Home testing device

Abstract

An optical device ( 22 ) includes a case ( 30 ), which fits over at least a part of a mobile computing device ( 24 ) having first and second faces and including a light source ( 29 ), which emits a beam of illumination through an exit aperture, and a camera module ( 27 ), which captures images through an entrance aperture. Both the entrance and exit apertures open through the second face of the mobile computing device. A receptacle ( 31 ) in the case receives and positions a sample ( 56 ) in proximity to the second face of the mobile computing device within a field of view of the camera module. Illumination optics ( 36, 38 ) receive and turn the beam emitted by the light source so as to back-illuminate the sample while the camera module captures one or more images of the back-illuminated sample.

1 . An optical device, comprising:
 a case, which is configured to fit over at least a part of a mobile computing device having first and second faces and including a light source, which emits a beam of illumination through an exit aperture, and a camera module, which captures images through an entrance aperture, wherein both the entrance and exit apertures open through the second face of the mobile computing device;   a receptacle in the case configured to receive and position a sample in proximity to the second face of the mobile computing device within a field of view of the camera module; and   illumination optics, configured to receive and turn the beam emitted by the light source so as to back-illuminate the sample while the camera module captures one or more images of the back-illuminated sample.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source directs the beam away from the second face of the mobile computing device, and wherein the illumination optics comprise at least one reflector, which is configured to reflect the beam back toward the second face. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one reflector comprises a pair of reflective surfaces, each configured to turn the beam by 90°. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , and comprising a lens mounted in the case in a location between the sample and the entrance aperture and configured so that the sample is located within a focal range of the camera module. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the lens is configured to magnify the one or more images captured by the camera module. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the lens comprises a ball lens, having wings attached thereto for mounting in the case. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , and comprising a transparent sample holder, which is configured to receive the sample and to be positioned within the receptacle so as to position the sample securely in the field of view of the camera. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the sample is liquid, and wherein the sample holder comprises a slide having a depression formed therein to contain the sample and a cover slip fixed over the depression. 
     
     
         9 . Testing apparatus, comprising:
 a mobile computing device having first and second faces and comprising a light source, which emits a beam of illumination through an exit aperture, and a camera module, which captures images through an entrance aperture, wherein both the entrance and exit apertures open through the second face of the mobile computing device; and   an optical device according to  claim 1 , which is configured to fit over the mobile computing device so that the receptacle positions the sample within the field of view of the camera module, and the illumination optics are aligned with the light source.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the mobile computing device is a Smartphone. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the mobile computing device comprises a processor, which is configured to process the captured images so as to analyze a property of the sample. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the sample includes semen, and wherein the processor is configured to analyze a motility characteristic of spermatozoa in the semen. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the mobile computing device comprises a display screen on the first face of the mobile computing device, and wherein the processor is configured to present an assessment of the property on the display screen. 
     
     
         14 . A sample holder, comprising:
 a slide, containing a depression in a surface of the slide; and   a cover slip, which is fixed to the slide over the depression so as to define a sample chamber, while leaving a loading area of the depression uncovered, so that a liquid sample deposited in the loading area is drawn into the sample chamber by capillary action.   
     
     
         15 . The sample holder according to  claim 14 , wherein the slide is molded to define at least one first groove, into which an adhesive is inserted in order to fix the cover slip to the slide, and at least one second groove located between the at least one first groove and the depression so as to prevent overflow of the adhesive from the at least one first groove into the sample chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A method for testing, comprising:
 inserting a sample into a transparent sample holder;   inserting the transparent sample holder with the sample into an optical adapter;   fitting the optical adapter over a mobile computing device that includes a light source, which emits a beam of illumination through an exit aperture, and a camera module, which captures images through an entrance aperture, so that the sample is positioned within a field of view of the camera module;   capturing an image of the sample in the optical adapter using the camera module while illuminating the sample with the beam emitted by the light source; and   analyzing the captured image in the mobile computing device so as to compute and output an assessment of the sample.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the mobile computing device has first and second faces, and both the entrance and exit apertures open through the second face, and wherein the optical adapter comprises illumination optics, which receive and turn the beam emitted by the light source so as to back-illuminate the sample while the camera module captures the image. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the light source directs the beam away from the second face of the mobile computing device, and wherein the illumination optics comprise at least one reflector, which is configured to reflect the beam back toward the second face. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein capturing the image comprises applying a lens mounted in the optical adapter in a location between the sample and the entrance aperture of the camera module so as to form the image of the sample within a focal range of the camera module. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein applying the lens comprises magnifying the image. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the sample is liquid, and wherein the sample holder comprises a slide having a depression formed therein to contain the sample and a cover slip fixed over the depression. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the cover slip is fixed to the slide over the depression so as to define a sample chamber, while leaving a loading area of the depression uncovered, and wherein inserting the sample comprises depositing the sample in the loading area so that the liquid is drawn into the sample chamber by capillary action. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the mobile computing device is a Smartphone. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein analyzing the captured image comprises processing the captured image using application software running on a processor in the Smartphone. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the sample includes semen, and wherein analyzing the captured image comprises assessing a motility characteristic of spermatozoa in the semen. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein assessing the motility characteristic comprises computing a motile sperm concentration. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein analyzing the captured image comprises presenting the assessment of the sample on a display screen of the mobile computing device.