Abstract:
An automatic analyzing method for test strips includes steps of: providing a test strip unit at least having a reacting region and an image calibration region; capturing an image of the test strip unit; analyzing the image so as to obtain a first image signal of an image calibration region and a second image signal of a reacting region; comparing the first image signal with a standard signal so as to obtain image signal calibration parameters; calibrating the second image signal by applying the image signal calibration parameters so as to obtain a third image signal; and comparing the third image signal with data in a database so as to obtain a corresponding parameter values. The present invention also provides an automatic analyzing method for test strips.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an analyzing system for test strips and an analyzing method thereof, and more particularly to an automatic analyzing system for test strips and an automatic analyzing method thereof. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A conventional test strip kit includes a standard color interpretation table and test strips with reacting regions. The standard color interpretation table is consisted of a plurality of standard colors and a plurality of parameter values corresponding to the standard colors. The reacting region of a test strip is composed of multiple reagent pads used to contact with a sample fluid, and color of the reacting regions will be correspondingly changed according to concentration of certain constituent of the fluid. 
         [0003]    When a user uses the conventional test strip, generally, the sample fluid contacts with the reagent pads of the reacting region. After the reaction is completed, the color of each reagent pad is compared with the standard colors of the color interpretation table, and corresponding parameter values can be determined. 
         [0004]    The above steps of reading a test strip rely on manual work, which is not only time-consuming but also has a large possibility of artificially misreading. A test strip scanning machine can also be used for color reading in an automatic way. However, a test strip is read by a light scanning process, in order to assure accuracy of scanning results, test strip scanners generally have large sizes and expensive components, hence, reducing their convenience and popularity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides an automatic analyzing method for test strips which includes steps of: providing a test strip unit at least having a reacting region and an image calibration region; capturing an image of the test strip unit; analyzing the image so as to obtain a first image signal of a comparing area image and a second image signal of a reacting area image; comparing the first image signal with a standard signal so as to obtain image signal calibration parameters; calibrating the second image signal by applying the image signal calibration parameters so as to obtain a third image signal; and comparing the third image signal with data in a database so as to obtain a corresponding parameter values. The present invention also provides an automatic analyzing method for test strips. 
         [0006]    The present invention also provides an automatic analyzing method for test strips which includes steps of: providing a test strip unit having a color-capturing calibration region and a reacting region; capturing an image of the test strip unit; analyzing the image so as to obtain a first image signal of color-capturing calibration region and a second image signal of a reacting region; comparing the first image signal with a standard signal so as to obtain image signal calibration parameters; calibrating the second image signal by applying the image signal calibration parameters so as to obtain a third image signal; and comparing the third image signal with data in a database so as to obtain a corresponding parameter values. 
         [0007]    The present invention also provides an automatic analyzing method for test strips which includes steps of: providing a test strip unit having sample color calibration region which is calibration region for the color of a sample fluid and a reacting region; capturing an image of the test strip unit; analyzing the image so as to obtain a first image signal of the sample color calibration region and a second image signal of the reacting region; comparing the first image signal with a background color signal so as to obtain image signal calibration parameters; calibrating the second image signal by applying the image signal calibration parameters so as to obtain a third image signal; and comparing the third image signal with data in a database so as to obtain corresponding parameter values. 
         [0008]    The present invention also provides an automatic analyzing system for test strips which includes a test strip unit, an image capturing unit, a signal processing unit and a storage unit. The test strip unit has a reacting region, an image calibration region and a plurality of marks for positioning and alignment. The image capturing unit is configured to capture an image of the test strip unit. The signal processing unit is configured to process image signals and is electronically connected to the image capturing unit. The storage unit is electronically connected to the signal processing unit. The image capturing unit captures the image of the test strip unit and analyzes an image of the image calibration region so as to generate calibration parameters, an image of the reacting region can be calibrated by the calibration parameters. 
         [0009]    A purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzing system for test strips. 
         [0010]    Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzing method for test strips. 
         [0011]    Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzing method for test strips which adopts positioning and alignment marks on the test strip to calibrate the image of the test strip, thereby improving accuracy of reading value of the test strip. 
         [0012]    Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzing method for test strips which adopts positioning and alignment marks on the test strip to calibrate the image of the test strip, thereby avoiding a misreading problem caused by an image with distortion and wrong positioning. 
         [0013]    Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a method which compares the image of an image-capturing calibration region of the test strip unit with the standard parameters, so as to obtain calibration parameters used as a basis for calibrating the reacting region. In such way, the influence of chromatic aberration generated by the image capturing unit and the color of the sample fluid itself can be reduced, and hence, eliminating the complexity of the system. 
         [0014]    The automatic analyzing system for test strip of the present invention has a low cost and a small size. The automatic analyzing system for test strips can be widely used in mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable personal computers or other electronic devices, which increases mobility and convenience. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a structural, schematic view of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a structural, schematic view of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. 
         [0026]    The present invention discloses an automatic analyzing system for test strips and an automatic analyzing method for test strips.  FIG. 1  is a structural, schematic view of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in steps of  FIG. 2 , an automatic analyzing system for test strip  100  includes a test strip unit  12 , an image capturing unit  14 , a signal processing unit  16  and a storage unit  18 . The test strip unit  12  has a reacting region  120 , an image calibration region  122  and a plurality of marks  124  for positioning and alignment. The signal processing unit  16  is electronically connected to the image capturing unit  14  and the storage unit  18 . The image calibration region  122  includes a color-capturing calibration region  1222  and a sample color calibration region  1224 . 
         [0027]    In the present embodiment, the test strip unit  12  is an allochroic test strip. In a detecting procedure, the reacting region  120  reacts with a sample fluid (not shown) and a color of the reacting region  120  changes. Generally, concentration of the sample fluid can affect the color of the reacting region  120  after the reacting region  120  contacts with the sample fluid. 
         [0028]    Furthermore, the test strip unit  12  is used to detect, color of the sample fluid itself can affect color presented in the reacting region  120 , for example, when the sample fluid is urine, the color presented in the reacting region  120  can be affected by the color of the urine itself. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sample color calibration area  1224  in the image calibration region  122  is configured to contact the sample fluid and shows the color of the sample fluid itself, which is used as a calibration data for reading the color of the reacting region  120 . Detail calibration method will be described in the following embodiment of automatic analyzing method for test strips. 
         [0029]    As mentioned above, the test strip unit  12  includes a color-capturing calibration region  1222  and a sample color calibration region  1224 . The color-capturing calibration region  1222  includes a plurality of colors at least including three primary colors red, green and blue. In the present embodiment, except three primary colors red, green and blue, the color-capturing calibration region  1222  of the image calibration region  122  can also include colors with the combinations of the three primary colors. Additionally, the color-capturing calibration region  1222  can be a standard color region standing for any concentration of certain constituent of the fluid. 
         [0030]    Furthermore, the image capturing unit  14  can be a photographic assembly or an image scanning assembly. 
         [0031]    In addition, the automatic analyzing system for test strips  100  further includes a display device  20  electronically connected to the signal processing unit  16 . The display device  20  is configured to output result processed by the signal processing unit  16 . 
         [0032]    The storage unit  18  is configured to store a standard color signal, a background color signal and a parameter list or an equation used to compare with an image of the image calibration region. The standard color signal is configured to determine color shifts of the capturing colors captured by the image capturing unit  14 . The background color signal is configured to judge the color of the sample fluid itself. The parameter list or the equation is configured to record corresponding relation between an image signal and a reading of the test strip. 
         [0033]    Moreover, the test strip unit  12  at least has three marks  124  disposed on a periphery area of the test strip unit  12 . The marks  124  are configured to assist the signal processing unit  16  to position and perform image keystone correction when the signal processing unit  16  processes the image signal. Detail usage of the marks  124  will be described in the following automatic analyzing method for test strips. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an automatic analyzing method for test strips according to an embodiment of the present invention has steps described below. 
         [0035]    Firstly, as shown in step S 1  of  FIG. 2 , the test strip unit  12  having a reacting region  120 , an image calibration region  122  and a plurality of marks  124  is provided, and the reacting region  120  reacts with the sample fluid. 
         [0036]    After that, as shown in step S 2 , the image capturing unit  14  captures an image  12 ′ of the entire test strip unit  12 . 
         [0037]    As shown in step S 3 , the image  12 ′ of the entire test strip unit  12  is transmitted to the signal processing unit  16 , mark images  124 ′ of the test strip unit image  12 ′ are analyzed. In the present embodiment, the mark images  124 ′ are disposed on corner positions of the test strip unit image  12 ′ and are capable of assisting signal processing unit  16  to determine positions of an image  120 ′ of a reacting region and an image  122 ′ of the image calibration region in the test strip unit image  12 ′. Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , when the image capturing unit  14  captures the image of the test strip unit  12 , if a angle θ is formed between a normal direction of the test strip unit  12  and the image capturing unit  14 , the image capturing unit  14  generally captures a distorted test strip image  32 ′, and mark images  324 ′ of the test strip image  32 ′ can assist the signal processing unit  16  to correct the above-mentioned distortion. Furthermore, the signal processing unit  16  can adjust the distorted test strip image  32 ′ to a test strip image  34 ′ without distortion according to the position relations between the mark images  324 ′. By the above-mentioned distortion adjusting steps, judging accuracy of positions of the reacting region image  120 ′ and the image  122 ′ of the image calibration region can be promoted. 
         [0038]    Then, as shown in step S 4  in  FIG. 2 , the signal processing unit  16  analyzes an image  1222 ′ of the color-capturing calibration region and an image  1224 ′ of the sample color calibration region in the image  122 ′ of the image calibration region to generate image signals of the color-capturing calibration region and the sample color calibration region. The image  120 ′ of the reacting region is analyzed to generate an image signal of the reacting region. In the present embodiment, the image signal of the color-capturing calibration region, the image signal of the sample color calibration area and the image signal of the reacting region are signals with red, green, blue pixels. 
         [0039]    As mentioned above, the color-capturing calibration region  1222  is consisted of a plurality of color regions with different colors. Therefore, as shown in step S 5  of  FIG. 2 , after obtaining image signal of each color region, the signal processing unit  16  compares the image signal of the color-capturing calibration region with the standard color signal stored in the storage unit  18 , so as to obtain capturing calibration parameters of each color region. As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the present embodiment, the color-capturing calibration region  1222  of the test strip unit  12  includes red area, blue area and green area. The signal of the image  1222 ′ captured by the image capturing unit  14  in color-capturing calibration region are respectively R′, G′ and B′. The image processing unit compares the image  1222 ′ of the color-capturing calibration region with the standard color signals R, G and B stored in the storage unit  18 , so as to respectively obtain a red capturing calibration parameter ΔR, a green capturing calibration parameter ΔG and a blue capturing calibration parameter ΔB. 
         [0040]    Next, as shown in step S 6  of  FIG. 2 , the capturing calibration parameters are applied to an image signal T′ of a sample color calibration region The image signal of the sample color calibration region is compared with the background color signal T stored in the storage unit  18 , so as to obtain an sample color calibration parameter ΔT. 
         [0041]    After that, as shown in step S 7  of  FIG. 2 , the capturing calibration parameters and the sample color calibration parameters are applied to the image  120 ′ to generate an image signal of the reacting region, so as to obtain a calibration image signal. The calibration image signal is compared with the parameter list stored in the storage unit or is calculated by the equation stored in the storage unit, so as to obtain parameter values. 
         [0042]    In summary, the present invention provides an automatic analyzing method for test strips which adopts the marks of the test strip unit to calibrate the image of the test strips, thereby improving accuracy of reading value of the test strips and avoiding a misreading problem caused by an image with distortion and wrong positioning. 
         [0043]    Furthermore, the present invention further provides a method which compares the image of the image-capturing calibration region of the test strip unit with the standard parameters, so as to obtain calibration parameters used as a basis for calibrating the reacting region. In such way, the influence of chromatic aberration generated by the image capturing unit and the color of the sample fluid itself can be reduced, so that availability of the automatic analyzing system can be promoted. 
         [0044]    The automatic analyzing system for test strips of the present invention has a low cost and a small size. The automatic analyzing system for test strips can be widely used in mobile phones, personal digital assistants, portable personal computers or other electronic devices, which increases mobility and convenience. 
         [0045]    While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.