nguyen (Sunshine West, AU)
Cpc classification
A61B5/0002
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B2010/0003
HUMAN NECESSITIES
G01N33/50
PHYSICS
G01N33/48785
PHYSICS
A61B5/14546
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B5/6898
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A61B5/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B5/145
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A method for using saliva to measure at least one substance or physiological parameter of a human or animal subject may involve inserting a first end of a sensor into a handheld saliva testing device. The method may also involve receiving saliva from the subject on a second end of the sensor, moving the saliva from the second end of the sensor to the first end, and processing the saliva with the handheld saliva testing device to provide initial saliva data related to the at least one substance or physiological parameter of the subject. In some embodiments, the sensor remains inserted in the handheld device while the subject deposits saliva on the opposite, free end of the sensor.
Claims
1. A method for using saliva to measure at least one substance or physiological parameter of a human or animal subject, the method comprising: inserting a first end of a sensor into a handheld saliva testing device; receiving saliva from the subject on a second end of the sensor; moving the saliva from the second end of the sensor to the first end; and processing the saliva with the handheld saliva testing device to provide initial saliva data related to the at least one substance or physiological parameter of the subject.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the saliva is received on the second end of the sensor while the first end of the sensor remains inserted within the handheld saliva testing device.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the saliva comprises contacting the second end of the sensor with the subject's tongue or mouth.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: providing an alert with the handheld saliva testing device when a sufficient amount of saliva is received on the sensor, wherein the alert comprises at least one of an audio alert or a visual alert; and removing the second end of the sensor from the subject's tongue or mouth.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the saliva is automatically processed with the processor after the alert is provided.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the initial saliva data from the handheld saliva testing device to a computer processor; and processing the initial saliva data with the computer processor to provide final measurement data describing the at least one substance or physiological parameter.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the initial saliva data is transmitted wirelessly to the computer processor, which is located separately from the handheld saliva measurement device.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the computer processor comprises an application on a mobile computing device.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one parameter comprises hydration, and wherein the final measurement data comprises a hydration score for the subject.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one substance or physiological parameter is selected from the group consisting of hydration, lactate level, ketones, glucose, glycerides, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorides, phosphates, caffeine, melatonin, c-reactive protein, chemokines, cytokines, troponin, cortisol, creatinine kinase, insulin, beta hydroxyl butyrate, iron, ferritin, salivary amylase and oxalic acid.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the saliva comprises moving the saliva through at least one microfluidic channel in the sensor.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein moving the saliva further comprises moving the saliva through a chemically functionalized mesh embedded in the sensor.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising ejecting the sensor from the handheld saliva testing device, by pressing an eject button the handheld saliva testing device.
14. A method for using saliva to measure at least one substance or physiological parameter of a human or animal subject, the method comprising: inserting a first end of a sensor into a handheld saliva testing device; contacting a second end of the sensor with the subject's tongue or mouth to collect the subject's saliva on the second end of the sensor; moving the saliva from the second end of the sensor to the first end; analyzing the saliva with the handheld saliva testing device to determine if there is a sufficient amount of the saliva to provide a measurement; providing an alert with the handheld saliva testing device when the sufficient amount of saliva is received on the sensor, wherein the alert comprises at least one of an audio alert or a visual alert; and analyzing the saliva with the handheld saliva testing device to measure the at least one substance or physiological parameter of the subject.
15. A system for testing saliva to measure at least one substance or physiological parameter of a human or animal subject, the system comprising: a handheld saliva testing device comprising a sensor slot and a display; a sensor comprising a first end configured for insertion into the sensor slot of the handheld saliva testing device and a second end configured for receiving saliva directly from the subject's mouth; and a computer processor coupled with the handheld saliva testing device to process initial data from the handheld saliva testing device to provide final measurement data describing the at least one substance or physiological parameter.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is configured to receive the saliva on the second end of the sensor while the first end of the sensor remains inserted within the handheld saliva testing device.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer processor is located separately from, and is wirelessly connectable to, the handheld saliva measurement device.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer processor comprises an application on a mobile computing device.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter comprises hydration, and wherein the computer processor is configured to generate the final measurement data, including a hydration score for the subject.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one substance or physiological parameter selected from the group consisting of hydration, lactate level, ketones, glucose, glycerides, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorides, phosphates, caffeine, melatonin, c-reactive protein, chemokines, cytokines, troponin, cortisol, creatinine kinase, insulin, beta hydroxyl butyrate, iron, ferritin, salivary amylase and oxalic acid.
21. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises: at least one microfluidic channel for directing saliva from the second end to the first end of the sensor; and a chemically functionalized mesh embedded between a top layer and a bottom layer of the sensor, to facilitate movement of saliva along a length of the sensor.
22. The system of claim 15, further comprising an additional computer processor embedded in the handheld saliva testing device for generating the initial data.
23. The system of claim 15, wherein the handheld saliva testing device further comprises: an on/off switch; a speaker for emitting an alert; and an eject button for ejecting the sensor out of the sensor slot.
24. A handheld device for testing saliva to measure at least one substance or physiological parameter of a human or animal subject, the handheld device comprising: a housing; a sensor slot in the housing; a display on the housing; and a computer processor housed in the housing for generating initial data related to the at least one substance or parameter from the saliva.
25. The device of claim 24, further comprising an eject button on the housing for ejecting a used sensor out of the sensor slot.
26. The device of claim 25, further comprising multiple buttons on the housing for controlling the handheld device.
27. The device of claim 24, further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting the initial data to an additional computer processor separate from the handheld device.
28. A saliva sensor for use with a saliva testing device to measure at least one substance or physiological parameter of a human or animal subject, the saliva sensor comprising: a bottom layer; multiple electrodes applied to the bottom layer; a top layer; at least one microfluidic channel between the bottom layer and the top layer, for directing saliva from one end to an opposite end of the saliva sensor; and a chemically functionalized mesh embedded between the bottom layer and the top layer to facilitate movement of saliva along a length of the saliva sensor.
29. The saliva sensor of claim 28, further comprising an insulating layer comprising a hydrophobic, dielectric material.
30. The saliva sensor of claim 28, wherein the at least one microfluidic channel comprises multiple microfluidic channels, and wherein the saliva sensor is configured for measuring at least two substances or physiological parameters of the subject.
31. A tangible computer readable medium storing instructions for performing a method for testing saliva to measure at least one substance or physiological parameter of a human or animal subject, the method comprising: receiving initial saliva data from a saliva testing device, the initial saliva data related to the at least one physiological parameter of the subject; and processing the initial saliva data to provide final measurement data describing the at least one substance or physiological parameter.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] This application is generally directed to systems, devices and methods for testing saliva to measure levels of one or more substances and/or one or more physiological parameters in, or of, a human or animal subject. According to various embodiments, saliva may be used to test for any suitable substance or substances or any parameter or parameters. Although much of the following discussion focuses on testing for hydration of a human subject, the same or alternative embodiments may be used for any of a large number of other measurements. Just a few examples of such measurements include, but are not limited to, hydration, lactate level, ketones, glucose, glycerides, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorides, phosphates, caffeine, melatonin, c-reactive protein, chemokines, cytokines, troponin, cortisol, creatinine kinase, insulin, beta hydroxyl butyrate, iron, ferritin, salivary amylase and oxalic acid and the like. In some embodiments, the system and method may be used to measure multiple substances or parameters, such as any combination of the substances/parameters just listed. And although it will not be repeated continuously throughout, any embodiment described for use with a human subject may alternatively be used for an animal subject (e.g., veterinary medicine, research, etc.).
[0035] In general, the system described herein includes a saliva sensor, a handheld device, and a computer processor, which may take the form of a computer application on a medical device. Each of these three primary components may also be provided separately as a saliva testing device, and all three components will be described in detail below.
[0036] Referring now to
[0037] As will be described in greater detail below, one end of sensor 14 is configured to be inserted into a sensor slot on handheld device 12. A test subject 20 (or user) then deposits saliva onto the opposite, free end of sensor 14, while sensor 14 is still inserted into handheld device 12. Sensor 14 moves the saliva across its surface via microfluidic channels and/or other mechanism(s) and measures at least one characteristic of the saliva. Handheld device 12 then reads data related to this measurement (or measurements) off of sensor 14. Handheld device 12 transmits data wirelessly or via wired connection to application 16 via mobile device 18. Test subject 20, physicians, coaches, family members and/or any other suitable people may then access the data via mobile device 18. For example, in one embodiment test subject 20 may be given a hydration score, which she can read off of mobile device 18. In some embodiments, mobile device 18 may also send data to the cloud 22 for storage and/or further processing. Each of these functions will be described in further detail below.
[0038] With reference to
[0039] Handheld device 12 stimulates and acquires signals from sensor 14, performs signal processing, and transmits the data to computer application 16, for example via Bluetooth low energy or via USB cable 24. Handheld device 12 may include a display 26, which may provide information to test subject 20. For example, display 26 and/or a speaker (not shown) on handheld device 12 may alert test subject 20 when a sensor 14 is properly and completely inserted into handheld device 12, when a saliva measurement has started, when a saliva measurement has been completed, when a sufficient amount of saliva has been collected and tested, and/or the like. Handheld device 12 may also be configured to recognize different types of sensors 14, for example sensors configured to test for different parameters, such as a hydration sensor 14 versus a potassium sensor. Similarly, handheld device 12 may include a lock-out function that senses whether a sensor is new/unused versus used or approved for use with system 10 versus a counterfeit or defective sensor. The identification and lock-out function prevents handheld device 12 from activating if a sensor is inserted that is used, counterfeit, broken, etc. Handheld device 12 may also be configured to receive software updates wirelessly. Handheld device 12 may be powered by rechargeable or disposable batteries, according to different embodiments, and it may also include a battery level indicator, which may be displayed on display 26 or separately.
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[0042] Once the saliva is collected on the free end of sensor 14, it is transported at least partway across the length of sensor 14 via microfluidics on sensor 14. The saliva is then analyzed by handheld device 12, and sensor 14 is ejected from sensor slot 31 by pressing sensor ejection button 34 (
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[0044] In one embodiment, handheld device 12 is powered from single cell 1000 mAh Li-on battery. A buck switching regulator may be included, to convert battery voltage to 3.3V, with a maximum current of 1 A. A single on/off push button switch may be included, to turn on the system. The battery can be recharged on fast mode with up to 2 A current. A lightning connector may be used in some embodiments. An integrated Bluetooth module 44 may be included, which may be fully compatible with Bluetooth 5. Handheld device 12 may further include integrated 1M flash ROM and 512 kB RAM. The CPU may operate at 32 MHz. Some embodiments may include an external micro SD card storage for measurement storage. Clock module 48 may include a 32 MHz crystal 50. Real time clock 52 may be available for time stamp labelling of sensor measurement. LCD display 26 may be a touch screen LCD. Buttons 30 may be push buttons and may control any suitable functions of handheld device 12. Micro speaker 36 may be used to provide audible cues to indicate the start of a measurement, completion of a measurement an error during measurement and/or the like.
[0045] Referring to
[0046]
[0047] Referring now to
[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, sensor 14 includes three electrodes, all of which are made of silverin other words, the middle silver layer 88 of the electrode layer 80. Thus, for purposes of the description of
[0049] In one embodiment, electrodes 88 are printed on bottom layer 86. In various alternative embodiments, Ag/AgCl, carbon inks (graphite), palladium, gold, platinum, iridium, doped indium tin oxide, stainless steel, and other suitable conducting materials may be used. Electrodes 88 may also be made of combinations of these materials. For example, one portion of an electrode 88 may be one material, and another portion of the same electrode 88 may be another material. Electrodes 88 may be arranged on bottom layer 86 in any desirable format.
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[0051] Referring now to
[0052] Referring now to
[0053] With reference now to
[0054] As illustrated in
[0055] As shown in
[0056] Referring next to
[0057] Referring now to
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[0060] The above description is intended to be a complete description of one embodiment of a system and method for measuring eye tracking for one or more diagnostic purposes. It is meant to be a description of examples only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.