Saliva Test Strip Imaging for Rapid Oral Health Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional health testing, particularly for oral health, is often delayed due to laboratory analysis, sample degradation, and the need for professional interpretation, making at-home testing with saliva samples inefficient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A saliva testing device with colorimetric and lateral flow test areas, coupled with a computing device and imaging sensor, allows users to self-administer tests, analyze reactions, and generate rapid results through a testing platform, which can be calibrated for accuracy and stored for trend analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional laboratory testing is used for oral health screening, then test accuracy and professional interpretation are improved, but testing time and accessibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential testing function from the conventional laboratory setting by implementing a portable testing device that can be used at home. The device includes integrated reagents, test areas, and imaging capabilities that allow complete oral health screening without requiring laboratory infrastructure, thereby reducing testing time while maintaining accuracy through calibrated imaging and analysis algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical laboratory processing system with an automated imaging and analysis system. Instead of manual laboratory analysis, the device uses imaging sensors to capture test results and electronic algorithms to interpret oral health parameters, enabling rapid digital analysis that eliminates laboratory bottlenecks while maintaining measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If at-home testing kits are used, then accessibility and convenience are improved, but testing speed and result reliability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated device: sample collection, reagent dispensing, imaging capture, and result analysis are combined in one portable unit. This integration eliminates the need for separate laboratory visits and mailing processes, enabling users to complete the entire testing workflow at home with rapid results through built-in automated analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables self-service testing by including all necessary components for independent operation: pre-loaded reagents, automated sample dispensing mechanisms, imaging sensors, and built-in analysis algorithms. Users can perform complete oral health screening alone without requiring professional interpretation or laboratory infrastructure, achieving both accessibility and rapid results.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple test areas are used to analyze different oral health parameters, then comprehensive screening capability is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the testing device into distinct functional modules: multiple test areas for different oral health parameters, dedicated reagent compartments, imaging sensors positioned for each test area, and separate analysis algorithms for each parameter type. This modular segmentation allows comprehensive multi-parameter screening while keeping each component simple and manageable, avoiding overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and timely oral health screening at home, providing quantitative indices and trend identifiers for oral health parameters without the need for laboratory analysis.
Implementation Method 1
colorimetric and lateral flow test areas which react due to attributes of a saliva sample
Implementation Method 2
colorimetric and lateral flow test areas which react due to attributes of a saliva sample
Data Source
AI summary
A method of testing a saliva sample includes: providing a testing device having a color palette and multiple test areas, using colorimetric analysis and lateral flow assay tests; collecting at least a prescribed volume of a saliva sample; dispensing, onto each of multiple test areas of a testing device, a respective portion of the collected saliva sample, the testing device thereby developing a respective discernible reaction at each test area; capturing, by a computing device, an image of testing device; analyzing, through a testing platform, the image by colorimetric and liquid flow assay analysis; and displaying results of the colorimetric analysis, the displayed results representing oral health parameters. The displayed results including quantitative indices and trend identifiers related to oral health parameters. A kit for use in conducting the above method includes the sample reactive device.