# US 12,224,048 B2 · Sputum image processing assembly and system, method of processing sputum contained in a sputum sample container, and method of processing a plurality of sputum samples over time > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,048 B2 - Document ID: US12224048B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/122,035 - Filed: 2023-03-15 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-16 - Assignees: Zig Therapeutics, Inc. - Applicants: Zig Therapeutics, Inc. - Inventors: Vicki L. Daniels; Joseph C. Steven - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224048B2 ## CPC - G16H 15/00: ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof - G01N 21/17: Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated (where the material investigated is optically excited causing a change in wavelength of the incident light G01N21/63) - G01N 21/27: using photo-electric detection (G01N21/31 takes precedence){; circuits for computing concentration (logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J)} - G06F 18/23213: with fixed number of clusters, e.g. K-means clustering - G06T 7/10: Segmentation; Edge detection (motion-based segmentation G06T7/215) - G06T 7/90: Determination of colour characteristics - G06V 10/44: Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersections; Connectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components - G06V 10/762: using clustering, e.g. of similar faces in social networks - G06V 10/764: using classification, e.g. of video objects - G06V 20/698: {Matching; Classification} - G01N 2021/1765: {Method using an image detector and processing of image signal} - G01N 2021/1789: {Time resolved} - G01N 2201/0634: Diffuse illumination - G06T 2207/10024: Color image - G06T 2207/20132: Image cropping - G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - 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) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract A sputum image processing assembly for processing sputum in a sputum sample container, and method of processing an image of the sputum. The assembly includes a light source to illuminate the sputum, a light sensor to acquire a reflected light from the illuminated sputum, a light enclosure to limit a light between the light source and the light sensor, and an image processor module to generate an image of the sputum with the acquired light. Further disclosed is a method of processing a plurality of sputum samples over time. The method includes acquiring a first sputum image of a first sputum sample, analyzing the first sputum image to determine first color information, acquiring a second sputum image of a second sputum sample, analyzing the second sputum image to determine second color information, and creating a time-based sputum report based on the first color information and the second color information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A subject-controlled sputum image processing assembly for processing a bulk sputum sample expectorated from the subject into a sputum sample container, the assembly comprising: a tray having a receptacle to define a first location to non-fixedly receive the sputum sample container containing the bulk sputum sample expectorated from the subject into the sputum sample container; a device holder to define a second location and to non-fixedly receive and hold a mobile electronic device at the second location, the mobile electronic device comprising: a light source to illuminate the bulk sputum sample held by the sputum sample container with an illuminate light; a light sensor to acquire a reflected light from the illuminated bulk sputum sample; a processor; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to generate an image of the bulk sputum sample with the acquired light; and a light control enclosure removably coupled to the tray, to enclose the sputum sample container, and to help enclose the light source and the light sensor to limit a light between the light source and the light sensor, the limited light including the illuminate light emanating from the light source and the reflected light reflecting from the illuminated bulk sputum sample and substantially occluding ambient light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a light diffuser coupled to the device holder between the light source and the bulk sputum sample, and wherein the light source includes a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic device is a smart communication device or includes an edge device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic device comprises a user interface, a processor, and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to provide an image processor module, a segmentation processor module, and a classification processor module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sputum image processing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a remote provider decision support in communication with the mobile electronic device, wherein the remote provider decision support includes a segmentation processor module, and a classification processor module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method of processing a bulk sputum sample from a subject contained in a sputum sample container, the method comprising: providing the subject-controlled sputum image processing assembly of claim 1; placing the sputum sample container in the receptacle of the tray; placing the mobile electronic device in the device holder; covering the sputum sample container with the light control enclosure to limit the light between the light source and the light sensor and substantially occluding ambient light; the mobile electronic device causing the light source to illuminate the bulk sputum sample in the sputum sample container; the mobile electronic device acquiring the light reflecting from the illuminated bulk sputum sample; the mobile electronic device creating an image of the bulk sputum sample with the acquired light; analyzing the sputum image to determine color information for the bulk sputum sample; storing the sputum image for further future analyzing with a later obtained second sputum image of a second bulk sputum sample of the subject; making a clinical sputum color classification for the bulk sputum sample; and creating a sputum report with the clinical sputum color classification. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising diffusing the illuminated light from the light source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: instructing a subject to acquire the bulk sputum sample in the sputum sample container; and coaching the subject through processing the bulk sputum sample. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein analyzing the sputum image to determine color information comprises: cropping the image; and segmenting the image into a plurality of pixels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein analyzing the sputum image to determine color information further comprises: detecting a color for each pixel of the plurality of pixels; and assigning color data to each pixel of the plurality of pixels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: clustering the plurality of pixels into a plurality of clusters; detecting a color for each cluster of the plurality of clusters; and assigning color data to each cluster of the plurality of clusters. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a test chamber including the device holder fixed with the light control enclosure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a test fixture including the device holder fixed with the tray. ### Claim 14 A subject-controlled sputum image processing system comprising: a sputum sample container for receiving a bulk sputum sample expectorated from the subject into the sputum sample container; a tray having a receptacle to define a first location to non-fixedly receive the sputum sample container containing the bulk sputum sample expectorated from the subject into the sputum sample container; a mobile electronic device comprising: a light source to illuminate the bulk sputum sample held by the sputum sample container with an illuminate light; a light sensor to acquire a reflected light from the illuminated bulk sputum sample; a processor; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to generate an image of the bulk sputum sample with the acquired light; and a lab test chamber comprising an imaging tray removably receiving the mobile electronic device and an imaging hood enclosure removably coupled to the tray, to enclose the sputum sample container, and to help enclose the light source and the light sensor for limiting a light between the light source and the light sensor, the limited light including the illuminate light emanating from the light source and the reflected light reflecting from the illuminated bulk sputum sample and substantially occluding ambient light. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the mobile electronic device is a mobile edge electronic device, and the system further comprises a mobile smart communication device in communication with the mobile edge electronic device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile smart communication device comprises a user interface, a processor, and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to lead a subject through sputum collection and analysis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile edge electronic device further includes a segmentation processor module, and a classification processor module. ### Claim 18 A subject-controlled sputum image processing system comprising: a sputum sample container for receiving a bulk sputum sample expectorated from the subject into the sputum sample container; a fixture having a stand and a receptacle to define a first location to receive the sputum sample container containing the bulk sputum sample expectorated from the subject into the sputum sample container; a mobile electronic device removably coupled to the stand, the mobile electronic device comprising: a light source to illuminate the bulk sputum sample held by the sputum sample container with an illuminate light; a light sensor to acquire a reflected light from the illuminated bulk sputum sample; a processor; a memory in communication with the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to generate an image of the illuminated bulk sputum sample with the acquired light; and a lab test chamber comprising an imaging tray removably receiving the mobile electronic device and an imaging hood enclosure removably coupled to the imaging tray, to enclose the sputum sample container, and to help enclose the light source and the light sensor limiting a light between the light source and the light sensor, the limited light including the illuminate light emanating from the light source and the reflected light reflecting from the illuminated bulk sputum sample and substantially occluding ambient light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The subject-controlled sputum image processing system of claim 18, wherein the mobile electronic device is a smart communication device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The subject-controlled sputum image processing system of claim 18, wherein the imaging hood enclosure further encloses the mobile electronic device and the stand.