Lateral Flow Assay Housing Markers for Image Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lateral flow assays are prone to inconsistencies in test result interpretation due to variations in lighting conditions, camera distance, angle, and equipment quality, leading to inconsistent image appearance of test lines and control lines.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating markers, a color bar, and a grayscale strip on the lateral flow assay device housing to assist in focusing and correcting the perspective and intensity of images taken by mobile devices, using these markers to locate and adjust the images of test lines and control lines, and processing images to determine test results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If images are taken by mobile devices under varying lighting conditions and at different distances/angles, then the device complexity remains low and ease of operation is maintained, but the measurement precision and reliability of test result interpretation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating markers, color bars, and grayscale strips into the housing structure before the actual testing and imaging process. These reference elements are pre-positioned to provide consistent reference points for image capture, enabling the mobile device to automatically correct for variations in lighting, distance, and angle during image processing, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses markers, color bars, and grayscale strips as intermediary reference elements that mediate between the variable imaging conditions and the test result interpretation. These intermediaries provide stable reference points that allow the imaging system to compensate for environmental variations, enabling consistent measurement despite changes in lighting, camera position, or angle.
2Measurement precision
If reference elements (markers, color bar, grayscale strip) are added to the housing, then measurement precision and image quality improve, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple reference elements (markers, color bar, grayscale strip) into a single integrated housing structure. By combining these elements during manufacturing, the patent reduces the number of separate assembly steps and simplifies the overall manufacturing process, thereby improving image consistency without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the test strip, and incorporates reference elements for image calibration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies manufacturing, as the same housing structure performs both mechanical and optical reference functions.
3Reliability
If image processing corrections are applied for perspective, color, and intensity, then test result reliability improves, but the processing time and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning reference elements (markers, color bar, grayscale strip) in the housing structure before image capture. These pre-positioned elements enable the processing system to quickly identify and correct for perspective, color, and intensity variations using established reference points, thereby improving test result reliability without requiring extensive real-time computational analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the reference elements as feedback mechanisms that provide information about imaging conditions (lighting, angle, distance). This feedback enables the processing system to make targeted corrections for perspective, color, and intensity variations, improving reliability while minimizing processing time by focusing corrections only on the identified parameters rather than analyzing the entire image.
Data Source
AI summary
A lateral flow assay device includes several markers, a color bar, and/or a grayscale on the housing of the lateral flow assay device. The markers are used to assist in focusing a mobile device's camera on the control line of the lateral flow assay device. The markers may be used to adjust the perspective of an image taken from the control line and the test line of the lateral flow assay device. The markers may be used to locate the images of the control line, the test line, the color bar, and/or the grayscale on the image. The image of the color bar and the grayscale may be used to adjust the colors and intensity of the image. The images of the test line and the control line may then be used to determine the test results of the lateral flow assay device.