Device and a method for testing a biological sample, preferably semen

Abstract

A device for testing the quality of a biological sample, preferably semen, in cooperation with an electronic apparatus, the device comprising; a slide slot adapted for receiving a slide containing a biological sample; a receiving surface adapted for receiving an electronic apparatus containing a camera, where the receiving surface comprises a through hole extending through said receiving surface; a light source arranged opposite the through hole; a lens arranged between the slide slot and the receiving surface, and adapted to magnify the image received at the receiving surface; where the slide slot is arranged between the light source and the through hole, the device further comprising a housing attached opposite the receiving surface, the housing having a shape allowing for a plurality of stable resting conditions in which the electronic apparatus lies on the receiving surface, and alignment between the camera and the through hole is maintained by friction.

Claims

1. A device for testing the quality of a biological sample in cooperation with an electronic apparatus, wherein the device comprises; a slide slot adapted for receiving a slide containing a biological sample; a receiving surface adapted for receiving an electronic apparatus containing a camera, where the receiving surface comprises a through hole extending through said receiving surface, so that when the electronic apparatus is placed on said receiving surface, the through hole is arranged adjacent to the camera of the electronic apparatus; a light source arranged opposite the through hole, and adapted to emit light that illuminates and at least partly propagates through the sample and said through hole, so that a camera, when placed at the through hole, receives at least part of the emitted light; a lens arranged between the slide slot and the receiving surface, and adapted to magnify the image received at the receiving surface; wherein the slide slot is arranged between the light source and the through hole, the device further comprising a housing attached opposite the receiving surface, the housing having a shape allowing for a plurality of stable resting conditions in which the electronic apparatus lies on the receiving surface, wherein alignment between the camera and the through hole is maintained by rotation of the device and alignment between the camera and the through hole is further maintained by friction, and wherein the housing having an outer side with at least two faces, the two faces are arranged at an angle to each other, wherein the device is stable, when the device is arranged on either face, so that alignment of the through hole with a camera of an electronic apparatus is retained, when an electronic apparatus is placed on the receiving surface.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the housing is rounded.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the outer side of the housing has a coefficient of friction larger than 0.3.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving surface and the housing are separate elements.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lens is arranged in the through hole.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the slide slot extends partially along the receiving surface.

7. A method for testing the quality of a biological sample comprising the steps of: placing an electronic apparatus on the receiving surface of a device according to claim 1, such that the camera of the electronic apparatus is arranged adjacent to the through hole of the device; recording a video of the biological sample with the camera of the electronic apparatus; identifying a plurality of biological cells in the biological sample based on the recorded video; determining a location of a first biological cell of the plurality of biological cells in a first frame of the recorded video; identifying the first biological cell in a second frame of the recorded video; determining a location of the first biological cell in the second frame; returning the detected motility and/or concentration of the plurality of biological cells in the biological sample.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the step of uploading the video and/or the motility, concentration of the biological sample, or any combination thereof.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the step of providing a digital label to the detected cell concentration.

10. A method of improving sperm quality comprising the steps of: employing an electronic apparatus, arranged on the receiving surface of a device according to claim 1; inputting first information regarding physical health into the electronic apparatus; inputting second information regarding lifestyle into the electronic apparatus; deriving lifestyle recommendations for improving the sperm quality based on the first and second information; returning the lifestyle recommendations.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of: inputting third information regarding the current sperm quality into the electronic apparatus, the third information comprises at least the sperm concentration and motility; deriving lifestyle recommendations for improving the sperm quality based on the first, second and third information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third information is obtained through a method comprising the steps of: placing the electronic apparatus on the receiving surface of the device according to claim 1, such that the camera of the electronic apparatus is arranged adjacent to the through hole of the device; recording a video of the biological sample with the camera of the electronic apparatus; identifying a plurality of biological cells in the biological sample based on the recorded video; determining a location of a first biological cell of the plurality of biological cells in a first frame of the recorded video; identifying the first biological cell in a second frame of the recorded video; determining a location of the first biological cell in the second frame; returning the detected motility and/or concentration of the plurality of biological cells in the biological sample.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the housing is semi-circular.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the biological sample is semen.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the biological sample is semen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1 to 5 show a device for testing a biological sample according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view, FIG. 2 shows a top view, FIG. 3 shows a side view, FIG. 4 shows a side view through a cut through plane, and FIG. 5 shows an end view.

(2) FIG. 6a-c shows an electronic apparatus having a camera on a device for testing a biological sample according to an embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 7 shows an example of a method for testing a biological sample according to an embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 8 shows an example of a method for testing a biological sample according to an embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 9 shows an example of use of an electronic apparatus, arranged on the receiving surface of a device for improving the sperm quality according to an embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 10 shows an example of use of an electronic apparatus, arranged on the receiving surface of a device for improving the sperm quality according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which show by way of illustration how the invention may be practiced.

(8) FIGS. 1 to 5 show a device 1 for testing a biological sample according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 1 has a slide slot 11 adapted for receiving a slide 21 preferably a biological sample 22, a receiving surface 13 adapted for receiving an electronic apparatus (not shown) containing a camera. The receiving surface 13 comprises a through hole 15 extending through said surface 13, so that when the electronic apparatus is arranged on said receiving surface 13, the through hole 15 is adjacent to the camera of the electronic apparatus. The device 1 further has a light source 18 arranged opposite the through hole 15, so that when the light source 18 is activated, the electronic apparatus is arranged on said receiving surface 13 and a slide 21 with a biological sample 22 is arranged in the slot 11, the light will illuminate the biological sample 22 and partly propagate through said through hole 15 to the camera. The device 1 also comprises a lens 16 arranged between the slide slot 11 and the camera of the electronic apparatus, so that the image is magnified before reaching the camera, where the slide slot 11 is arranged between the light source 18 and the through hole 15. The through hole 15 extends from a first side 17 of the receiving surface to a second side 19 of the receiving surface 13.

(9) The device 1 further comprises a housing 20 attached to the device 1 opposite the receiving surface 13, so that the housing 20 surrounds the slide slot 11, light source 18 and lens 16, and the housing 20 is provided with an entrance 19 to the slide slot 11, wherein the housing 20 has a shape allowing for a plurality of stable resting conditions. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, these stable resting conditions are provided by way of a rounded, specifically a semi-circular, shape, however other shapes may be envisioned.

(10) FIGS. 6a to 6c illustrate how the housing 20 of the device 1 allows for a plurality of stable resting conditions, in which the device 1 and the electronic apparatus are supported on a substantially planar surface, whereby electronic apparatuses 30 of different geometry can be utilized with the same device 1. In FIG. 6a an electronic apparatus 30 containing a camera 31 is placed on the device 1 such that the camera 31 is aligned with an axis A. The axis A is aligned to the lens, through hole, and light source of the device 1. In FIG. 6a the electronic apparatus 30 is not in a stable resting condition because the electronic apparatus 30 is only shown supported on the device and not fully supported by the substantially planar surface. FIG. 6b shows the electronic apparatus 30 in a stable resting condition, in which the electronic apparatus 30 is supported on the receiving surface 13 of the device 1 and an edge of the electronic apparatus 30 is supported on the substantially planar surface, which also supports the device 1. In order to maintain the alignment of the camera 31 with the axis A, the device 1 has been rotated. FIG. 6c shows an electronic apparatus 30, where the camera 31 is oriented closer to the central axis of the electronic apparatus 30. In order to accommodate such an electronic apparatus 30, while maintaining the alignment between the camera 31 and the axis A, the electronic apparatus 30 is moved and the device 1 is rotated.

(11) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the method for determining the quality of a biological sample. In 701, a video of the sample is recorded. In 702 software automatically detect cells in the biological sample. In 703 the motility and the concentration of the detected cells are measured. In 704 the measured motility and concentration is returned.

(12) FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the method for determining the quality of a biological sample. In 801, a video of the sample is recorded. In 802 the recorded video is uploaded to an internet connected device. In 803 software automatically detect cells in the biological sample. In 804 the motility and the concentration of the detected cells are measured. In 805 the measured motility and concentration is returned.

(13) FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the use of an electronic apparatus, arranged on the receiving surface of a device for improving the sperm quality according to an embodiment of the invention. In 901 first information regarding health is inputted, in 902 second information regarding lifestyle is inputted, in 903 lifestyle recommendations are derived, in 904 the lifestyle recommendations are returned.

(14) FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the use of an electronic apparatus, arranged on the receiving surface of a device for improving the sperm quality according to an embodiment of the invention. In 1001 first information regarding health is inputted, in 1002 second information regarding lifestyle is inputted, in 1003 third information regarding sperm quality is inputted, in 1004 lifestyle recommendations are derived, in 1005 the lifestyle recommendations are returned.

(15) Table 1 shows an embodiment of labelling the measured sperm concentration (C), where a sperm concentration higher than 50M/ml is labelled very high, a sperm concentration between 40-50M/ml is labelled high, a sperm concentration between 20-40M/ml is labelled moderate, a sperm concentration between 5-20M/ml is labelled low, and a sperm concentration between 0-5M/ml labels the sample for additional analysis. Furthermore, the embodiment also illustrates a labelling of the measured motility (M), where a motility between 40-100% is labelled as very high, a motility between 30-40% is labelled as high, a motility between 20-30% is labelled as moderate, a motility between 0-20% is labelled as low. The table and the ranges of the concentrations and motility are suggestions, and may be different in different embodiments.

(16) Table 1 shows an embodiment of the analysis based on concentration and motility

(17) TABLE-US-00001 Motility (M) 0-32% 32-40% 40-100% Sperm 0-5 We are sorry but we could not detect any sperm cells. Please Conc (C) M/ml try again to make sure it was not an error with the device. If this was your second attempt, press “Send video to expert” to get one of our experts to take a look. 5-15 We could detect We could detect We could detect M/ml C million cells/ C million cells/ C million cells/ ml, which is a ml, which is a ml, which is a low concentration low concentration low concentration of sperm cells. of sperm cells. of sperm cells. M % of them M % of them M % of them moved which is moved which is moved which is very low. moderate. high. Because Because of a Because of a of a low low concentration low concentration concentration, and low motility, and a moderate we suggest that we suggest that motility, we you follow our you follow our suggest that intervention intervention you follow our program to program to intervention increase your increase your program to chances of chances of increase your pregnancy with pregnancy with chances of your partner. your partner. pregnancy with your partner. 15-55 We could detect We could detect We could detect M/ml C million cells/ C million cells/ C million cells/ ml, which is a ml, which is a ml, which is a moderate moderate moderate concentration concentration concentration of sperm cells. of sperm cells. of sperm cells. M % of them M % of them M % of them moved which is moved which is moved which is very low. We moderate. We high. We suggest suggest that you suggest that you that you follow follow our follow our our intervention intervention intervention program because program because program because increasing your increasing both increasing both concentration concentration concentration will increase and motility and motility the chances of will increase will increase pregnancy with the chances of the chances of your partner. pregnancy with pregnancy with your partner. your partner. 55-above We could detect We could detect We could detect M/ml C million cells/ C million cells/ C million cells/ ml, which is a ml, which is a ml, which is a high concentration high concentration high concentration of sperm cells. M of sperm cells. M of sperm cells. M % of them moved % of them moved % of them moved which is very which is moderate. which is high. low. We suggest Your sperm quality Your sperm that you follow is high, but we quality is high, our intervention suggest that you but we suggest program because follow our that you follow increasing the intervention our intervention motility of your program because program to sperm cells will increasing the potentially increase the motility of your improve other chances of sperm cells will sperm parameters. pregnancy with increase the your partner. chances of pregnancy with your partner.

(18) Although some embodiments have been described and shown in detail, the invention is not restricted to them, but may also be embodied in other way within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims. In particular, it is understood that other embodiments may be utilised and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.