Patent Publication Number: US-11656220-B2

Title: Diagnostics systems and methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/599,368, filed May 18, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/385,146, filed Sep. 8, 2016, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Patient diagnostic services save lives, they reduce the time to treatment for the patient and provide valuable insight for targeted treatment. In many developed countries, modern medical facilities can provide patients with the most advanced diagnostic services allowing patients to be efficiently and effectively treated. In less developed countries or regions, high quality medical facilities and diagnostic services can be lacking, often due to economic and infrastructure considerations. In many less developed countries, the economy cannot afford the latest in medical technology and infrastructure, such as a robust power grid or highly trained clinicians, required to support the high demands of modern medical technology. Sadly, a large portion of the world&#39;s population resides in underserved or developed areas where the lack of efficient and effective diagnostic services critically impacts the population mortality and overall health. This lack of medical care can lead or contribute to knock-on effects, such as low economic and education development, which can further hamper the populace. 
     Less developed countries and areas lack significant diagnostic services that could shorten treatment and increase the living standard of the population. Many of the diseases and conditions the populations of less developed countries and areas face have largely been extinguished in developed countries, which means the treatment exists, may be plentiful, and may be, in some cases, relatively low cost for these diseases and conditions. The component that is lacking is the diagnostic services to diagnose members of the population effectively and efficiently so that they can receive prompt, timely treatment, which minimizes the impact of the disease or condition on the patient and the population. 
     Often, many less developed countries and areas also lack the educational development that is typically required to perform the necessary diagnostic services. This can lead to inconclusive or erroneous results from diagnostic services or to significant delays in diagnosis as the diagnostic services are required to be performed in another location that has the requisite infrastructure and/or knowledge to perform the diagnostic service. For patients, this can mean further delays in treatment, which can decrease their chances of survival, increase the spread of the disease, and/or lead to increased debilitation caused by the disease or condition. 
     One of the common diseases effecting less developed countries and areas is malaria, a disease caused by a mosquito-borne parasite, plasmodium. Malaria infects many people each year, disproportionately in less developed countries and areas than developed ones. Malaria, if identified at an early stage of the infection, can be easily treated with relatively low cost treatment plans, but without early diagnosis, the disease causes great harm to individual patients, it quickly spreads among a population, and later-stage treatment is often costly and less effective. The populations most effected by malaria are vulnerable and do not have good access to quality and timely diagnostic services. Further, the malaria disease is very treatable if timely detected or diagnosed, however, the diagnostic services needed are often not readily and/or easily available in the countries and areas in which malaria is endemic. 
     Many countries effected by malaria and many humanitarian aid groups have directed resources and technology to malaria control and reducing and managing the disease and others like it. These resources and technology attack malaria on two fronts, the control of mosquitoes and the treatment and diagnosis of the disease. The current gold standard diagnostic services used to diagnose malaria, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based tests, are expensive and require sophisticated laboratory analysis, and point-of-care blood films (light microscopy) and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) lack the necessary sensitivity and speed to provide the necessary information to optimally treat malaria. 
     A low-cost, accurate, point-of-care in vitro diagnostic service or device that can effectively and efficiently diagnose biologic fluid disease, conditions or ailments would greatly benefit many countries and areas, from those that are developed to those that are less developed. The efficient and effective diagnosis of disease, conditions, or ailments can have great impacts on individual patients and populations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an example diagnostic system. 
         FIGS.  2 A- 2 B  illustrate example cartridges. 
         FIGS.  3 A- 3 B  illustrate an example magneto-optical detection system. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an example disease and/or condition analysis method using the example magneto-optical detection system shown in  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B . 
         FIG.  5    is a block diagram of an example diagnostic system. 
         FIG.  6    is a block diagram another example cartridge. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an example patient sample analysis process. 
         FIG.  8    is yet another example cartridge and magneto-optical detection components. 
         FIG.  9    is yet a further example cartridge and magneto-optical detection components. 
         FIG.  10    illustrates a further example diagnostic system. 
         FIG.  11    is an example reader network. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various example point-of-care, in vitro diagnostic devices and methods for detecting and helping to diagnose infections, diseases and/or conditions, such as a parasitic infection, are described herein. The disclosed diagnostic devices include a cartridge and reader that interface to analyze a patient biologic sample, such as a blood sample, to provide a diagnosis, or patient biologic sample data regarding one or more diseases or conditions of the patient. A magneto-optical system, an electrophoresis system and/or further in vitro diagnostic and/or patient biologic sample analysis systems can be included in the reader and cartridge to diagnose and/or provide patient biologic sample data regarding a variety of diseases or conditions. The cartridge and reader provide an economic, efficient, and effective point-of-care diagnostic system. The biologic sample could be the patient&#39;s blood, saliva, urine, or other fluid, a liquid suspension of tissue, or a combination of fluids. Many of the examples discussed here explain the systems and methods of analyzing a patient blood sample, but it is understood that any biologic sample could be used. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an example reader  110  and cartridge  120  of a point-of-care blood diagnostic system  100 . A point-of-care blood diagnostic systems includes devices that are physically located at the site at which patients are tested and sometimes treated to provide quick results and highly effective treatment. Point-of-care devices can provide information and help in diagnosing patient infections while the patient is present with immediate referral or treatment determined and administered immediately. Unlike gold standard laboratory-based blood testing for infections, the disclosed point-of-care devices are highly sensitive, efficient, and effective in aiding early treatment of disease. 
     The reader  110  includes a housing  112 , a cartridge receptacle  114  and a display  116 . The cartridge  120 , which contains the patient sample and, optionally dilutants and/or reagents, is inserted into the cartridge receptacle  114  of the reader  110  to transfer the patient sample, treated or untreated, into the reader  110  to perform a diagnostic test or analysis. The cartridge  120  can include a pipette-like end  122  and a bulb  124  for siphoning a patient sample into the cartridge  120  in preparation for the diagnostic test. Alternatively, the cartridge  120  can include a capillary tube by which the patient sample can be obtained for analysis and/or testing. 
     The housing  112  of the reader  110  can be constructed of materials such as plastic or metal and is preferably sealed with a smooth surface, which allows the reader  110  to be easily cleaned and/or disinfected and resist external water and or dust. Further, the housing  112  is sufficiently strong to allow the safe transport and use of the reader  110  without substantial damage to the reader  110  and the diagnostic systems within. Additionally, the housing  112  can have properties, which shields or minimizes the exposure of the interior of the reader  110  to temperature and/or humidity variations and/or light intrusion. The robustness of the reader  110  allows it to be used in a variety of locations and environments without adversely affecting the results of the diagnostic system. 
     The housing  112  of the reader  110  can also include vibration isolation to prevent vibration of the reader  110  during the measurement process to assist with preventing analysis error of the patient sample. Vibration isolation can include suspending and/or isolating the components and/or systems of the reader  110  within the housing  112  or containing the components and/or systems within an internal housing that is suspended and/or isolated from the external housing  112 . Alternative vibration isolation can include anti-vibration feet or mounts on which the reader  110  can sit on a surface. Additional vibration isolation can include placing the reader  110  on a cushioned and/or anti-vibration mat to reduce or limit the vibration and/or disturbance of the reader  110  by its external environment. 
     The cartridge receptacle  114  can be conformably shaped to receive the cartridge  120 . The cartridge  120  can be received partially or completely into the cartridge receptacle  114  or the reader  110 . Alternatively, the cartridge  120  can be otherwise connected, such as by an external receptacle or conduit, to the reader  110  to transfer the patient sample, or portion thereof, into the reader  110 . Such an external receptacle or conduit can be electrically coupled to the electronics housed in the reader  110  by a wireless or hard-wire connection of any suitable configuration. 
       FIGS.  2 A- 2 B  illustrate example cartridges  200   a  and  200   b . Each of the example cartridges  200   a ,  200   b  include a housing  202   a ,  202   b  an upper portion  210   a ,  210   b  and a lower portion  230   a ,  230   b . The cartridges  200   a ,  200   b  can include a sample chamber, such as  240  of  FIG.  2   a   , that is internal to the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  and can store a patient sample, such as a blood sample, within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . The cartridges  200   a ,  200   b  transport or store a patient sample for analysis, or reading, by a reader. Further, the cartridges  200   a ,  200   b  can interface with the reader to assist with or facilitate the reading or analysis of the patient sample stored within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . That is, the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can include features, such as an optical window  220  and an electrophoresis element  250  of cartridge  200   b  of  FIG.  2 B  to assist with the analysis of the patient sample within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . The cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can also transfer all or a portion of the patient sample to the reader for analysis of the patient sample. The patient sample, or portion thereof, from the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can be transferred to a blood sample chamber of the reader or to another location of the reader, or external from the reader, for analysis of the patient blood sample. 
     The cartridges  200   a ,  200   b  can be disease, condition and/or ailment specific or multiple disease, condition and/or ailment specific. The cartridges  200   a ,  200   b  can include various features, external and/or internal, that customize a particular cartridge for the analysis of a specific, singular or multiple, disease, condition and/or ailment. The cartridge specificity can include the patient sample size volume of the cartridge, various dilutants and/or reagents in the cartridge, the interface of the cartridge with the reader and other design and/or construction specification of the cartridge in relation to one or more particular diseases, conditions and/or ailments. 
     The housing  202   a ,  202   b  of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can include structural, material and/or geometric features that assist or facilitate the analysis and/or acquisition of the patient sample. Such features can include internal chambers, such as the sample chamber  240  of  FIG.  2 A , to store the patient sample or other fluids or compounds, that are sized to ensure adequate sample size for the analysis of the collected patient blood sample, interfaces that interact with, engage, or facilitate the systems of the reader during analysis of the patient sample. Other features can include environmental controls that maintain the collected patient sample in a suitable condition for analysis, and other features and/or considerations. For example, an internal chamber of the reader could manually or automatically interface with the inserted cartridge via a port to cause dilutants and other chemical treatments to mix with the patient sample in the cartridge. Such a port would be a passage, like a tube, that connects the sample chamber of the cartridge with the port so fluids can be added to the cartridge. The additional of such external fluids can be triggered manually when a user actuates a switch or other actuator, which the user may do in response to a user prompt to do so. The cartridge housing  202   a ,  202   b  can be formed of a suitable material such as a plastic, composite and/or metal to create a robust, disposable cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . Additionally, the housing  202   a ,  202   b  material can be selected for the ability to be sterilized, such as sterilizing the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  prior to use, for reuse or for killing pathogens prior to disposal. 
     Environmental considerations can also be used in the determination of a suitable cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  housing  202   a ,  202   b  material(s). Such environmental considerations can include the biodegradability of the housing material, the recyclability of the housing material, the incineration by-products of the housing material and other environmental considerations. These environmental considerations can reduce the environmental impact of the disposal, recycling and/or reuse of the cartridges  200   a ,  200   b  after use. 
     The housing  202   a ,  202   b  of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can include a patient identification marker or an area to apply or mark patient identification onto the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . This marker could be in machine readable or human readable form or both. The patient identification allows the correlation of the analysis of the collected patient sample with a particular patient. Additionally, the reader can detect the patient identification marker to correlate the analysis with a patient, including automatically appending the analysis results to a patient&#39;s medical records. In an example embodiment, the patient identification can be obfuscated to remove patient personal information, such as a name, from the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b , instead the patient can be assigned a random number, or sequence of characters, that is correlated to the particular patient in the reader, a computer or other system. 
     Patient diagnostic and demographic information can also be used for analysis to determine outbreaks, trends or emergence of diseases, conditions, or ailments. This analysis can be used to prevent or minimize the spread of the disease and/or targeted treatment of the condition. For preventable conditions, such as a mosquito-borne disease like malaria, geographical correlation of the prevalence of the condition can be used to perform preventative measures to mitigate and minimize the condition and spread thereof. 
     The upper portion  210   a ,  210   b  of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can include an identification marker, such as a color, pattern, name, or other distinguishing feature. The identification marker can be used to indicate the use of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  for the analysis of a specific disease or diseases, condition(s) and/or ailment(s). This can provide a clear, visual indication to a user that the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  is to be used with specific analysis or analyses. 
     Additionally, the upper portion  210   a ,  210   b  can be a portion of a sample collection element, such as a suction bulb, actuation element, or capillary tube to assist or facilitate the collection of the patient sample into the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . As a suction bulb, the upper portion can be formed of a resilient or flexible material capable of deforming in volume to assist in the uptake of a patient sample within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . As an actuation element, the application of pressure or other input by a user, other or device to the upper portion  210   a ,  210   b  of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can actuate the passive or active acquisition of a patient sample into the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  in preparation for analysis, such as extending and/or retracting a needle or capillary tube. A capillary tube is one means of passively collecting the sample with no user or machine pressure required. 
     Further, the upper portion  210   a ,  210   b  can contain a dilutant, reagent or other fluid or substance that is stored internally in a chamber and that can be released into and/or mixed with the patient sample within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . Application of pressure to the upper portion  210   a ,  210   b  of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can introduce the contained substance or fluid into the patient sample within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  which mixes the patient sample with the contained substance or fluid. Example dilutant ratios can include from 1:1 to 1:100. The contained substance or fluid can assist with the analysis of the patient sample, preparation of the patient sample for analysis, preservation of the sample for analysis or other desirable or necessary patient sample modification for efficient and effective analysis of the patient sample. 
     Additionally, the upper portion  210   a ,  210   b  of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can be contoured and/or shaped to provide a comfortable, ergonomic, and/or easy grip for a user to handle the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  during insertion and/or extraction into/from the reader or diagnostic device. Alternatively, the surface texture of the upper portion  210   a ,  210   b  can be such that it provides similar gripability for a user during handling of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b.    
     The optical window  220  can be included on the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b , which allows light to pass into and/or through a portion of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  such as a sample chamber containing the patient sample, such as  240  of  FIG.  2 A . The ability to pass light into and/or through the sample volume within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can be a necessary step during analysis of the patient sample within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . The optical window  220  can be a material and/or construction that necessarily or desirably alters light entering the optical window  220  as a part of the analysis of the patient sample within, such as collimating, filtering, and/or polarizing the light that passes through the optical window  220 . Alternatively, the optical window  220  can be transparent or translucent, or can be an opening within the housing  202   a ,  202   b  of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . The cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  can include a reflector opposite the optical window  220 ,  220   b  that reflects the incoming light back through the optical window  220   a ,  220   b  or through another optical window, or can include a further optical window opposite the light entry window to allow light to pass through the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b.    
     An electrophoresis element, such as  250  of cartridge  200   b  of  FIG.  2 B , can assist with performing an electrophoresis analysis of a patient sample within the cartridge  250 . The electrophoresis element  250  can include electrodes to establish an electrical gradient across the element to perform the electrophoresis analysis. 
     The lower portion  230   a ,  230   b  can house or be a portion of the sample collection system. In the examples shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the lower portion  230   a ,  230   b  can include a channel or tube through which the patient sample can be transferred into the interior of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . The lower portion  230   a ,  230   b  can also house a portion of the sample collection system, such as an extendable needle like a lancet or a capillary tube through which the patient sample can be transferred to the interior of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b.    
     The lower portion  230   a ,  230   b  can also include elements and/or systems to assist with the analyzation and/or storage of the patient sample. This can include an interface and/or mechanism to release at least a portion of the patient sample from within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  into the reader and/or a barrier or seal that restrains and/or preserves the patient sample within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b.    
     The lower portion  230   a ,  230   b  can further include an indicator that is visible once the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  has been previously used. This can prevent cross-contamination of patient specimens and/or prevent the reuse of a single-use cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  which could alter or otherwise compromise the results of the patient sample analysis. The indication can be structural in nature, with an alteration, such as a removal or break in a portion of the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  housing  202   a ,  202   b  of the lower portion  230   a ,  230   b  that is a visible once the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b  has been used or has acquired a patient sample. Additionally, the lower portion  230   a ,  230   b  can deform after acquisition of a patient sample within the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b , which prevents further collection of a patient sample(s) using the cartridge  200   a ,  200   b . The indication could be electrical. 
       FIGS.  3 A- 3 B  illustrate an example magneto-optical detection (MOD) system  300 . The MOD system  300  includes a light source  310  that emits light  312 , a polarizer  320 , a patient sample  330 , a magnet  340  and a photodetector  350 . Some diseases and conditions result in the release of or changes in a magnetic, or paramagnetic, component of a patient&#39;s sample. An example patient sample can include blood which includes hemozoin, that contains iron—a magnetic compound, the amount and/or concentration of which can be used to determine the presence and/or intensity of a condition or disease, such as malaria. The transmission of light  312  through a patient sample  330  in a varying magnetic field can be used to detect the presence of and determine, absolute and/or relative, concentrations of magnetic and non-magnetic components within the patient sample  330 . 
       FIG.  3 A  illustrates the transmission of light  312 , from the light source  310 , through the patient sample  330  in a magnetic field in a first state, such as a low strength magnetic field. In this example, a magnetic component  332  of the patient sample  330  is randomly arranged allowing for a measurable transmittance of light  312  through the patient sample  330 . The transmitted light  312  is received by the photodetector  350  and characterized, such as by properties including frequency, intensity, distribution, wavelength and/or other light properties or characteristics. This first light value is a base value that can be used to measure the relative change in at least a property or characteristic of the light transmitted through the patient sample  330  with an alternate, varying or changeable magnetic field applied. 
       FIG.  3 B  illustrates the transmission of light  312 , from the same light source  310 , through the patient sample  330  in the presence of an applied magnetic field in a second state, such as a higher strength magnetic field than the first state. The strength of the magnetic field applied to the patient sample  330  can be increased from the first state to the higher strength second state by altering the proximity of a magnet  340 . The application of a higher strength magnetic field causes the ordered alignment or arrangement of the magnetic, or paramagnetic, components  332  of the patient sample  330 . This ordering or alignment effects the transmission of light  312  through the patient sample  330 , which is a second value that can be detected by the photodetector  350 . An effect can include the reduction or increase of light  312  transmitted through the patient sample  330 . The comparison and/or measurement of the first light value in a magnetic field in a first, lower, state, and the second light value in a magnetic field in a second, higher, state, can be used to determine the presence of a disease or condition and/or the intensity of the disease or condition, such as the level of infection. 
     An example disease detectable by an MOD system, such as that of  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B , can include malaria. Malaria can be caused by a variety of different plasmodium parasites which infect the hemoglobin containing red blood cells of a host. The plasmodium replicate within the red blood cells, eventually destroying the red blood cells. The plasmodium parasite(s) release hemozoin as a byproduct after having digested an infected patient&#39;s healthy hemoglobin. Hemozoin in a patient&#39;s blood is a biomarker of malaria. Hemozoin is a paramagnetic compound and is thus sensitive to magnetic fields. Hemozoin within a patient sample can be detected by an MOD system due to a differential light transmission characteristic(s) in different magnetic fields. The differential light transmission characteristic can be indicative of several infection characteristics, such as the presence of the parasite, the parasite infection levels, the parasite species, and other infection characteristics. 
     An MOD system, such as the example of  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B , can be integrated into a reader, such as the example shown in  FIG.  1   , or can be external to a reader. In the example in which the MOD system is external to a reader, the MOD system requires the ability to pass light through the patient sample, within a cartridge or reader, and detect properties and/or characteristics of the light transmitted through the patient sample in a varying/changeable magnetic field. Alternatively, the MOD system and components can be split between the reader and external to the reader, with a portion of the MOD system and/or components located internal to the reader and another portion of the MOD system and/or components located external to the reader. 
     Additionally, an example MOD system can include only the optical component. Light from a light source is transmitted through a patient sample and the transmitted light is received by a light detector that can determine and/or measure properties/characteristics of the transmitted light or can transmit information from which the properties/characteristics of the transmitted light can be determined or measured. In this example, the magnetic component of the MOD system is either absent from the system or is not used during analysis of a patient sample. Instead, the patient sample can be analyzed based on the light transmission differential and/or characteristics of the transmitted light. 
       FIG.  4    is an example analysis method  400  using an MOD system, such as the one shown in  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B . The analysis of a patient sample, which is patient blood in this example, is performed to determine a blood characteristic, which can include the presence of a disease or condition, quantification of a disease or condition, likelihood of the presence of a disease or condition, a characteristic that can be indicative of a disease or condition, a quantification of a characteristic that can be indicative of a disease or condition, and/or other blood characteristic that can be effected by the presence of a disease or condition of the patient. The example method of  FIG.  4    is performed using a reader and cartridge system, such as the example shown in  FIG.  1   , and the MOD system is included within the reader which can include additional systems and/or elements to analyze, quantify, identify and/or otherwise determine characteristics of a patient sample that can be indicative of the presence of a disease and/or condition of the patient. 
     An initial step  402  of the method  400  can include the collection of a patient sample for analysis, in this example, a blood sample. Alternative and/or further patient samples, such as saliva, tissue and/or other bodily fluids can be collected for analysis by one or more systems of the reader. 
     The collected blood sample  402  can then be prepared, if necessary or desired, for analysis. The preparation of the blood sample can include diluting the blood  404 , which can be done by mixing the collected blood sample with a dilutant, such as deionized water or other fluid that dilutes the blood sample. The dilutant can alter the viscosity of the blood sample, the opacity or translucence of the blood sample, or otherwise prepare the blood sample for analysis using the reader. Preferably, the dilutant does not impact the resulting analysis of the blood sample and/or assists with preparing the blood sample for analysis. This can include lysing the cells of the blood sample to release the various cellular components for analysis, such as detection and/or quantification, by the reader. Lysing agents can include fluids, such as water or various chemicals, and powders. 
     Cellular lysing can take time, so a requisite amount of time may be required  406  to ensure adequate cellular lysing has occurred within the blood sample in preparation for analysis. The lysing of the cells of the blood sample can occur naturally, as part of a cellular death or destruction cycle, or can be enhanced or performed using chemical and/or mechanical lysing techniques  408 . As previously discussed, adequate time can be waited  410 , such as 5 minutes for lysing in water and 15 seconds for mechanical lysing using sonication, to achieve adequate lysing of the cells of the blood sample in preparation for analysis of the sample using the reader. 
     The blood sample can then be filtered before being transferred into a measurement chamber  412  of the cartridge. Filtering the sample can remove one or more components of the sample, such as debris from cell lysing, clots or agglomerations of cells, and/or other components that could affect the analysis or are otherwise undesirable or unneeded in the sample to be analyzed. An alternative approach is to filter, so the hemozoin for example, are one of the components left. The filter can be an element having structural features, such as pore size, or chemical features that allow the filter to restrain, remove, attract, or otherwise filter a particular component from the patient sample. An example filter can have a pore size of 1-5 microns to filter a blood-type or other patient sample. The patient sample or blood can be passed passively, by Brownian motion, or actively, by a pressure differential, through or across a fixed filter to remove the particular component. Alternatively, the filter can move through, about or be placed in the patient or blood sample to filter a component(s) from the sample. 
     A further preparation of the patient blood sample can include cleaning and/or concentrating the patient sample prior to analysis. Cleaning and/or concentrating the patient sample can include removing unwanted components of the patient blood sample prior to analysis. The various unwanted components are typically dispersed throughout the patient&#39;s blood and can interfere with an accurate reading of the patient sample. For example, the unwanted components can add noise to the detected data signal, can move in and out of the light transmission path that is transmitted through the sample, or and/or can otherwise obstruct the analysis of the patient sample. 
     An example cleaning and/or concentrating the patient sample can include appropriately diluting the patient sample anywhere between 100:1 to 2:1 or any other desired amount. The diluted sample lowers the effective concentration of the compound(s) being studied. The sample is then lysed, such as by sonication. The lysed patient sample is then centrifuged to separate one or more desired components of the patient sample from the remaining portion of the patient sample. The remaining portion of the patient sample, the supernate of the centrifuged sample, can be disposed of so that the one or more desired components of the patient sample remain. During centrifuging, hemozoin forms small pellets while some other blood components remain in suspension to form the supernate. The concentrated portion, in this specific example the hemozoin, is then diluted to a desired end volume. The re-diluted hemozoin is sonicated to loosen the hemozoin from the walls of the centrifuge chamber where it tends to adhere during centrifugation. Analysis of the cleaned and/or concentrated sample can then be performed using one or more systems of the reader. 
     Another example of cleaning and/or concentrating the patient sample prior to analysis can include passing the lysed diluted patient sample over a magnetic surface, such as a column of ferrite balls in a magnetic field. The magnetized ferrite surface attracts the magnetic components of the patient sample, while the remainder of the sample passes through which concentrates the magnetic component(s) of the patient sample and separating, or cleaning, the magnetic component(s) from the remainder of the patient sample. The magnetic component(s) of the patient sample can then be washed from the ferrite surface after removing the magnetic field. The sample can then be diluted, which can also be performed by the washing of the magnetic components from the ferrite surface, to an appropriate and/or necessary volume for analysis. The ferrite surface can also be sonicated and/or vibrated to assist with removal and/or washing of the magnetic component of the patient sample from the ferrite surface. 
     In further embodiments, the measurement chamber can be a chamber within the reader, with the patient blood sample transferred to the measurement chamber of the reader from the cartridge. An interface of the reader and/or cartridge can transfer a portion of the patient or blood sample from the cartridge into the measurement chamber of the reader. The patient sample can be transferred from the cartridge to the reader using a pressure differential, such as negative pressure in the reader measurement chamber to draw the sample from the cartridge or positive pressure applied to the cartridge to push the patient sample from the cartridge into the reader measurement chamber. The sample can be transferred from the cartridge to the reader through the same opening as the patient sample was originally transferred into the cartridge or through another opening or conduit of the cartridge or the chamber of the cartridge within which the patient sample is contained. Alternatively, the reader can include a piercing element to pierce a portion of the cartridge to withdraw the patient sample, or a portion, from the cartridge. 
     Light is then transmitted or passed through the blood sample and measured in a varying magnetic field  414 , such as the system of  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B . The application of a varying magnetic field to the blood sample can cause magnetic, or paramagnetic, components of the patient, or blood, sample to align with the polarity of the applied magnetic field. The alignment of the magnetic, or paramagnetic, components of the blood sample affects the transmission of light through the blood sample. As such, a differential of light transmittance through the blood sample can be established by transmitting light through the blood sample with the application of a magnetic field in a first state, such as a lower strength and/or intensity of magnetic field or the absence of a magnetic field, and then applying the same light, same intensity and wavelength, through the blood sample while the magnetic field is applied in a second state, such as a higher strength and/or intensity of magnetic field or the application of a magnetic field. The differential of the transmitted light through the blood sample in the two states can indicate the presence and amount of a paramagnetic compound(s) within the blood sample. The applied magnetic field can be from one or more permanent magnets or electromagnet(s) that can be energized. Either the blood sample or the magnets can be moveable and in some examples, either is moveable or both are moveable. The magnetic field applied to the blood sample can be attuned to preferentially affect a specific magnetic, or paramagnetic, component(s) of the patient or blood sample. The application and/or variance of the magnetic field can also affect and/or impact other portions and/or components of the patient or blood sample. 
     The measured light transmission differential can be used to identify the presence of a sample, or blood, characteristic  416  as indicated by a magnetic or paramagnetic component of the analyzed blood sample. The blood characteristic can include the release and/or breakdown of hemoglobin, or components and/or products thereof, which can be indicative of a disorder or disease. 
     Based on the measured light transmission differential, a probability of an infection can be determined  418 . The probability of an infection or disease can be expressed as a numerical value and/or a subjective likelihood, such as a high or low probability, based on comparing the measured light transmission differential to a database of known correlated measured values and infection probabilities, an algorithm to correlate measured light transmission differential with infection probability, a statistical analysis of the measured light transmission differential to determine an infection probability, and/or repeated analysis of the sample to determine an infection probability based on the measured light transmission differential. Additional statistical techniques, algorithms and/or other analysis techniques can be applied using the measured light transmission differential to determine an infection probability based on the collected and analyzed blood sample. 
     In addition to calculating an infection probability, a level of infection can be determined based on the measured light transmission differential  420 . As with the calculation of the probability of infection, various statistical techniques, algorithms, and/or other analysis techniques can be applied to determine a level of infection. Additionally, a database, remote or local to the reader, can be used in the calculation of the level of infection. The database can contain algorithms, historical data, correlations of infection level to measured light transmission differentials, and/or other data that can be used to calculate the level of infection. Additionally, the sample can be analyzed multiple times to confirm or generate additional data to be used for the calculation of the level of infection and/or the probability of infection. 
     Once the analysis of the blood sample is complete, the results can be output  422 . The output of the results can include the identified blood characteristic(s), which can include a disease, condition and/or ailment, the calculated probability of infection, the calculated level of infection, the calculated level of the bio-marker being measured and/or other information relevant to and/or determined, calculated, and/or identified during the analysis of the blood sample. The output can be displayed or relayed to the user in a visual output, such as on a display, auditory, such as by a speaker, or other manner. This can include transmitting the output results to an external device, such as a computer, through a wired or wireless connection or communication protocol. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates an example reader  500  and a cartridge  550 . The reader  500  can include all or a portion of the required systems and/or elements required to perform analysis of a patient sample. The cartridge  550  can include none or a portion of the systems and/or elements required to perform analysis of the patient sample. The reader  500  and cartridge  550  interface to perform the analysis, such as the method  400  of  FIG.  4   , of a patient sample. 
     The reader  500  includes a housing  502  that surrounds and encloses some portion or all of the reader components.  FIG.  5    shows that the housing encloses all components of the reader  500 , however, one of skill in the art will appreciate that any one or more components can be external to the housing, as needed or desired. As previously discussed, the housing  502  of the reader  500  is constructed of suitable materials in a suitably robust construction such that the reader  500  is rugged and portable. Example materials that can be included in the housing  502  include plastics, metals, and composites. The housing  502  can be constructed of multiple or a singular material and can include geometry and/or structural features that enhance the usability of the reader  500 . Such features can include a smooth outer surface that is easily cleaned, grips or handles for carrying the reader  500 , shock protection and/or increased structural strength in locations to prevent damage to the internal components of the reader  500 , insulation to limit the transfer of heat through the housing  502  or shield magnetic fields sourced within the housing  502 , a membrane or construction to prevent the intrusion of moisture and/or dust into the interior of the reader  502 , connections, ports and/or interfaces for connecting the reader  500  to an external element and/or device using a physical or wireless connection, instructions regarding the use of the reader  500 , identification markings such as a serial number and/or additional necessary or desirable features that can facilitate the safe, effective, efficient and/or proper use of the reader  500 . The housing  502  can feature access points, such as removable or openable panels, to allow access to the interior of the reader  500  for maintenance and/or repair of the internal components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500 . Additionally, the housing  502  of the reader  500  can be removable or separable from the other components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500 , allowing the replacement of the housing  502 , easing the cleaning of the housing  502 , providing access to the components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500  and/or other abilities that require and/or made easier by the removal of the housing  502  of the reader  500 . 
     The portability of the reader  500  can be an important consideration in the design and packaging of the reader  500 , including the housing  502 . The reader  500  may need to be rugged and easily transported so that it can be moved to and used in a variety of embodiments. Considerations, such as operating environment and access to infrastructure, can be considered when designing and/or constructing the reader  500  such that the reader can be used safely, effectively, and efficiently in a variety of environments and/or locations reliably. Depending on the environment of and infrastructure available in a particular location in which the system is to be used, the housing can be customized to best operate in that location by the addition and/or modification of existing reader features. Alternatively, the reader  500  can be designed and/or packaged to be more permanently located, such as in a laboratory, clinic, or other setting. 
     The housing  502  of the reader  500  includes a cartridge interface  504  that interacts with and/or engages the cartridge  550  for analysis of a patient sample. The cartridge interface  504  can be a slot that is shaped to receive the cartridge  550 . The user inserts the cartridge  550  into the slot in preparation for analysis of the patient sample. The slot can include internal geometry that aligns and/or orients the inserted cartridge  550  in a proper alignment and/or orientation for the components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500  to perform the requisite or desired analysis of the patient sample contained within the cartridge  500 . For example, the cartridge interface  504  can accept a variety of cartridges  550  having different cross-sections, such as square, rectangular, and circular cross-sections. The unique shape of each cartridge  550 , the unique cross-section, can interact with the geometry of the cartridge interface  504  to properly align the cartridge  550  within the reader  500  for analysis. For example, the circular cross-section cartridge can insert into the cartridge interface  504  to a first position at a first orientation, the square cross-section cartridge can insert into the cartridge interface  504  to a second position at a second orientation. The various orientations and positions a specific cartridge  550  can be inserted into the cartridge interface  504  can be the same or different for multiple disease-specific cartridges  550 . 
     The reader  500  can also include a cartridge verification system  540 . The cartridge verification system  540  can be integrated with or separate from the cartridge interface  504  and/or included internal to or external from the reader  500 . The cartridge verification system  540  can verify the legitimacy of a cartridge to assist with efficient and effective analysis of a patient sample. An example verification system  540  can include a verification element  559  of the cartridge  550  that interacts with the cartridge verification system  540  to verify the cartridge prior to further processing of the patient sample. Once the cartridge is verified, further analysis of a patient sample contained within the cartridge can be allowed to proceed. The verification of the cartridge can be the threshold analysis of the in vitro diagnostics process of the patient sample, in some examples. This verification can include limiting the analysis to a specific single or multiple analyses based on the cartridge verification. 
     A positive engagement or lock in the reader  500  can engage the cartridge  550  when properly and fully inserted. This engagement can also provide a tactile, audible, and/or visual cue to the user to signify proper insertion or interfacing of the cartridge  550  and reader  500 . An example positive engagement or lock can include a notch and protrusion arrangement, the notch is sized to receive and releasably restrain the protrusion when engaged such that the notch of one element, the reader  500  or cartridge  550 , engages the protrusion on the opposite element, reader  500  or cartridge  550 , to releasably connect, interface with and/or engage the two elements, the reader  500  and cartridge  550 , together. When prompted, such as when the analysis is completed or an error situation, the user can remove the cartridge  550  from the reader  500 . 
     The cartridge interface  504  can also include an actuator or other element of the reader  500  that assists with the proper insertion and/or interfacing of the cartridge  550  and reader  500 . The actuator can engage the cartridge  550  before the cartridge is fully inserted, the actuator can then position the cartridge  550  in a proper alignment and/or orientation with the reader  500  for the reader  500  to analyze the patient sample within the cartridge  550 . When prompted, such as automatically by the reader  500  or manually by the user, the actuator can “eject” or disengage the cartridge  550  from the reader  500 . The disengagement can fully or partially remove the cartridge  550  from the reader  500 . Alternatively, the actuator can assist with the engagement or interfacing of the cartridge  550  with the reader  500  and not with the disengagement of the cartridge  550  and reader  500 . In this example, the user can be required to remove the cartridge  550  from the reader  500  when prompted. 
     The cartridge interface  504  can be shaped to engage one or more specific cartridges  550 , which prevents the insertion of an incorrect or improper cartridge  550  within the reader  500 . The cartridge interface  504  can also be reconfigurable, either manually by a user or automatically by the reader  500  to accommodate a specific cartridge design to perform one or more specific analyses of a patient sample. For example, a user can input a desired or required analysis to be performed on a patient sample, the reader  500  can then reconfigure or prompt the reconfiguration of the cartridge interface  504  to accept a specific cartridge  550  that corresponds to the requested analysis. 
     For example, the cartridge interface  504  can include multiple configurable elements, such as panels, that can be configured and/or arranged automatically in response to a received analysis to be performed, such as a user-selected infection or disease for which to analyze the patient sample. The now configured and/or arranged configurable elements of the cartridge interface  504  are in a specific geometry into which only a compatible cartridge can be inserted. The analysis to be performed can be an input by a user into the reader  500  or from a remote administrator or system. In a further example, a specific cartridge interface  504  can include removable and/or replaceable cartridge interfaces  504  that can be removed from and/or inserted in the reader  500 . Each cartridge interface can include geometry to accept a specific cartridge design(s). Additionally, the inserted cartridge interface  504  can be detected or otherwise communicated to the reader  500  and the reader  500  can limit available options, such as the analyses that can be performed, based on the inserted cartridge interface  504 . Each cartridge interface  504 , or cartridge interface  504  design or geometry, can correspond to a specific analysis or analyses. Further, the reader  500  can be limited to the specific analysis or analyses corresponding to the particular cartridge interface  504  and/or cartridge interface  504  geometry. 
     In a further example, the cartridge interface  504  can initially accept any inserted cartridge. Once a cartridge is inserted, the cartridge interface  504 , a sensor or other reader  500  system or element can detect the cartridge type and the corresponding analysis or analyses that can be performed based on the cartridge type. The cartridge interface  504  can manipulate the cartridge position and/or orientation, the reader  500  can properly position and/or orient analysis systems or elements relative to the cartridge, and/or the cartridge interface  504  and/or reader  500  systems or elements can be configured to perform the analysis or analyses corresponding to the cartridge type. 
     Also, a sample processing module  532  of the processing circuitry  530  of the reader  500 , or an external sample processing system and/or element, can alter the processing of the sample analysis data to correct, compensate or otherwise modify the collected sample analysis data based on the type of cartridge inserted within the reader  500 . Instead of or in addition to positioning and/or aligning the cartridge and/or reader  500  analysis systems relative to the reader, the processing of the collected sample analysis data can be manipulated and/or modified to compensate based on the type of cartridge inserted. Additional modifiers can include compensating for position/alignment errors caused by improper alignment/positioning of the cartridge relative to the analysis systems and/or elements. 
     Further, the cartridge interface  504  can include multiple orientation and/or alignment features that engage specific cartridge  550  features to properly align a specific, inserted cartridge with a specific analysis process. For example, a first cartridge for a first specific analysis is inserted into the cartridge interface  504  which guides, aligns, and/or orients the first cartridge properly in a first position for the first analysis to be performed, a second cartridge for a second specific analysis can be interested in the same cartridge interface  504 , which can properly guide, align, and/or orient the second cartridge in a second position for the second analysis to be performed. In this manner, the cartridge interface  504  ensures the proper positioning of a variety of specific cartridge designs within the reader  500  allowing a corresponding variety of specific analyses to be performed, each analysis corresponding to one or more specific cartridge designs. 
     The cartridge interface  504  can also include a number for position points corresponding to various steps of analysis. For example, an analysis can require that the cartridge  550  is inserted partially to a first position within the reader  500  to perform a first step of the analysis, the reader  500  can prompt the user to advance or move the cartridge  550  to a second position, such as further insertion of the cartridge  550  within the reader  500 , to perform a further step of the analysis. Each position can include a tactile, audible, or visual indication to a user manually inserting the cartridge  550  within the cartridge interface  504  to assist the user with properly position the cartridge  550  within the cartridge interface  504 . An actuator, such as described previously, can position the cartridge  550  at the various analysis require positions automatically, or can assist the user with the cartridge  550  positioning. 
     Insertion of the cartridge  550  into cartridge interface  504  of the reader  500  can automatically initiate or prompt a user to initiate analysis of the patient sample contained within the cartridge  550 . An actuator and/or sensor can be connected to the processing circuitry of the reader  500  and triggered by and/or sense the insertion of the cartridge  550  to automatically initiate or to prompt a user to initiate the analysis of the patient sample. Initiating analysis of the patient sample can include powering-up, preparing, and/or running the various analyses systems and/or devices, such as a light source and detector  506  or mechanical lysing  522 . In some examples, the user need only insert the cartridge  550  in the reader  500  to actuate or trigger the entire diagnostics process to an output. 
     The cartridge interface  504  and additional elements, such as guides or actuators can be integrated into the housing  502  of the reader  500  or can be separate components, elements and/or systems. Each of the additional elements can be further separable from each other allowing for replacement, substitution, repair and/or maintenance of the additional elements as necessary or required. 
     The reader  500  can include a single cartridge interface  504 , such as the example shown in  FIG.  1   , or can include multiple cartridge interfaces  504  in the same reader  500 . The multiple cartridge interfaces  504  can allow the reader  500  to analyze multiple patient samples simultaneously and/or in succession by allowing more than one cartridge  550  to be interfaced with the reader  500 . Additionally, each of the multiple cartridge interfaces  504  can accept the same and/or different cartridges to perform the same and/or different analyses. Further, in conjunction with a multi- or singular cartridge interface  504 , a guide, rack, carousel and/or system can hold multiple cartridges in preparation for analysis. The guide, rack, carousel and/or system can feed or guide, actively or passively, cartridges  550  to the reader  500  by the cartridge interface  504  allowing multiple patient samples and/or cartridges  550  to be analyzed with minimal interruption between the analyses. 
     The reader  500  shown in  FIG.  5    includes a light source and detector  506 . The light source and detector  506  can be part of an MOD, the optical portion, or other analysis and/or detection system within the reader  500 , to be used in performing analysis of patient samples. The light source emits light and the light detector receives light, signals, or outputs from the light detector. The detected light can be used to quantify and/or characterize the light received by the light detector. In example embodiments, the light source and detector can be arranged opposite one another, separated by a distance along a single axis. In this example, the light detector can receive light emitted from the light source across the distance, which can include an intervening object, such as a patient sample. In this example, the laser and detector are positioned on opposing sides across the patient sample contained in the cartridge and the cartridge has an optical window(s) that allow for complete transmission of the laser light through the patient sample. The laser light transmission path through the patient sample can be entirely through the fluid, below any free surface of the fluid if the sample chamber is not completely full of the patient sample. Alternatively, the light source and light detector can be arranged offset from one another allowing the light detector to quantify and/or characterize light reflected or refracted by an object, such as a patient sample. Further, multiple light sources and/or light detectors can be included in the reader  500 . 
     The positioning and structure of the cartridge  550  within the reader  500  can be such that the light source and light detector are positioned relative to the inserted cartridge  550  to ensure that the light transmission path between the light source and light detector passes entirely through the fluid patient sample within the cartridge  550  below any free surface of the patient sample that might exist in the cartridge. The light source can emit a consistent and steady light, which can be further standardized by collimating and/or polarizing the emitted light that is transmitted through the patient sample and received by the light detector. As light is transmitted through the patient sample, components within the patient sample can absorb, scatter, reflect or otherwise affect the incoming light. The light detector therefore registers an altered quantity and/or characteristic of the light transmitted through the patient sample than light transmitted directly from the light source to the light detector with no intervening patient sample. The altered quantity and/or characteristic of light transmitted through the patient sample can be included and/or used during analysis of the patient sample. Optionally, the emitted light from the light source can be divided, such as by a beam splitter. A first portion of the split beam can be passed through the sample to a first light detector and a second portion of the split beam can be directed to a second light detector with no intervening sample. The transmitted light differential can be measured based on the registered transmittance by the first and second light detectors. 
     The light source can be several different light emitting sources, such as an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent bulb, a light emitting diode (LED), a laser, the sun or other light source. In some example embodiments, the light source can emit a steady light having known characteristics or properties. Alternatively, the light source can emit varied light, such as light emitted by an incandescent bulb. The light source can be modulated to change the intensity and/or wavelength(s) of transmitted light. Such light can be standardized, entirely or in portion, using filters and/or lenses through which the emitted light is transmitted. For certain analyses, the variance in emitted light properties may not affect the analyses performed, which can be due to the short duration of the analysis and/or other features of the analysis. An example light source can emit light directly, or with the use of filters and/or lenses, emit light with a wavelength of approximately 650+ nanometers. 
     The light detector receives light emitted from the light source and then transmitted, refracted and/or reflected through/from the patient sample. The output from the light detector can be used to quantify and/or characterize the light received by the detector. Alternatively, the light detector can quantify and/or characterize the received light itself and output or transmit data or a signal indicative of the quantified/characterized received light. Example light detectors can include photodiodes, digital imaging elements such as a charge coupled device (CCD), a CMOS imager, a photovoltaic array, and/or other suitable sensors or detectors capable of registering a change in response to received light. 
     The light source and light detector  506  can be connected to processing circuitry  530  of the reader  500 . The processing circuitry  530  can trigger the emission and potentially control the characteristics of light from the light source and/or receive signals from the light detector based on the quantity and/or characteristics of light received by the light detector. 
     Reflective surface(s) can be positioned within the housing  502  and/or positioned relative to the patient sample such that the light emitted from the light source is transmitted multiple times through the patient sample before being received by the light detector. Each of the multiple transmission paths within the patient sample can occur below a free surface of the sample so the entirety of the multiple light transmission path through the sample occurs within the fluid sample. The geometry of the cartridge can assist to ensure that the laser transmission does not extend above any existing free surface of the patient sample. 
     The repeated transmission of light through the patient sample assists with the analysis of the patient sample. The repeated transmission of the light through the sample increases the transmission path of the light which can correspondingly increase the sensitivity, reliability and/or accuracy of the detected light transmission since the light is transmitted through a larger portion or volume of patient sample and has a higher probability of contacting an element or component within the sample that can result in a change in a property and/or characteristic in the light transmitted through the patient sample. 
     The reader  500  can include a magnet  508 . The magnet can be included as a portion or part of an MOD, such as the MOD example shown in  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B , or used in analysis of a patient sample. The magnet  508  can be movable within the reader  500 , allowing the magnet to be moved relative to the patient sample. This can subject the patient sample to the presence of a magnetic field and/or the presence of a varying magnetic field as the magnet  508  is moved relative to the patient sample. Alternatively, the patient sample can be moved relative to the magnet  508 . The magnet  508  can be a permanent magnet and can include a single magnet or multiple magnets. In an example, the magnet includes two permanent magnets, such as the MOD examples taught by U.S. Ser. No. 14/766,523, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. An example MOD includes two permanent magnets that are positioned on opposite sides of a patient sample, which can also be on opposites sides of a cartridge containing a patient sample. The magnet can also be an electromagnet(s) that can be energized as required or desired during analysis of the patient sample. Further, the strength and polarity of the electromagnet can be varied or set to a required or desired level and/or orientation. 
     The reader  500  can include an internal power source  510  that supplies the necessary power to run the components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500  to perform analysis of patient samples and/or preserve a minimal, required functionality of the reader. The power source  510  can supply power to the processing circuitry  530 , the light source and light detector  506 , the magnet  508  and/or other component, elements and/or systems of the reader  500 . The power source  510  can include one or more batteries or other energy storage devices that provide a required or desired level of power for the reader  500 . Additionally, the power source  510  or a portion thereof can be external to the reader  500  and connected thereto as needed or required. External power sources can include batteries or other energy storage devices and/or a connection to a nearby power source such as a generator, municipal power, or solar array. 
     The reader  500  can also include pathogen neutralization  512 . The pathogen neutralization  512  can include physical components, such as a device or system, and/or a chemical component. There are many different methods of pathogen neutralization and many different devices/systems capable of performing the methods. The goal of pathogen neutralization is to target specific undesirable biological material, such as diseases and parasites, for destruction/neutralization or to destroy biological material indiscriminately, such as by sterilization. Various systems, such as devices or chemicals that interrupt biological processes and/or cause the breakdown of biological materials can be to neutralize pathogens within a reader  500  and/or a cartridge  550 . 
     An ultraviolet (UV) light source is an example pathogen neutralization  512  device that could be used within the reader  500  is e. Exposure to UV light has a debilitating effect on biological material and exposure to intense UV light can cause biological destruction. A UV light source can be placed within the reader  500  and activated to bathe the interior of the reader in UV light, which neutralizes at least a portion of the biological material, including pathogens, within the reader  500 . Alternatively, the UV light can be continuously powered on when the reader  500  is in use. The UV light can also be targeted, with one or more UV light sources placed in specific areas of the reader  500  to perform the desired pathogen neutralization. Additionally, the UV light can be positioned to penetrate and/or bathe a cartridge  550  inserted within the reader  500  to neutralize the patient sample within the cartridge  550  after analysis has been performed. A timing device can be connected to the UV light source to ensure that the UV light source is activated for a necessary amount of time to perform the pathogen neutralization. A photo- or light detector can also be included, such as the light detector of the light source and light detector  506 , that can monitor the output of the UV light source to check the continued efficacy of the UV light source and/or monitor the output of the UV light source to ensure it is activated for a long enough duration to achieve a level of pathogen neutralization. The emitted UV light can affect materials, such as plastic, adversely causing them to become brittle. In some examples, shielding can be included within the housing  502  of the reader  500  to protect areas, components, elements and/or systems which could be damaged by UV light exposure. 
     A further pathogen neutralization  512  system can include the use of chemicals to neutralize biological material within the reader  500  and/or cartridge  550 . A chemical based pathogen neutralization  512  system can include the application of chemicals within the reader  500  on a temporary or permanent basis. That is, a chemical application can be applied within the reader  500  during manufacture, the applied chemical application can continuously destroy at least a portion of biological material that contacts a surface upon which the chemical was applied. A temporary chemical based pathogen neutralization  512  system can include a chemical dispersal system that deploys or applies chemicals within the reader  500  and/or cartridge  550  on actuation, the chemicals contact various surfaces, elements, components and/or systems of the reader  500 , destroying at least a portion of biological material thereon. 
     In an example embodiment, pathogen neutralizing chemicals, such as a bleach-based solution, can be sprayed, fogged, and/or distributed about the interior of the reader  500  to perform the pathogen neutralization. The pathogen neutralizing chemicals can be added to the reader  500  by a user, contained within a vessel that is housed, inserted within or fluidically connected to the reader  500 . The pathogen neutralizing chemicals, such as the bleach-based solution, can be prepared as needed or can be prepared and stored for later use. An indicator or timer can be included that can indicate to a user once the pathogen neutralization process is complete. The indicator or timer can also prevent the use of the reader  500  until the pathogen neutralization process is complete. As with the previously described pathogen neutralization systems, the chemical-based pathogen neutralization method can also neutralize at least a portion of biological material on and/or within a cartridge  550  inserted within the reader  500 . Additionally, the chemical-based pathogen neutralization chemicals can be pumped or transported through the various components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500 , to disinfect portions that can contact a patient sample, which helps to prevent cross-contamination of patient samples. 
     An example pathogen neutralization system to neutralize at least a portion of the pathogens of the cartridge  550  can include a portion that is included in the cartridge  550 . Pathogen neutralization material, such as powders, fluids and/or other components can be included in the reader  500  and/or cartridge  550  assist with neutralization of pathogens within the cartridge  550 . The pathogen neutralization material can be included in a portion of the cartridge  550  and dispersed into the collected sample and/or other portions of the cartridge  550  upon actuation, such as by a user, the reader  500 , the cartridge  550 , or another source. The pathogen neutralization material can also be integrated with a portion of the cartridge, such as included in the dilutant  556 . Alternatively, the pathogen neutralization material can be included in the reader  500  and the reader  500  can circulate, or otherwise insert, the pathogen neutralization material into the cartridge  550 . The pathogen neutralization material can be targeted to a specific pathogen or be a general wide spectrum pathogen neutralizer. 
     The reader  500  can include an output  514  that includes one or more visual  516  and/or audible  518  outputs although in other examples the output is data and does not include visual and/or audible outputs. The output  514  shown in  FIG.  5    communicates information regarding the status of the reader  500 , the results of analysis of a patient sample, instructions regarding use of the reader  500  and/or other information to a user or other computing device. The visual  516  output  514  can include a display, such as a screen, such as a touchscreen, lights, and/or other visual indicators. The touchscreen used to display information, such as analysis results, to the user can also be used by a user to input to the reader  500 . The audible  518  output  514  can include a speaker, buzzer, or other audible indicators. The output  514 , visual  516  and/or audible  518 , can be output through an external device, such as a computer, speaker, or mobile device connected physically and/or wirelessly to the reader  500 . The output  514  can output data, including the collected analysis data and/or interpretative data indicative of the presence or absence of an infection, disease and/or condition within the patient and/or the patient sample. An example can include the presence of hemozoin within the patient sample. The interpretive data output can be based on the analysis data collected and processed by the processing circuitry  530  of the reader  500 . 
     The reader  500  can also include temperature control  520 . The temperature control  520  can actively and/or passively control the temperature of at least a portion of the reader  500 . Active temperature control  520  can include heating and/or cooling a portion of the reader  500 . Temperature control  520  can also include heating one portion of the reader  500  and cooling another portion of the reader  500 . The temperature control  520  can include a refrigeration system, resistive heater, infrared heater, thermoelectric elements, radiator, and/or other temperature control devices and/or systems. One example is thermoelectric control of the temperature of the light source which in one example is a laser diode. Passive temperature control can include structures to contain a thermal material in portions of the reader  500 . This can include holders for ice, hot water, ice packs, and other thermal materials, the holders retain the thermal material in portions of or about components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500 . 
     The reader  500  can also include mechanical lysing  522 . Mechanical lysing  522  can assist with the lysing of cells of a patient blood sample within a cartridge  550  or the lysing of the patient blood sample within the reader  500 . Mechanical lysing  522  can include a physical disruptor, or portion thereof, an agitator, a sonicator that can apply sound energy to the patient sample, and/or other mechanical lysing device or system. The mechanical lysing  522  can interface with and/or engage the cartridge  550  to facilitate the lysing of the patient sample. The mechanical lysing  522  can be mechanically powered, such as by a wound spring, or electrically powered, such as by a reader  500  power source  510 . 
     The reader  500  can also include a filter  524 . The filter  524  can attract, extract, collect and/or otherwise remove unwanted components or particles in a patient sample of the cartridge  550  or concentrate the wanted components or particles. The filtering of the patient sample by the filter  524  can occur as the patient sample is transferred from the cartridge  550  into the reader  500  or the patient sample can be transferred from the cartridge  550 , through the filter  524  and back into the cartridge  550  for analysis. The filter  524  can include structural and chemical features that allow the filter  524  to remove desired or required components from the patient sample. The filter can be affixed in a stationary position to contact the patient sample or moveable through the patient sample to filter the patient sample. 
     Processing circuitry  530  can be included in the reader  500  to receive input from various components, elements and/or systems, such as the light source and light detector  506 , of the reader  500 . The processing circuitry  530  can process the received inputs to perform analysis of the patient sample and output results and/or data of that analysis. The processing circuitry  530  can include a sample processing module  532 , a network module  534 , a maintenance module  536  and a database  538 . The various elements,  532 ,  534 ,  536 ,  538  and others, of the processing circuitry  530  can be removable and/or replaceable, allowing replacement and addition of various elements to the processing circuitry  530 . In example embodiments, all or a portion of the processing circuitry  530  can be included in the reader  500  and a portion of processing circuitry included in the cartridge  550 . The processing circuitry  530  can also control the various components, elements and/or systems, such as pathogen neutralization  512 , mechanical lysing  522 , the light source, and others, of the reader  500 . 
     The processing circuitry  530  can initiate and/or control the analysis of a patient sample within a cartridge  550 . The processing circuitry  530  can include preset routines that can be executed by the reader  500  to analyze a patient sample. The preset routines can include prompts for user input and/or the processing circuitry  530  can prompt a user for input before, during and/or after analysis of a patient sample. User prompts can include acknowledgement and/or authorization to proceed through one or more portions of the analysis process. Alternatively, the processing circuity  530  can initiate, perform, and/or direct the analysis of the patient sample automatically without user prompts. The processing circuitry  530  can proceed through the various processes and procedures of an analysis of a patient sample, engaging any one or more of the reader  500  systems and collecting the analysis data. The processing circuitry  530  can further automatically process the collected data and transmit a result to a user or other, including an indication the analysis is complete, information regarding the analysis and/or other indications. The processing circuitry  530  can also transmit the collected data to an external system or device for processing and can transmit a result to the user and/or the result can be transmitted by one or more of an external system and/or device. 
     The sample processing module  532  can receive inputs from the light detector of the light source and light detector  506 . Based on the received light detector data, including varying magnetic fields, the sample processing module  532  can determine at least a characteristic of the patient sample, such as a disease or condition, a probability of a characteristic, such as an infection, of the patient sample and quantification of a characteristic, such as a parasite level, of the patient sample. The sample processing module  532  can output an indication of a characteristic, such as an infection, and/or other various data based on the analysis of the patient sample. The output from the sample processing module  532  can be output through the output  514  of the reader  500  or transmitted to an external device and/or system, such as a computer, mobile device, and remote server or database. 
     The sample processing module  532  can analyze the patient sample to determine a hemoglobin characteristic, such as a hemoglobin affecting disease and/or condition, based on the data from various components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500 . The results of the analysis can be output from the sample processing module  532  to the output  514  to convey the information to a user or other. 
     A network module  534  can be included in the processing circuitry  530 . The network module can allow the reader  500  to communicate with other readers, computing devices, servers, databases and/or other devices or systems. The network module  534  can communicate with another device through a physical, such as a local area network (LAN), Universal Serial Bus (USB), and/or wireless, such as Bluetooth®, connection. In an example, the reader  500  can communicate to a remote server through the network module  530  allowing the reader to upload patient sample analysis to the patient&#39;s medical records stored on the remote server. The network module  534  can transmit and/or receive communication to/from the reader  500  and another device or system. In another example, information on the patient can be downloaded to the reader and added to the display or output or used in the anlysis(es). For example, demographic information such as age, sex, etc. 
     A maintenance module  536  can be included in the processing circuitry  530 . The maintenance module  536  can perform, initiate and/or prompt maintenance, calibration, and/or other processes of the reader  500 . Maintenance of the reader  500  can include prompting a user to clean a portion of the reader  500 , to replenish resources of the reader  500  and other regular or unscheduled maintenance of the reader  500 . Calibration of the reader  500  can include testing components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500  to check if the reader  500  is in an effective operable state. Additionally, the calibration of the reader  500  can be performed by the maintenance module  536  and/or prompt a user to perform necessary calibration procedures to allow the reader  500  to perform patient sample analysis effectively and correctly. The maintenance module could also allow automated or semi-automated ordering of supplies or service. 
     A database  538  can be included in the processing circuitry  530 . The database can record patient sample analysis data, patient data, statistical data, test conditions, and other data. The network module  534  can communicate with the database  538  exporting and/or importing data. The database  538  can be stored on removable and/or permanent data storage within the reader  500 . The database can also occur in whole or in part remote from the reader. 
     Statistical data of the database  538  can be used during analysis of a patient sample by the sample processing module  532  to assist and/or perform the analysis of a patient sample. This can include tables with reference light transmission amounts and/or characteristics through various patient samples having determined infections, diseases and/or conditions and levels of these infections, diseases and/or conditions. Additionally, the database  538  can include statistical analysis techniques and/or algorithms that can be used by the sample processing module  532  to determine, calculate or otherwise analyze the patient sample. 
     The database  538  can also include specific information, such as prior patient analysis results. Such results can be used to determine if the detected condition is new and/or an existing condition. Additionally, the severity of the condition, such as an infection, can be tracked for a particular patient to assess their treatment progress. 
     The cartridge  550  can contain the patient sample for analysis. The cartridge  550  can be inserted in the cartridge interface  504  and the patient sample analyzed or transferred to the reader  500  for analysis by the components, elements and/or systems of the reader  500 . The cartridge  550  can include a blood collection device or system  552 , a filter  554 , a dilutant  556 , a temperature control device and/or system  558  and a verification element  559 . 
     Blood collection  552  of the cartridge  550  can include a device and/or system for collecting, storing, and/or analyzing a patient&#39;s blood sample, which can include a passive or active blood collection device or system, a blood sample storage chamber, a blood sample analysis chamber and/or other chambers, devices and/or systems to assist or facilitate the collection of a blood sample and analysis of the blood sample. 
     Active blood sample collection can include the use of a needle, capillary tube or pipette. In an example embodiment, the cartridge  550  can include a needle that can be actuated to deploy from the cartridge  550 , piercing a patient&#39;s skin and extracting a sample that is drawn into the cartridge  550  and stored for analysis. A further active blood sample collection  552  can be a pipette-like system. The user or other can apply pressure to a bulb or deformable portion of the cartridge  550 , the release of pressure on the bulb or deformable portion can draw at least a portion of a patient blood sample into the cartridge  550 . The patient can be lanced, poked or pierced to cause bleeding, the blood can be sampled to draw at least a portion of the blood into the cartridge  550  for analysis. 
     The blood collection  552  can include a lancet or a piercing instrument that can pierce skin to cause bleeding. The blood can be collected using the cartridge  550  to obtain the patient blood sample. Collection of the blood sample can include retraction of the lancet or piercing instrument, carrying a portion go the patient blood into the cartridge  550  for analysis. The blood collection  552  can also include a sealed chamber that is sealed and has negative pressure. A needle can pierce the patient and pierce the sealed chamber, the negative pressure of the sealed chamber causing blood to flow into the sealed chamber due to the pressure differential. 
     The blood collection  552  can also include a capillary tube that can passively collect a blood sample using capillary action. The patient is caused to bleed, such as by a lancet or other inducing technique, and the capillary tube is placed in the blood to draw a sample into the capillary tube of the cartridge  550  for analysis. 
     The cartridge  550  can include a filter to filter the patient sample within the cartridge  550 . The filter can be placed to filter the patient sample as it is drawn into the cartridge  550  through, before and/or after the blood collection  552 . In another example, the filter  552  can filter the sample after it has been stored in the cartridge  550 . As previously described, the filter can include structural and/or chemical features to filter a patient sample as necessary or desired. 
     Dilutant  556  to dilute, treat and/or prepare the patient sample for analysis can be included in the cartridge  550  to be mixed with the collected patient sample. The dilutant  556  can be stored in a dilutant chamber within the cartridge  550  and separate from the patient sample and mixed automatically or manually. The dilutant  556  can be pre-loaded in the same chamber, a mixing chamber or patient sample chamber, that the patient sample will be stored within the cartridge  550 . Alternatively, the dilutant  556  can be stored in the cartridge  550  remote from the patient sample storage and mixed with the patient sample. The dispensing of the dilutant  556  into the patient sample can be triggered manually by the user, or automatically, such as by the cartridge  550  or reader  500 . Alternatively, or additionally, the dilutant used to prepare the patient sample for analysis can be stored within the reader  500 . The reader  500  can add the dilutant to the patient sample within the cartridge  550  or can be added to a sample, or mixing, chamber of the reader  500  into which the patient sample, or portion thereof, from the cartridge  550  is transferred. As with the cartridge  550 , the sample, or mixing chamber, of the reader  500  can also be preloaded with the dilutant. 
     The cartridge  550  can also include temperature control  558 , which can include active and/or passive temperature control systems and/or methods. Passive temperature control  558  can include insulation, structural design features and/or chemical design features. The passive temperature control  558  can maintain the temperature of the cartridge  550  to preserve a collected patient sample. Active temperature control  558  can include electronic elements, such as thermoelectric elements that can heat or cool at least a portion of the cartridge  550 , for example to regulate the temperature of the cartridge  550  or a portion thereof. Temperature control  558  can include heating and/or cooling the temperature of the cartridge before, during and/or after the collection of a patient sample and/or the analysis of the sample. The temperature control  558  interfaces with the reader  500  and/or an external device to regulate the temperature of the cartridge  550 . 
       FIG.  6    is a further example cartridge  600 , which can include a blood sample collector  610 , a blood sample chamber  620 , a dilutant chamber  630 , a mixing chamber  640  and/or a physical disruptor  650 . The various components of the cartridge  600  can be arranged in various configurations depending on the analysis to be performed and/or other environmental and/or use considerations. In the example shown in  FIG.  6   , the cartridges  600  components can be interchangeable allowing a complete cartridge  600  to be assembled from various components. 
     The blood sample collector  610  of the cartridge  600  can collect a blood sample from a patient. The collector  610  can include devices, components and/or systems to assist or perform the collection of the blood sample from a patient. The blood sample collector  610  can include a capillary tube  612  and/or a lancet  614 . The capillary tube  612  can use capillary action to draw a blood sample into the cartridge  600 . The lancet  614  can be used to pierce, puncture and/or cut a patient&#39;s tissue to cause bleeding, from which a blood sample can be taken. 
     The collected blood sample  622  can be collected in a blood sample chamber  620  of the cartridge  600 . The blood sample chamber  620  can include a filter  624  to filter the blood sample  622 . The filter  624  can be positioned within the blood sample chamber  620  of the cartridge  600  such that the blood sample chamber  620  is divided into a first and second portion, which are separated by the filter  624 . The blood sample chamber  620  can include structural and/or chemical features to assist with the storage of the blood sample  622  and/or the analysis of the blood sample  622 . Additionally, the blood sample chamber  620  can be located within the cartridge  600  to assist with and/or facilitate the analysis of the blood sample  622  using a reader. 
     A dilutant chamber  630  storing dilutant  632  can be included with the cartridge  600 . The dilutant  632  within the dilutant chamber  630  can be mixed with the blood sample  622  in the blood sample chamber  620  and/or the cartridge  600  can include a mixing chamber  640  into which the dilutant  632  and blood sample  622 , or portion(s) thereof, can be mixed before, during and/or after analysis of the blood sample  622 . The dilutant  632  can include a fluid, or substance, to dilute the blood sample  622 , a reagent, a chemical, a lysing agent, an anti-pathogen agent, an anti-foaming agent, and/or other fluid(s) that can be assist and/or facilitate the analysis of the blood sample  622 . For example, foaming of the patient sample may compromise the quality of the analyzed data because the bubbles in a foamed patient sample affect the transmission of the light through the sample. 
     The cartridge  600  can include a physical disruptor  650  that can assist with the lyses of cells of the blood sample  622  in preparation for analysis. The physical disruptor  650  can include a mechanical, optical, and/or electrical system/device or portion thereof. In an example, a portion of a physical disrupter system or device can be included with the cartridge  600  and the other portion included on the reader and/or another external device. An example physical disruptor  650  can include a sonication horn that can direct sonic energy through the blood sample  622  to assist with lysing of the cells of the blood sample  622 . The blood sample can undergo physical disruption in other ways as well, including employing maceration techniques and exposing the blood sample to distilled water or chemicals or any combination of desired disruption techniques. 
     The lysing can occur before or after dilution and/or other preparation of the blood sample  622 . For example, the cartridge might include elements to transmit the maximum ultrasonic energy to the sample trough rods, cones or other shapes in contact with the blood sample. 
     The various chambers of the cartridge  600  can be interconnected and/or in fluid communication, allowing and/or facilitating the movement and/or transfer of fluid, with one or more of the chambers of the cartridge  600  and/or a connection to an external fluid source. The fluid communication between chambers can allow the blood sample  622 , the dilutant  632  and/or other fluids to flow or be transferred from chamber to chamber(s) and can include passageways like flexible, rigid, and semi-rigid pipes and tubes. Flow control elements, such as valves, can be positioned along one or more of these passageways to regulate the fluid communication between chambers. The flow control elements can be manually actuated, such as by a reader or user applying pressure to the cartridge  600  or actuating the flow control element, or electrically actuated, such as by a signal from the reader or a user initiated signal or trigger. 
       FIG.  7    is an example patient sample analysis process  700  of a reader, processing circuitry, a device or system external to a reader and/or a combination thereof. The reader can receive a cartridge containing a patient sample  702 , such as the insertion of a cartridge within a cartridge interface, the reader, and/or an external device connected to the reader or an external device or system. The cartridge can be optionally verified  704  to determine the validity of the cartridge and/or the patient sample within. The reader can then identify the analysis to be performed on the patient sample based on a cartridge feature  706 , such as structural feature of the cartridge. That is, the reader can recognize or identify the cartridge type and a corresponding analysis that can be performed on the patient sample contained within. 
     Alternatively, the reader can receive an input regarding the analysis to be performed on the patient sample  708 . The input can include a user selecting an analysis, communication from an external system or device indicating the analysis performed or other input directing the reader to perform an analysis of the patient sample. Optionally, a portion of the patient sample can be transferred from the cartridge into a sample chamber  710  of the reader so that the patient sample can be analyzed within the sample chamber. Additionally, the patient sample can optionally be prepared for analysis  712 , which can include lysing the sample, adding a dilutant to the patient sample or other preparation performed on or to the patient sample prior to patient sample analysis. The patient sample is then analyzed  714  by the reader and its systems and/or an external device or system. The patient sample analysis data is then output  716 , such as transmitted to a reader and/or an external device or system. The output  716  can include interpretive data, such as the presence or absence of a disease, infection and/or condition within the patient sample, including detailed information, such as the type and degree of the disease, infection and/or condition. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates an example cartridge  800  and various patient sample analysis devices/systems in relation to the cartridge  800 . The patient sample analysis devices/systems can be included on a reader into which the cartridge  800  is inserted or received, the cartridge  800  can be inserted or received in a specific alignment or orientation in relation to the patient analysis devices/systems of the reader. Additionally, one or more portions of or a complete patient sample analysis device/system can be included with the cartridge  800 . 
     A blood sample collector  802  can be included on the cartridge  800 . The blood sample collector  802  can include a capillary or other tube, through which a patient&#39;s blood sample can be transferred into the cartridge  800 . A capillary tube can use capillary action to draw the blood sample into the cartridge  800 . A tube can be part of a pipette or pipette-like device or system of the cartridge  800 , application and release of pressure on, or deformation of a portion of the cartridge  800  can cause a blood sample to be drawn through the blood sample collector  802 , or portion thereof, due to a pressure differential between the surrounding environment and an internal portion or chamber of the cartridge  800 . 
     The blood sample collector  802  can include a lancet or needle that can be used to cause a patient to bleed and/or with which to take the blood sample from the patient. The lancet or needle can be releasably or permanently affixed to the blood sample collector  802  or can extend and/or retract automatically and/or manually from the blood sample collector  802  to assist or facilitate the collection of a blood sample from a patient. 
     Alternatively, a patient blood sample can be obtained by other means or methods, and a portion of the patient blood sample can be transferred into the cartridge  800  through the blood sample collector  802  or through another input into the cartridge  800 . For example, a blood sample can be drawn from a patient, for use in multiple analysis and/or diagnostic services, using a traditional method such as a needle and vacuum sample tube. From this collected blood sample, a portion of the sample to be analyzed using the cartridge  800  and/or a reader can be transferred into the cartridge  800  for analysis. In this manner, the patient is pierced a minimal number of times, drawing enough blood to run necessary diagnostic tests and analyses, including those using the reader and/or cartridge  800 . 
     The cartridge  800  can include a vent  804  that can vent fluid or gas from within one or more chambers, or portions, of the cartridge  800 . In some examples, the vent  804  is a one-way valve that facilitates fluid communication between the interior of the cartridge  800  and an external environment, such as the surrounding environment and the reader. Fluid communication means that the vent releases pressure from within the cartridge through the vent or other port. The vent  804  can be preset to a pressure threshold, if pressure inside the cartridge, a chamber or portion in fluid communication with the vent  804 , exceeds the preset pressure threshold, the vent  804  opens to release fluid or gas from within the cartridge  804  until pressure on the vent  804  is reduced below the preset pressure threshold at which point the vent  804  closes. 
     The vent  804  can include a two-way valve to facilitate fluid communication between the interior of the cartridge  800  and an external environment, such as the surrounding environment and the reader. The fluid communication can include the exchange of a fluid or gas from external to the cartridge  800  to internal to the cartridge  800  through the vent  804 . The two-way valve can include a preset pressure threshold that can trigger the opening of the valve. Once the pressure differential across the valve reaches the preset pressure threshold, the valve can open and allow the exchange of gas or fluid through the vent  804 . For example, gas buildup within the cartridge  800 , such as caused by mixing the blood sample and a dilutant, can be vented through the vent  804 . In another example, a change in elevation of the cartridge  800 , can cause a pressure differential between the interior of the cartridge  800  and the surrounding environment. The exchange of gas or fluid through the vent  804  can equalize the internal pressure of the cartridge  800 , or portion thereof, with the external environment. In an example cartridge  800  including a two-way valve, the vent  804  can be used to transfer fluid, such as a dilutant, patient sample, or a mix of dilutant and patient sample, from the cartridge  800  to a reader or an external container or device. 
     The cartridge  800  can be divided into multiple portions  806  and  808 . Each portion  806 ,  808  can include one or more internal chambers that can contain a fluid, such as a dilutant, blood sample, or a combination of the blood sample and dilutant. One or more internal chambers can also be empty allowing fluids to be introduced and/or mixed within in preparation for analysis and/or additional or alternate purposes. The internal chamber can be interconnected, such as by conduits or tubes, to allow fluid communication between the various chambers. Flow control devices can regulate flow of fluids and/or gases from one or more chamber to another chamber(s). Internal chamber(s) within the cartridge  800  can span across one or more portions of the cartridge  800 . That is, a single internal chamber occupies space in both the first portion  806  and second portion  808  of the cartridge  800 . 
     The cartridge  800  can include a sample chamber  810 . The sample chamber  810  can be separate from the chamber in which the blood sample was originally stored within the cartridge  800 . Additionally, the sample chamber  810  can include a filter that divides the sample into multiple portions. A first portion can receive the blood sample, which can then be passed through the filter, passively or actively and/or in response to an input, such as by a reader into which the cartridge  800  is inserted, into a second portion of the sample chamber  810  in which the analysis of the blood sample can be performed. The portions of the sample chamber can also be separated by a barrier that prevents and/or controls the flow of the blood sample between the portions of the chamber due to the geometry of the barrier, including openings disposed through the barrier. The barrier can be impermeable and block the flow of the blood sample between the portions of the sample chamber  810  until the barrier is selectively removed, such as by moving the barrier, including by inductively moving or controlling the barrier, or destroying the barrier, including puncturing the barrier, to allow the flow of the blood sample between the portions of the sample chamber  810 . Alternatively, the barrier can be dissolvable, completely, or partially, to allow the flow and/or control the flow of the blood sample between the portions of the sample chamber  810 . The barrier can also be semi-permeable to control the flow, such as a flow rate, of the blood sample between the portions of the sample chamber  810 . In an example, a filter placed between the portions of the sample chamber  810  can be a semi-permeable barrier that controls the flow of the blood sample between the portions of the chamber  810 . 
     In the example embodiment of  FIG.  8   , the sample chamber  810  is aligned along the pathway of incoming light  834 . This arrangement maximizes the residence time or pathway through the sample within the sample chamber  810 , which can assist in the efficiency and effectiveness of the analysis of the sample. As light is directed to transmit through the sample chamber  810 , the sample chamber  810  can be constructed of a substantially transparent material that includes optical properties to assist with the analysis of the patient sample. Various cartridges  800  designed for various analyses can include differently or same shaped, oriented, and/or configured sample chambers  810 , as shown in  FIG.  8   , and can be constructed of similar or different materials depending on the analyses to performed using the cartridge  800 . The sample chamber  810  can include magnetic properties, such as being non-magnetic, that are based on the material and/or structure of the sample chamber  810 . The magnetic properties of the sample chamber  810  can assist with or minimize a negative impact of the sample chamber  810  on the analysis of the sample within the sample chamber  810 . 
     A collected sample can be stored within the sample chamber  810  or stored in a different chamber and then transferred into the sample chamber  810  in preparation for analysis. Additional materials or fluids can be added to the sample chamber  810  to mix with a sample in preparation for analysis. Additionally, the sample chamber  810  can be preloaded with various materials or fluids that can be mixed with the sample in preparation for analysis, including stabilizing or preserving the sample, assisting with lysing of the sample, reagents and/or other processes or procedures. 
     To assist with transmission of light  834  from a light source  832  through the sample chamber  810 , the cartridge  800  can include windows or transparent portions  812 ,  814 . The transparent portions  812 ,  814  can be transparent to the light  834  emitted from the light source  830 . That is, the transparent portions  812 ,  814  can be substantially transparent, allowing visible light to transmit through the portions  812 ,  814 , or the transparent portions  812 ,  814  can be effectively transparent to the light  834  emitted from the light source  830 , which allows the emitted light  834  to pass through, but perhaps not visible light or some other select wavelength of light or range of wavelengths of light. Additionally, the transparent portions  812 ,  814  can be translucent rather than transparent. 
     In an example cartridge  800 , the transparent portions  812 ,  814  can include optical properties to assist with the analysis of the patient sample within the sample chamber  810  by a reader, the cartridge  800  and/or other devices or systems. Example optical properties can include filtering of the incoming light  834 , anti-reflection to minimize stray light, polarization of the incoming light  834  and other alteration and/or modification of the incoming light  834 . Additionally, the transparent portions  812 ,  814  can include different optical properties. For example, the first transparent portion  812  can include an optical property, such as polarization, and the second transparent portion  814  can include a different optical property than the first transparent portion  812 , including the absence of an optical property that affects light transmitted through the second portion  814 . 
     The cartridge  800  can include a mechanical disruptor  816  to assist with preparation of a patient sample for analysis. The mechanical disruptor  816  can assist with the lysing of cells of the sample and can include a vibration element, a sonication horn or other disruptor or employ any other desired disruption technique like maceration or exposure to distilled water or chemicals or some combination of techniques. The sonication horn can direct incoming sonic energy, such as supplied by a reader or other device, through the sample within the sample chamber  810  to assist with lysing of the cellular component of the sample. The placement of the mechanical disruptor  816  is selected to lyse cells of the sample in an ideal, efficient, and/or effective manner. An example placement of the mechanical disruptor  816  is proximal to the cartridge  800  sample chamber  810 , such as fitted against and/or contacting the sample chamber  810  to lyse the cells of the patient sample efficiently and/or effectively. In an example embodiment, a sonication horn of the cartridge  800  can directly contact the sample chamber  810  to direct sonic energy from a sonicator, such as a sonicator of a reader, through and cause lysing of the sample within. 
     A system or device external to the cartridge  800 , or completely or partially included with the cartridge, can include a lysing laser  820 . The lysing laser  820  can assist with lysing the cellular component of a patient sample. The positioning of the lysing laser  820  along the blood sample collector  802  allows the lysing laser  820  to lyse at least a portion of the blood sample as it is collected within the cartridge  800 . Additionally, the blood sample within the cartridge  800  can be circulated or held within the blood sample collector  802  after collection, and exposed to the lysing laser  820  to assist with lysing at least a portion of the cellular component of the collected blood sample. 
     A light source and detector system  830  can be positioned external to and/or completely or partially included with the cartridge  800 . The light source and detector system  830  can include the light source  832  which emits light  834  that can be detected by a light detector  836 . The emitted light  834  can be transmitted through a blood sample within the cartridge  800  to assist with analysis of the blood sample. Light detection information, such as the amount of transmitted light and/or characteristics of the transmitted light, can be transmitted from the light detector  836  to a sample processing module of a reader and/or another device or system of the reader or one that is external the reader. 
     The light source  832  can include multiple different light emitting devices, including emitting light in a non-visible portion of the spectrum or in multiple portions of the spectrum, either simultaneously or sequentially. Example light sources  832  can include LED(s), lasers, and other light, or electromagnetic radiation emitting sources. The light detector  836  can be selected to detect light emitted from the light source  832 , or from a portion of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, such as visible light. Example light detectors  836  can include photodiodes, charge-coupled device, digital imaging sensor, a photovoltaic cell and/or other device that emits and/or alters a signal in response to incoming light. The information or data output from the light detector  836  can include detected light characteristic information, including detected light intensity. 
     The light source and detector system  830  and a magnet  840  can be part of an MOD that can be used to analyze the blood sample within the cartridge  800 . The magnet  840  includes two opposing poles  842  and  844  that create a magnetic field  846 . The two magnets might be attached with a yoke to increase the field. The magnetic field can affect a portion or component of the blood sample within the cartridge  800 . Example magnets  840  capable of generating or having a magnetic field  846  can include one or more permanent magnets and one or more electromagnets, as discussed above. The magnet  840  can be moved proximal the cartridge  800  such that the blood sample within the cartridge  800  is effected by the magnetic field  846  and can be moved away from the cartridge  800  such that the magnetic field  846  effects the patient sample differently. Cycling an electromagnet can have a similar effect of subjecting the blood sample of the cartridge  800  to the presence, absence, and/or variance of a magnetic field  846 . The magnets might include elements to focus the magnetic field. 
     The transparent portions  812  and  814  of the cartridge  800  can be arranged and/or oriented such that light  834  emitted from the light source  832  enters the cartridge  800  substantially, or nearly, perpendicular to the transparent portions  812  and  814 . A small offset of the light entering the cartridge  800  can assist with preventing reflection of the incoming light back towards the light source  832 , an example offset can include 5° from perpendicular. Arranging and/or orienting the transparent portions  812  and  814  substantially perpendicular to the incoming light  834  can reduce the reflection and/or refraction of the light  834  as it is transmitted through the transparent portion  812 . The reduction in reflection and/or refraction of the entering light can reduce signal noise associated with the detection of the transmitted light by the light detector  836 . This can assist with the efficiency and effectiveness of the patient sample analysis. 
       FIG.  9    is a further example cartridge  900  and various sample analysis device and/or systems. The cartridge  900  can include a blood sample collector  902 , a vent  904 , reflective surfaces  920 ,  922 , and, none, all or a portion of a light source and detector system  930 . The reflective surfaces  920  and  922  reflect light repeatedly through a sample within the cartridge  900  which can increase the modification and/or alteration of light transmitted through the sample, the increased modification/alteration of the transmitted light can assist with the efficient and effective analysis of the blood sample. The cartridge is filled with the patient sample to a minimum fill point, which means a minimum volume of patient sample. In the example shown in  FIG.  9   , the minimum fill point creates a free surface of the fluid that is above the reflective surfaces. The portion of the cartridge with the reflective surface is concave and thus creates differing heights of the cartridge so that the minimum patient sample volume exceeds the height of the reflective surfaces, but it may or may not exceed the heights on either side of the reflective surfaces. Other geometries of the cartridge also can facilitate proper transmission paths for the light so that it travels entirely through the patient sample rather than extending above a free surface of the patient sample. 
     The cartridge  900  can include a blood sample collector  902  and vent  904 , similar in structure and/or function to the blood sample collector  802  and vent  804  of  FIG.  8   . The blood sample collector  902  can be used to collect a blood sample of a patient within the cartridge  900  for analysis using the cartridge  900 , a reader and/or other external device. The vent  904  can allow fluid communication, liquid or gas, between the interior of the cartridge  900  and an external environment, such as a reader or other external device. Additionally, the vent  904  can be used to equalize or reduce a pressure differential between the interior of the cartridge  900  and the exterior of the cartridge  900 . 
     The reflective surfaces  920 ,  922  of the cartridge  900  can be interior to the cartridge  900  and exposed to the sample within. Alternatively, the reflective surfaces  920 ,  922  can be external the cartridge  900 , separated from the sample within by a transparent or translucent membrane, element and/or portion of the cartridge  900  housing. Additionally, the internal reflective surfaces  920 ,  922  can be separated from the blood sample by a transparent or translucent membrane or coating. The reflective surfaces  920 ,  922  can include any reflective element that is attached or otherwise affixed or integrated with the cartridge  900  or can include a reflective coating or film of the cartridge  900  surface, making that portion of the cartridge  900  surface reflective. Additional reflective elements and materials can be used and arranged to reflect transmitted light  934  through the sample within the cartridge  900 . The material of the reflective surfaces  920 ,  922  can be flexible, semi-flexible or rigid. The reflective surfaces  920 ,  922  can also be contoured or profiled to direct and/or aim the transmitted light reflected from the reflective surfaces  920 ,  922 . 
     The light source and light detector system  930  includes a light source  932  that emits light  934  that transits through the blood sample within the cartridge  900 . A light detector  936  receives the transmitted light and can quantify and/or characterize the received light, the light data can be transmitted to a sample module of a reader and/or an external device of system for use in analysis of the blood sample of the cartridge  900 . 
     The tapered shape of the cartridge  900 , as shown in  FIG.  9   , can mate and/or interface with a cartridge receptacle of a reader to properly place and/or orient the cartridge  900  within the reader in relation to the various analysis systems and/or elements of the reader. The proper position and/or orientation of the cartridge relative to the analysis systems can assist with the efficient and effective analysis of a patient sample within the cartridge  900 . Additional systems and/or procedures of a reader, such as a physical disruptor and/or the addition of dilutant to a patient sample within the cartridge  900 , can also be properly aligned, positioned, and/or performed relative to the cartridge  900  due to the geometry of the cartridge  900  and cartridge interface. The proper mating and/or interfacing of the cartridge  900  and the reader can allow or assist with the automation of an analysis of the patient sample within the cartridge  900 . 
       FIG.  10    illustrates an example diagnostic system  1000  that includes a cartridge  1010  and reader  1020 , such as described herein, the reader connected  1040  to an external device  1030 , such as a computing device, including a laptop, phone, tablet, a server, remote computer, or other external device. The connection  1040  between the reader  1020  and the external device  1030  can be a physical connection, such as a universal serial bus (USB) connector, such as shown in  FIG.  10   , or can be a wireless connection, such as an IR, Bluetooth® and/or WiFi electrical coupling, or a combination thereof. The connection  1040  allows communication between the reader  1020  and the external device  1030 . In an example, the reader  1020  can perform analysis of a patient sample contained within the cartridge  1010 , data from the various analysis systems and/or elements of the reader  1020  can be transmitted through the connection  1040  to the external device  1030  for processing. The external device  1030  can then display or transmit the processed results, or portion thereof, to a user and/or can optionally transmit the processed results back to the reader  1020  for display and/or transmission of the analysis results, or a portion thereof, to the user. In a further example, the reader  1020  and external device  1030  can both process all or a portion of the patient sample analysis data. The external device  1030  can also control one or more aspects of the reader  1020 , such as the analysis able to be performed by the reader  1020 , authorized users of the reader  1020  or other aspects of the reader  1020  and its performance. Additionally, the external device  1030  can be in the proximity of the reader  1020 , such as nearby, or can be remote from the reader  1020 , such as in another room or in another location including in another country. The external device  1030  can communicate with and/or be connected to multiple readers and or other external systems, such as remote servers or databases. 
       FIG.  11    is an example reader network  1100 . Various reader devices  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  are connected to external devices and/or systems, such as a server  1120  and/or computing device  1130 , by a network  1110 . The readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can send and/or receive data, instructions, and other information to and/or from the external devices and/or systems  1120 ,  1130 . The network  1110  can include physical and/or electronic connections to facilitate communication from the readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  to the external devices and/or systems  1120 ,  1130 . 
     The readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can be readers for use with a cartridge, as previously discussed, or can include other diagnostic and/or patient sample processing or storage devices. The readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can communicate with the external devices and/or systems  1120 ,  1130  to transmit analysis data, receive analysis results and/or information, transmit status information, receive instructions, receive software updates and/or other communications or information exchanged between one or more readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  and/or external devices and/or systems  1120 ,  1130 . The readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can include a communication module to connect the reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  to the network  1110 . The communication module can also be an external device to which the reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  is connected. 
     Additionally, the readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can communicate with one another directly through a physical or wireless electronic connection. The connection between readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can include intervening network devices, such as a router, or can be direct from one reader to one or more readers, such as an ad-hoc or local network. A reader can be designated as a primary device to transmit instructions to and receive data from other readers designated as secondary. Alternatively, no priority can be established between the readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n . The readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can perform the same and/or different patient sample analyses. 
     The network  1110  can include wired connections, such as through an Ethernet connection, fiber optic connection, and/or other physical cable or connection. The network  1110  can also include electronic communication protocols, systems and/or methods, such a satellite communication, microwave communication, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth®. The network  1110  can include multiple communication devices and/or protocols to facilitate communication between one or more readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  and/or external devices and/or systems  1120 ,  1130 . 
     An example external device and/or system can include a server  1120  which can be remote from or local to the readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n . The server  1120  can include sample processing  1122 , medical records  1124 , reader control/modification  1126  and/or other information or systems to communicate with and/or receive information from a reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n.    
     Sample processing  1122  can include receiving data from a reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  and analyzing the data to perform the analysis of the patient sample. Remote processing of the patient sample data can reduce the computing burden of the reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n . Additionally, remote processing can allow for more effective and efficient processing by consolidating the analysis in one or more locations, such as the server  1120 . Consolidation can allow for the use of computer learning and/or larger databases for use in analysis of the patient sample. Such data aggregation can be used to map and/or research trends, map outbreaks, institute control procedures to contain an infection and/or various other data analyses. Additionally, updating the analysis process can be required at fewer locations, the server  1120 , rather than on each individual reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n.    
     The server  1120  can also include medical records  1124 . The analysis performed by the server  1120  or reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can be appended to the relevant patient medical record  1124 . Medical records  1124  can be stored on the server  1120  or on an external device and/or system, to which the server  1120  and/or reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can communicate the necessary data and/or analysis. The sample processing  1122  can also access the medical records  1124  to perform pattern analysis to determine trends, clusters, and potential preventative measures to reduce impact of a disease and/or condition in a certain region, population and/or demographic. Further, the pattern analysis can be used to determine spread of a disease and/or condition. This can allow resources to be dedicated in response to an outbreak or potential outbreak of a disease and/or condition. 
     The server  1120  can also include reader control/modification  1126 . Reader control/modification  1126  can include reader calibration information, software updates to the reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n , ensuring proper and/or authorized use of a reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  and/or other control or operational changes to a reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n . Centralizing reader control/modification  1126  can assist with proper reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  usage, maintenance and/or functionality to provide efficient and effective patient sample analysis using a reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n.    
     Another example external device and/or system can include a computing device  1130 . The computing device  1130 , such as a mobile phone, computer, tablet, or other device, can be connected to one or more readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  through the network  1110 . The computing device  1130  can receive information from the reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  and perform some or all the sample processing and/or analysis  1132 , based on the received information. Additionally, the external device  1130  can act as an output to which the reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  transmits results, data and/or information regarding the patient sample analysis. As with the server, discussed above, the computing device  1130  can also include reader control/modification  1134 . The reader control/modification  1134  can provide an input through which instruction to a reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can be entered. Additionally, the reader control/modification  1134  can include calibration and/or maintenance data and/or processes a user and/or reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can perform to assist with maintenance and/or calibration of the reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n , The proper functioning and calibration of the reader  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  can assist with the efficient and effective analysis of patient samples. Additionally, the computing device  1130  can communicate with the server  1120  using the network  1110  or other communication means, systems and/or processes. In an example, the computing device  1130  can store and/or transmit data from one or more readers  1102   a ,  1102   b ,  1102   c  . . .  1102   n  to the server  1120 . The data transmission can be in real-time or can be stored and transmitted when convenient or the computing device  1130  is again connected to a network  1110 . Additionally, the computing device  1130  can transmit the results of an analysis to a patient and/or a patient representative, such as a patient&#39;s physician. As with transmission of the data from the reader, the transmission of the patient analysis can be performed in real-time or at a later time, such as when the computing device  1130  is again connected to a network  1110 .