# US 12,222,287 B2 · Universal rapid diagnostic test reader with trans-visual sensitivity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,287 B2 - Document ID: US12222287B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/798,549 - Filed: 2020-02-24 - Published: 2020-09-03 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-12 - Assignees: NowDiagnostics, Inc. - Applicants: NowDiagnostics, Inc. - Inventors: Neven Karlovac; Onur Mudanyali; Sophie Lorraine Gerrick; Ray Carlisle Delcher; Derek Kuochao Tseng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222287B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/59: Transmissivity (G01N21/25 takes precedence) - G01N 21/55: Specular reflectivity - G01N 21/8483: {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)} - H04M 1/72409: by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60) - H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast - H04N 23/74: by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means - G01N 33/48785: {Electrical and electronic details of measuring devices for physical analysis of liquid biological material not specific to a particular test method, e.g. user interface or power supply} - G01N 2021/1765: {Method using an image detector and processing of image signal} - G01N 2201/062: LED's - G01N 2201/125: Digital circuitry - H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces - H04M 2250/52: including functional features of a camera - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A universal rapid diagnostics test reader is disclosed and described herein that includes a set of control electronics, a digital camera component, an illumination component, a housing component, and a rapid diagnostics test tray, wherein the tray can hold at least one rapid diagnostics test having a shape and a size in a fixed position relative to the digital camera component and the illumination component, and wherein the reader can accommodate more than one different rapid diagnostics test. Methods are also disclosed that include: providing at least one first rapid diagnostics test having a first physical size, first feature and first format; providing at least one second rapid diagnostics test having a second physical size, second feature and second format; inserting the first rapid diagnostics test in a universal rapid diagnostics test reader; analyzing the first rapid diagnostics test using the universal rapid diagnostics test reader; removing the first rapid diagnostics test from the reader; inserting the second rapid diagnostics test in a universal rapid diagnostics test reader without any mechanical adjustments of the reader or without the use of any additional parts or additional inserts; and analyzing the second rapid diagnostics test using the universal rapid diagnostics test reader. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A universal rapid diagnostics test reader, comprising: a set of control electronics, wherein the set of control electronics comprise processor electronics that control an illumination component; a digital camera component; an illumination component, wherein the illumination component comprises a transmission mode of operation where the rapid diagnostic test is between a light-emitting diode and the camera component; a housing component, and a single rapid diagnostics test tray comprising a series of cradles formed by ridges at different heights, orientations, and lateral extensions, wherein the single rapid diagnostics test tray can hold at least two different types or kinds of rapid diagnostics tests having a shape and a size in a fixed position relative to the digital camera component and the illumination component, wherein the single rapid diagnostics test tray can only hold one test at one time, and wherein the single rapid diagnostics test tray can accommodate different types or kinds of rapid diagnostics tests in the same single rapid diagnostics test tray without additional mechanical adaptation to the test before it is placed in the single rapid diagnostics test tray, a mechanical adapter surrounding the test before it is placed in the single rapid diagnostics test tray, or additional mechanical components applied to the test before it is placed in the single rapid diagnostics test tray. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the digital camera component comprises at least one lens, at least one image sensor, at least one analog to digital converter, at least one digital image processor, at least one flash, at least one microprocessor or a combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the digital camera component uses autofocus and wherein the illumination component comprises flash illumination. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the digital camera component is operatively located in a smartphone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 4, wherein the smartphone further comprises a wireless communication component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication component comprises a wireless connection that is operatively initiated and engaged by non-optical functions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 6, wherein non-optical functions comprise WIFI IEEE standard Bluetooth, or Near Field Communications. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication component comprises a wireless connection that is operatively initiated and engaged by a flash in the digital camera component and a photo-detector in the set of control electronics. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 8, wherein the flash controls light-emitting diode illumination. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 8, wherein the flash controls light-emitting diode selection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 4, wherein the smartphone is enclosed in its case before being operatively engaged with the housing component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 4, wherein the smartphone is operatively engaged with the housing component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 12, wherein the smartphone is further constrained with an L-shaped corner component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 12, wherein the smartphone is held in a fixed position in a planar direction with at least one spring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 12, wherein the smartphone is constrained in a perpendicular direction with a slanted side or a curved side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the illumination component includes illumination of rapid diagnostics test by one or more light emitting diodes at the wavelength of imaging for chromatographic rapid diagnostic tests or at the excitation wavelength for the fluorescent rapid diagnostic tests. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 16, wherein the illumination component comprises a reflection mode of operation where one or more light-emitting diodes and the camera component that are on a front side of the rapid diagnostic test with the light-emitting diode axis that is roughly perpendicular to the rapid diagnostic test plane. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 17, wherein the light-emitting diode is the flash light-emitting diode that is part of the camera component illuminating a strip on the rapid diagnostics test from the front side. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the rapid diagnostic test may comprise a bare strip, a strip on a translucent plastic backing, a conventional strip packaged in a translucent plastic cassette or a combination thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diode is the flash light-emitting diode that is a part of the camera component. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 20, wherein the camera is imaging a strip via a mirror placed in front of the rapid diagnostics test. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the housing component is designed to enclose all components of the reader into a light tight enclosure and wherein the rapid diagnostic test is illuminated only by the illumination from the reader and not illuminated by ambient light. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the rapid diagnostics tray secures a rapid diagnostics test in the tray with an L-shaped corner component. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the rapid diagnostic test is held in a fixed position in a planar direction with at least one spring. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the rapid diagnostic test is constrained in a perpendicular direction with a slanted side or a curved side. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The universal rapid diagnostics test reader of claim 1, wherein the more than one rapid diagnostic tests are constrained in their position by their own cradles and posts customized on the same tray.