WO2018194660A1

WO2018194660A1 - Health assessment cards

Info

Publication number: WO2018194660A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/028873
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven J. Simske; Viktor Shkolnikov; Ali Tinazli; Anita Rogacs
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2017-04-21
Filing date: 2017-04-21
Publication date: 2018-10-25

Abstract

In example implementations, a card for identifying a health assessment based on an image of a card and a method for performing the same is provided. The card includes an input port for receiving a sample. The card includes a plurality of reservoirs and a plurality of one-way valves. Each one of the plurality of reservoirs contains a different reagents that reacts with the sample. The plurality of valves directs the sample towards the plurality of reservoirs to react with the different reagents of the each one of the plurality of reservoirs. The plurality of reservoirs are analyzed to provide a health assessment. A housing encloses the plurality of reservoirs and the plurality of valves. An accessory is removably coupled to the housing to collect the sample and provide the sample into the input port.

Description

HEALTH ASSESSMENT CARDS

BACKGROUND

[0001] Health is an area that many individuals keep track of that has led to a growing business industry around health consciousness. For example, many individuals attempt to improve their health by dieting and consuming a proper amount of nutrition. Various applications have been created to track the diet of a user and what type of nutrition a user is consuming.

[0002] Other industries have developed around wearable devices. For example, watches or wristbands can be worn that can track a user's activity to determine how many calories a day a user is burning. The wearable devices can monitor heartrate, sleeping patterns, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system of the present disclosure;

[0004] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example card of the present disclosure;

[0005] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example method for identifying a health assessment from an image of a card; and

[0006] FIG. 4 is an example non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executed by a processor of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] The present disclosure relates to health assessment cards that can be used to assess the health of an individual and methods for performing the same. As discussed above, health is an area or topic that many individuals track. Although various services and devices exist for maintaining a person's health, none of the present services or devices allow a consumer to assess and/or predict his or her own health trends.

[0008] To get a health assessment, a consumer may have to go to a doctor's office or a hospital. However, some consumers may not have insurance and going to the hospital to get a health assessment may be cost prohibitive. In addition, many of these simple services to provide a health assessment may be overpriced at hospitals or a doctor's office.

[0009] The present disclosure provides a unique card and method that can allow an average consumer to assess his or her own health anywhere. The health assessment cards may provide simple instructions and procedures that are easy to understand for the average consumer that has no previous experience in the health industry.

[0010] The cards of the present disclosure are affordable, simple and scalable. The cost to manufacture the cards may be relatively low and can be sold at a low price. The cards can be manufactured to provide any type of health assessment (e.g. ranging from detection, prediction, prevention, and the like, of a variety of different diseases, health conditions, and the like) that can be done in the privacy of the home. The ease of use may also empower the user to take control of his or her own health.

[0011] In addition, the cards may provide a machine readable code that may allow a machine to automatically connect to a website of the service provider. The user may interact with the website to download images to the website for analysis, receive the health assessment, and the like. The website may also provide instructions on how to properly use the card for accurate results.

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system 100 of the present disclosure. The system may include a service provider network (SPN) 102. The SPN 102 may be an Internet protocol (IP) network. It should be noted that the SPN 102 has been simplified for ease of explanation. For example, the SPN 102 may include additional network elements not shown (e.g., gateways, border elements, access points, routers, firewalls, and the like).

[0013] In one implementation, the SPN 102 may include an application server (AS) 104 and a database (DB) 106. The AS 104 may include a processor and memory that store instructions. The processor may execute the instructions to perform the functions described herein, such as, analyzing an image of a card 108, providing a website 1 12, providing a health assessment of a user based on the analysis of the image of the card 108, and the like. The details of the functions listed above are discussed in further detail below.

[0014] In one example, the DB 106 may store information associated with a user. In one example, a user may create a health profile. The DB 106 may store the health profile and associated personal information, such as, a user's name, address, date of birth, previous health assessments, preferences, and the like. In one example, the health profile may be based on tracking a plurality of health assessments. In one implementation, a health profile of a plurality of different users may be tracked based on a plurality of health assessments of each one of the different users over time of the user.

[0015] In one example, the system 100 may also include the card 108 and an endpoint device 1 10. In one example, the endpoint device 1 10 may be any type of endpoint device having a processor and a memory storing instructions that are executed by the processor. Examples of the endpoint device 1 10 may include a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, and the like. The endpoint device 1 10 may have wireless or wired communication capabilities and be in communication with the AS 104 of the SPN 102.

[0016] The endpoint device 1 10 may include a display 1 12 and a camera 1 16. The display 1 12 may be used to display a website 1 14 hosted by the AS 104. The website 1 14 may provide instructions on how to use the card 108, an option to upload an image of the card 108, a health assessment of a user based on analysis of the card 108, and the like. In one example, the camera 1 16 may be used to capture the image of the card 108.

[0017] In one example, the website 1 14 may be provided in any language. For example, based on a global positioning satellite (GPS) location of the endpoint device 1 10, the website 1 14 may automatically display the website 1 14 in a language, as well as product or service offerings, associated with the GPS location of the endpoint device 1 10.

[0018] In one example, the card 108 may be used to provide a health assessment of a user. The health assessment may include detecting a disease, predicting whether the user will get the disease, providing information on how to prevent getting the disease, and the like. The health assessment may also include other categories such as a level of fitness of the user, paternity testing, allergen testing, and the like. Thus, the examples provided below with respect to healthcare applications should not be considered limiting and the present disclosure may have application to testing for a variety of different applications.

[0019] In one example, a sample (e.g., a bodily fluid or part such as saliva, blood, urine, hair, skin flakes, ear wax, breath moisture, feces, serum, and the like) may be inserted into the card 108. Reactions may occur within the card 108 with the sample and an image of the card 108 may be captured after the reactions have completed. The image of the card 108 may be transmitted to the AS 104 for analysis.

[0020] The AS 104 may analyze the card 108 based on the image for a health assessment of the user and provide the health assessment to the website 1 14. For example, the DB 106 may store a plurality of known images that identify a plurality of different health assessments. In other words, the known images may be correlated to different health conditions and diseases, predictions on when a user will get a disease, and the like.

[0021] The image of the card 108 may be compared to the known images to identify a health assessment associated with the image of the card 108. The health assessment may then be posted on the website 1 14. The user may then access his or her health assessment, health profile, and the like, on the website 1 14.

[0022] In one example, the same user may periodically provide different images of different cards 108 over time. Each time the AS 104 performs an analysis for a user, the health assessment may be stored in the DB 106 for the user. The AS 104 may track the plurality health assessments over time of the user to generate a health profile of the user. The health profile may allow the user to track the progress of his or he own health over time.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a more detailed image of the card 108. In one example, the card 108 may include a system of microfluidics 200. The card 108 may be fabricated via a three dimensional (3D) printing process or other types manufacturing processes. The card 108 may include a housing that encloses the system of microfluidics 200. The system of microfluidics 200 may be formed within a volume of the housing. The housing may be fabricated from any type of material (e.g., the type of material used in the 3D printing process).

[0024] The card 108 may have dimensions that are approximately equivalent to a credit card. For example, the housing may have dimensions that comprise a width of less than approximately five inches, a height of less than

approximately three inches and a thickness of less than approximately 0.25 inches.

[0025] The system of microfluidics 200 may include an input port 202. The input port 202 may provide a port or opening to allow a user to provide a sample for analysis. In one example, the input port 202 may have a seal (e.g., a peel off seal, plastic cover, a twist off cap, and the like) to keep the input port 202 sanitary until the user is ready to prove the sample.

[0026] In one implementation, the card 108 may include an accessory 210 that is removably coupled to the housing. For example, the accessory 210 may be removably coupled to the housing via a magnet, via an adhesive, via a mechanical connection (e.g., a slide and lock, an interference fit, and the like). In one example, the accessory 210 may have approximately the same thickness and width as the housing of the card 108 to provide aesthetic appeal when packaged together.

[0027] The accessory 210 may be used to collect the sample. The accessory 210 may be sized to insert the sample into the input port 202. As noted above, the dimension of the card 108 and the system of microfluidics 200 may be relatively small. As a result, the accessory 210 may be sized to insert the sample into the input port 202.

[0028] For example, the accessory 210 may be a syringe with a very small needle to collect a blood, urine, or saliva sample, or any other bodily fluid, and inject the bodily fluid sample into the input port 202. The accessory 210 may be a small cotton swab to collect a sample of ear wax or dead skin that can be inserted into the input port 202.

[0029] The accessory 210 may also be used to help remove the seal from the input port 202. For example, the input port 202 may be sealed by a plastic membrane. The accessory 210 may have one end that allows the user to pop the plastic membrane and the other end to collect the sample.

[0030] In one example, the sample may be fed through the system of microfluidics 200 to nodes 204i to 204_n (hereinafter referred to collectively as nodes 204 or individually as a node 204) and reservoirs 206i to 206_n. It should be noted that there may be a same number of nodes 204 and reservoirs 206 or a different number of nodes 204 and reservoirs 206.

[0031] In one example, the nodes 204 may comprise valves. In one example, the valves may be one-way valves that allow the sample to flow in a single direction. The valves of the nodes 204 may control the flow of the sample through various pathways (e.g., including splitting flow from a single reservoir 206, merging flow from two or more reservoirs 206, and the like) and react the sample with reactants or reagents stored in the reservoirs 206.

[0032] The system of microfluidics 200 may include additional components not shown, such as transducers (e.g., actuators and sensors), which may work together to execute a series of processing steps. For example, the steps may include mixing, splitting, filtering, heating, incubating, analyte capture, and the like.

[0033] The type of reactant or reagent may be a function of what type of health assessment is being performed. For example, the card 108 may be used to detect a disease, predict getting a disease, provide information on how to prevent getting a disease, and the like.

[0034] In one example, the nodes 204 may use a series of blister packs to direct the sample towards the reservoirs 206. For example, the blister packs may be popped in a sequence. For example, the user may pop the blister pack in the node 204i first, then the blister pack in the node in 2043, then the blister pack in the node 2042 and then the blister pack in the node 204_n.

[0035] In another example, the user may apply pressure to move the sample towards the reservoirs 206. For example, the user may apply pressure and "squeeze" the sample towards the reservoirs 206. The user may move the sample in towards the reservoirs 206 in a predetermined sequence.

[0036] In another example, capillary forces may move the sample through the system of microfluidics 200. The channels between the nodes 204 and the reservoirs 206 may have a shape, size, or geometry and surface energy to allow capillary force motion of the sample through the system of microfluidics 200.

[0037] In one implementation, the card 208 may include a machine readable code 208. The machine readable code 208 may be a bar code, a quick response (QR) code, and the like. The machine readable code 208 may be read by the endpoint device 1 10 using the camera 1 16. The machine readable code 208, when read by the endpoint device 1 10, may cause the endpoint device 1 10 to automatically establish a communication path to the AS 104 of the SPN 102.

[0038] As noted above, the website 1 14 may provide instructions to the user regarding how to move the sample through the card 108. For example, the website 1 14 may provide the sequence of blister packs to pop, how to squeeze the sample through the card 108, a number of times, or an amount of time, to shake the card to complete the reactions, and the like.

[0039] The reservoirs 206 may turn a particular color after reacting with the sample. The image of the card 108 may be captured by the endpoint device 1 10, as described above, and the color of the reservoirs 206 may be analyzed to identify a health assessment of a user. For example, different reactants may be used to identify different health assessments. Certain reactants may react with a sample from the user and change to a particular color after the reaction is completed between the reactant and the sample. The color may be compared to a chart with known colors associated with known health assessments to identify a health assessment of a user based on the color of the reservoirs 206.

[0040] In some implementations, a single card 108 may be used to perform a plurality of different health assessments. For example, each one of the reservoirs 206, or different subsets of the reservoirs 206, may be used for identifying different health assessments. For example, the reservoir 206i may be used to identify if the user has diabetes and the reservoirs 2Ο62 and 206₄ may be used to determine that the user has Munchausen syndrome. In another example, the reservoir 206i and 2Ο63 may be used to determine if the user has diabetes, the reservoir 2Ο62 and 206₄ may be used to predict whether the user will get diabetes and the reservoir 206_n may be used to provide information on how to prevent getting diabetes.

[0041] In one example, the machine readable code 208 may provide instructions to the AS 104 regarding what type of health assessment is to be performed. For example, the machine readable code 208 may instruct the AS 104 whether the image of the card 108 is provide a health assessment to detect a disease, to predict getting a disease, to provide information on how to prevent getting a disease, and the like.

[0042] In one example, the card 108 may include a color calibration chart. For example, the color calibration chart may help calibrate the color of the endpoint device 1 10 to ensure that the colors of the image of the card 108 are accurate. As noted, above the health assessment is identified based on a comparison of the image of the card 108 to known images. Thus, if the color of the camera 1 16 of the endpoint device is calibrated improperly, the AS 104 may not be able to find a match and perform an accurate analysis.

[0043] In one implementation, the card 108 may be sold as a plurality of cards 108. For example, some health assessments may use multiple cards 108 for the AS 104 to perform the analysis. In another example, the plurality of cards 108 may be used to perform a series of analysis. For example, a three pack of the cards 108 may be sold where a first card detects whether the user has a disease, a second card predicts whether the user will get the disease if the first card is negative and a third card provides information on how to prevent getting the disease.

[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method 300 for identifying a health assessment based on an image of a card. In one example, the method 300 may be performed by the server 102 of the health service provider or an apparatus 400 described below and illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0045] At block 302, the method 300 begins. At block 304, the method 300 receives an image of a card from an endpoint device, wherein the card contains a sample that was reacted with different reactants within a system of

microfluidics within the card. For example, a sample may be inserted into the card and reacted with different reagents, as described above. After the reactions of the reagents with the sample are completed the image of the card can be captured by the endpoint device.

[0046] The image of the card may be transmitted over a wired or wireless network to a service provider network. An application server in the service provider network may receive the image of the card and perform the analysis on the card.

[0047] At block 306, the method 300 compares the image of the card to known images that identify a plurality of different health assessments. For example, different health assessments may have an associated image. For example, diabetes may have certain colors in the reservoirs of a card to use detect a disease, certain colors may be present in the reservoirs of the card to predict heart disease within five to ten years, and the like. The image of the card received from the endpoint device may be compared to the known images.

[0048] At block 308, the method 300 identifies a health assessment associated with the image of the card based on the comparing. In one example, the application server of the service provider network may look for a match between the image of the card and the known images. When a match is found, the health assessment may be identified based on the health assessment that is associated with the known image.

[0049] At block 310, the method 300 transmits the health assessment to the endpoint device. In one example, the health assessment may be sent directly to the endpoint device (e.g., via an email, a text message, and the like).

[0050] In another implementation, the health assessment may be transmitted indirectly to the endpoint device via a website. For example, the service provider network may provide a website where the user may download the image of the card, receive instruction on how to use the card, download health assessments, and the like. The health assessment may be posted on the website and the user may view or download the health assessment via the website on his or her endpoint device.

[0051] In one implementation, the health assessments of the user may be tracked over time. The service provider network may generate a health profile of the user with the health assessments. The health profile may be used to provide trends related to the health of the user (e.g., whether exercise is increasing the amount of time that the card predicts the user will get a disease). At block 312, the method 300 ends.

[0052] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an apparatus 400. In one example, the apparatus 400 may be the mobile endpoint device 102. In one example, the apparatus 400 may include a processor 402 and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 404. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium 404 may include instructions 406, 408, 410 and 412 that when executed by the processor 402, cause the processor 402 to perform various functions.

[0053] In one example, the instructions 406 may include instructions to receive an image of a card from an endpoint device, wherein the card contains a sample that was reacted with different reactants within a system of microfluidics within the card. The instructions 408 may include instructions to compare the image of the card to known images that identify a plurality of different health assessments. The instructions 410 may include instructions to identify a health assessment associated with the image of the card based on the comparing. The instructions 412 may include instructions to display the health assessment on a web browser of the endpoint device.

[0054] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

an input port for receiving a sample;

a plurality of reservoirs, each one of the plurality of reservoirs containing a different reagent that interacts with the sample;

a plurality of valves to direct the sample towards the plurality of reservoirs to interact with the different reagent of the each one of the plurality of reservoirs, wherein the plurality of reservoirs are analyzed to provide a health assessment;

a housing enclosing the plurality of reservoirs and the plurality of valves; and

an accessory removably coupled to the housing to collect the sample and provide the sample into the input port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

a machine readable code that causes a browser on the machine to connect to a website of a service provider.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the different reagents of the each one of the plurality of reservoirs is a function of a type of health assessment that is performed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the type of health assessment comprises detection of a disease, prediction of getting the disease, or prevention of getting the disease.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing has dimensions comprising a width of less than five inches, a height of less than three inches and a thickness of less than 0.25 inches.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: a removable cover coupled to the input port.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the accessory collects the sample and is sized to insert the sample into the input port.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, an image of a card from an endpoint device, wherein the card contains a sample that was reacted with different reactants within a system of microfluidics within the card;

comparing, by the processor, the image of the card to known images that identify a plurality of different health assessments;

identifying, by the processor, a health assessment associated with the image of the card based on the comparing; and

transmitting, by the processor, the health assessment to the endpoint device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sample comprises a bodily fluid.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the type of health assessment comprises detection of a disease, prediction of getting the disease, or prevention of getting the disease.

1 1 . The method of claim 8, comprising:

tracking, by the processor, a plurality of health assessments over time of a user to generate a health profile of the user.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving comprises:

establishing, by the processor, a communication path to the endpoint device via a request from the endpoint device initiated by scanning a machine readable code on the card.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor of a computer, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:

instructions to receive an image of a card from an endpoint device, wherein the card contains a sample that was reacted with different reactants within a system of microfluidics within the card;

instructions to compare the image of the card to known images that identify a plurality of different health assessments;

instructions to identify a health assessment associated with the image of the card based on the comparing; and

instructions to display the health assessment on a web browser of the endpoint device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, comprising:

instructions to track a plurality of health assessments over time of a user to generate a health profile of the user.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions to receive comprises:

instructions to establish a communication path to the endpoint device via a request from the endpoint device initiated by scanning a machine readable code on the card.