Portable reader module, portable reader, and method for quantitative analysis of an assay

Abstract

A portable reader module includes a housing, a first receptacle configured to removably receive a portable device having an imager, and a second receptacle configured to removably receive a cartridge. The first receptacle includes a first optical entrance for the imager to the internal space of the housing. The second receptacle includes a second optical entrance to the internal space of the housing. A light-deflecting optical element is arranged within the internal space of the housing to define an optical path between the first optical entrance and the second optical entrance. An illuminating path for illuminating the cartridge is defined in the housing. The housing is configured to allow the internal space to be light-shielded.

1 . A portable reader module, comprising:
 a housing comprising
 an internal space, 
 a first receptacle configured to removably receive a portable device comprising an imager, the first receptacle comprising a first optical entrance for the imager to the internal space of the housing, and 
 a second receptacle configured to removably receive a cartridge, the second receptacle comprising a second optical entrance to the internal space of the housing so that the cartridge is visible to and from the internal space; 
   a light-deflecting optical element arranged within the internal space of the housing to define an optical path between the first optical entrance and the second optical entrance; and   an illuminating path for illuminating the cartridge being defined in the housing;   wherein the housing is configured to allow the internal space to be light-shielded.   
     
     
         2 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable device comprises a light source, and wherein the illuminating path comprises a reflector for reflecting light from the light source to the cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , wherein the illuminating path comprises a light source arranged within the internal space of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first optical reference element configured to allow at least one of calibration and self-testing of the portable device, the first optical reference element being arranged in the housing separate to the cartridge. 
     
     
         5 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first optical reference element configured to allow at least one of calibration and self-testing of the portable device, the first optical reference element being arranged inside of the second receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The portable reader module according to  claim 4 , further comprising a second optical reference element configured to allow at least one of calibration and self-testing of the portable device, the second optical reference element being differing from the first optical reference element in at least one of pattern, greyscale, and colour. 
     
     
         7 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , wherein the second receptacle is configured to be placeable, with our without an inserted cartridge, onto a surface so that a portable device, when received in the first receptacle is in a substantially upright position relative to the surface. 
     
     
         8 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first receptacle and the second receptacle comprises holders for retaining the portable device in the first receptacle and the cartridge in the second receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment element arranged in the housing, the adjustment element being configured to adjust at least one of the location and orientation of the light-deflecting optical element. 
     
     
         10 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle comprises a bottom element which is removably attached to the housing and which comprises a holder to hold the light-deflecting optical element in the internal space. 
     
     
         11 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , wherein at least portions of the internal space are provided with a low-reflexion surface. 
     
     
         12 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter for holding the cartridge. 
     
     
         13 . The portable reader module according to  claim 12 , wherein the adapter for holding the cartridge comprises a cartridge interface which is inserted into the second receptacle, and a cartridge holder for holding the cartridge, wherein the cartridge holder cooperates with the cartridge interface when the cartridge holder is releasably attached to the cartridge interface. 
     
     
         14 . The portable reader module according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the cartridge holder and cartridge interface comprises magnetic bodies and the other one of the cartridge holder and the cartridge interface comprises metal pins or discs which cooperate together with the magnetic bodies to hold the cartridge holder in place relative to the cartridge interface. 
     
     
         15 . The portable reader module according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more identification marks uniquely identifying at least one individual component or part of the portable reader module. 
     
     
         16 . A portable reader, comprising:
 a portable reader module comprising
 a housing comprising an internal space, a first receptacle configured to removably receive a portable device comprising an imager, the first receptacle comprising a first optical entrance for the imager to the internal space of the housing, and a second receptacle configured to removably receive a cartridge, the second receptacle comprising a second optical entrance to the internal space of the housing so that the cartridge is visible to and from the internal space; 
 a light-deflecting optical element arranged within the internal space of the housing to define an optical path between the first optical entrance and the second optical entrance; and 
 an illuminating path for illuminating the cartridge defined in the housing; 
 wherein the housing is configured to allow the internal space to be light-shielded; and 
   a portable device received in the first receptacle of the housing, the portable device comprising an imager, a central processing unit, and a display;   wherein the portable device is operable to capture an image of a cartridge including at least one test zone when received in the second receptacle of the housing, to process the captured image, and to display a test result.   
     
     
         17 . A method for quantitative analysis of an assay, comprising:
 providing a portable reader module which comprises a housing comprising an internal space, a first receptacle configured to removably receive a portable device comprising an imager, and a second receptacle configured to removably receive a cartridge, wherein the first receptacle comprises a first optical entrance for the imager to the internal space of the housing, and wherein the second receptacle comprises a second optical entrance to the internal space of the housing so that the cartridge is visible to and from the internal space;   placing a portable device comprising an imager, a central processing unit, and a display unit in the first receptacle of the portable reader module;   placing a cartridge comprising at least one test zone with at least one test result region in the second receptacle of the portable reader module;   capturing an image of the cartridge including the test zone by the imager of the portable device using an illuminating path defined within the housing of the portable reader module to illuminate the cartridge;   analysing the captured image by the portable device to obtain a test result; and displaying the test result in the display unit of the portable device.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 capturing an image of a first optical reference element arranged in the housing of the portable reader module separate to the cartridge;   identifying the first optical reference element in the captured image to obtain a positional calibration component; and   using the obtained positional calibration component to locate at least one of the test zone and the test result region in the test zone.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 capturing an image of a second optical reference element arranged in the housing of the portable reader module separate to the cartridge;   identifying the second optical reference element in the captured image to obtain a colorimetric calibration component; and   using the obtained colorimetric calibration component to evaluate at least one of the colour, the colour saturation and the chroma of the test result region in the test zone.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 capturing an image of at least one identification mark which uniquely identifies at least one individual part of the reader module;   processing the captured image of the identification mark to obtain an identifier;   establishing a connection to a database to obtain information specific to the individual part of the reader module using the obtained identifier as a database key; and   adapting a workflow of at least one of a calibration procedure and a quantitative evaluation procedure depending on the obtained information from the database.