Patent Publication Number: US-2022214284-A1

Title: Apparatus and methods for assaying a liquid sample

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/112,703 filed on Nov. 12, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     It is often desirable in medicine or the biological sciences to be able to determine the presence or concentration of a particular target substance in a biological and/or liquid sample. While many methods of performing such assays are known, conventional methods often require the use of expensive equipment. This can meaningfully limit access to and cost effectiveness of certain scientific and/or professional practices that require, or are rendered more effective through, the use of such assays. 
     Devices and systems that can be used in the home by untrained consumers have been developed. These include, for example, commercially available pregnancy and ovulation test devices such as the Clearblue® Fertility Monitor. Such test devices generally require complex use instructions and are subject to inadvertent user error that can interfere with obtaining accurate test results. Accordingly, systems and methods for performing assays at a reduced cost and/or with increased convenience are desirable. 
     It should be noted that this Background is not intended to be an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter nor be viewed as limiting the claimed subject matter to implementations that solve any or all of the disadvantages or problems presented above. The discussion of any technology, documents, or references in this Background section should not be interpreted as an admission that the material described is prior art to any of the subject matter claimed herein. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some embodiments, a device for assaying a liquid sample is provided. A liquid sample assay device comprising a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a test strip mounting location associated with at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, a user operable coupling configured to selectively allow open and closed configurations of the first housing portion with respect to the second housing portion, wherein the coupling is configured to allow a user to place the first housing portion and the second housing portion in the open configuration to the expose the test strip mounting location, place a test strip at the test strip mounting location, and place the first housing portion and the second housing portion in the closed configuration for performing an assay of the test strip. 
     A device for assaying a liquid sample, the device comprising a housing configured to receive a test strip in a predetermined orientation such that a portion of the test strip is disposed within the apparatus and a portion of the test strip extends outside of the apparatus at least one sensor in the housing configured to generate a signal indicative of a change in a characteristic of the sample strip, and a display configured to generate a machine-readable pattern encoding data related to the signal. 
     A test strip cassette for performing a liquid assay, the test strip cassette comprising a housing; a lateral flow test strip inside the housing; an opening in the housing exposing a portion of the lateral flow test strip; and a first registration feature associated with the opening configured to align a sensor in a test strip reader with the exposed portion of the lateral flow test strip. 
     It is understood that various configurations of the subject technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the summary, drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments are discussed in detail in conjunction with the Figures described below, with an emphasis on highlighting the advantageous features. These embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and any scale that may be illustrated therein does not limit the scope of the technology disclosed. These drawings include the following figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for assaying a liquid sample according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a reader for testing an assay, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates several components of the reader of  FIG. 2A , according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 2C  is a block diagram of a test strip for assaying, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 2D  is an exemplary graph of signals provided by sensors of the reader of  FIGS. 2A through 2C , according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 3A  shows a hand-held probe for receiving data related to an assay from a reader, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates several components of the probe of  FIG. 3A , according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of example components of the reader of  FIG. 1 , according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of example components of the probe of  FIG. 1 , according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an example embodiment wherein the probe of  FIG. 4  is configured to receive the reader of  FIG. 5 , according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a single housing integrating some components of the reader of  FIG. 4  and some components the probe of  FIG. 5 , according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram for an example embodiment of the single apparatus and/or housing of  FIG. 7 , configured to receive a cassette comprising a test strip to be assayed, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of an apparatus configured to receive a cassette comprising a sample to be assayed, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 12  having the cassette disposed therein, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a system comprising an apparatus configured to receive a cassette comprising a sample to be assayed, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates another system comprising another apparatus configured to receive a cassette comprising a sample to be assayed, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate various example screen shots of a display of a device of a system for assaying a sample in a cassette, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 14A  illustrates a perspective top view of a device configured to receive a cassette comprising a sample to be assayed in a closed configuration, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 14B  illustrates a perspective bottom view of the device of  FIG. 14A ; 
         FIG. 15A  is a perspective top view of a test strip cassette, according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG. 15B  is a side cross section of a test strip cassette, according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 14  in an open configuration, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates another perspective view of the device of  FIG. 14  in an open configuration with a battery cover installed, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates another perspective view of the device of  FIG. 14  in an open configuration with a test strip placed on the test strip mounting location, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded view showing components of the device of  FIG. 14 , according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 20  is a cutaway top perspective view of the device of  FIG. 14  in an open configuration, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 21  is a cutaway bottom view of the device of  FIG. 14  in an open configuration, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 22  is a cutaway side view of the device of  FIG. 14  in an open configuration, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 23  is a cutaway side view of the device of  FIG. 14  in a closed configuration, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 24  is a close-up view of the cassette and mounting structure of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a close-up of the cassette and mounting structure of  FIG. 23 . 
         FIG. 26  illustrates a flowchart of another method for testing an assay and reading out a result of such testing, according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG. 27  illustrates a flowchart of a method for testing an assay and reading out a result of such testing, according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 28  illustrates a flowchart of another portion of a method for testing an assay and reading out a result of such testing, according to some example embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description and examples illustrate some exemplary implementations, embodiments, and arrangements of the disclosed invention in detail. Those of skill in the art will recognize that there are numerous variations and modifications of this invention that are encompassed by its scope. Accordingly, the description of a certain example embodiment should not be deemed to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     Definitions 
     Analyte: The term analyte refers to any substance or chemical constituent of a fluid such as but not limited by water, alcohol, or any other diluent. Analytes include without limitation naturally occurring substances, artificial substances, metabolites, and reaction products, such as proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, fats, hormones, antigens, antibodies, amino acids, vitamins, components of organisms, components of cells of organisms, including any molecular components of animals, plants, viruses, parasites, bacteria, fungi, and/or chemical compounds or products produced or consumed by such organisms or the cells thereof. The term analyte also includes any drug or pharmaceutical composition that has been or may be introduced into an organism. 
     App: An app is a software application program. The term app is usually applied to a software program that is executable on smartphone hardware running smartphone operating systems such as iOS and Android. These are often referred to as mobile apps. Although a mobile app is generally designed for operation on mobile devices, a mobile app can be executed on non-mobile devices such as desktop or laptop computers that are running an operating system compatible with the mobile app. 
     Final Assay Result Output: A final assay result output is a presentation of an assay result that constitutes actionable or otherwise directly useful information for a user of the assay. A final assay result output includes without limitation a binary output indicating the presence or absence of an analyte or a numerical estimation of an amount of analyte present in a sample. A test error indication may also be a final assay result output. 
     Processor: A processor is an electronic circuit configured to retrieve instructions from a memory and execute one or more arithmetic, logic, data storage, and/or data output operations defined by the retrieved instructions. A processor may execute these operations sequentially or concurrently. A processor may be any conventional general-purpose single- or multi-chip processor found in consumer devices such as personal computers, laptop computers, smartphones, and the like. In addition, a processor may be any conventional special purpose processor such as a digital signal processor, a graphics processor, or a microcontroller. 
     Processing Circuitry: Processing circuitry is any arrangement of electrical or electronic components that is configured to receive as input one or more analog or digital signals or data and generate as output one or more analog or digital signals or data in response. Processing circuitry may comprise one or more buffers, voltage dividers, filters, logic gates, adders, and the like. A processor comprises processing circuitry and processing circuitry may include one or more processors and memory. However, processing circuitry does not necessarily implement all or any of the functions associated with a processor as set forth above. 
     E-Paper: A commercially available low power display technology with bi-stable pixels that can maintain an image written to the display essentially indefinitely without consuming any power. 
     QR code: A two-dimensional array of dark squares on a light background that encodes information having a configuration standardized in ISO/IEC 18004. 
     Software and Program: The term software or program refers to instructions stored in a memory in machine-readable form, human-readable form, or both that are executable by a processor when compiled into a machine-readable form. Software may be written in a variety of programming languages such as but not limited to the various versions of C and JavaScript. Depending on the environment of use, software may be also called firmware. 
     Browser and Web Page: A browser is a computer program that provides functionality to a computer for executing syntax that may be contained in web pages. The computer may be connected to a computer network, and the network may be, and usually will be, the Internet. As used herein, browsers and web pages together provide functionality to a computer connected to a network (e.g. the Internet) at least sufficient to request, retrieve, and display at least some network resources including web pages themselves, and to execute at least some links contained within or referred to in retrieved web pages to retrieve other web pages specified with the links. Web pages may include references such as uniform resource locators (URLs) and/or universal resource identifiers (URIs) to other network resources that contain images or other data that is retrieved by the browser from the network or from a cache memory when executing the web page, and may also include and/or reference programs, libraries, style sheets, scripts, and the like which are run by the browser when executing a web page. Any of these items that are accessed, used, and/or retrieved during browser engine execution of web page syntax are considered to be included as a component of the “web page” as that term is used herein. Examples of browsers include, but are not limited to, Internet Explorer and Edge distributed by Microsoft, and Chrome distributed by Google. Example web page syntax that can be executed by browser engines is the various versions of HyperText Markup Language (HTML) promulgated by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and client-side scripting languages such as JavaScript. 
     Server: The term server refers to a software program that is configured to cause computer hardware to respond to client access requests to use or retrieve network resources. The term server also refers to computer hardware that is executing server software. A “server” will often have a functional term applied to it indicating a functionality of the server software and/or hardware such as print server, file server, or web server. 
     Internet: The globally interconnected system of computers and computer networks that evolved from ARPANET and NSFNET over the late 1980s and early 1990s that may utilize TCP/IP network communication protocols. 
     Cloud Services: A collection of network resources configured to support the operation of one or more software programs executing on one or more user devices such as desktop or laptop computers or smartphones. 
     Network Resource Identifier: A definition of a network resource (e.g., by storage location and filename) that is used by client computers to specify a network resource in access requests issued to the network by the client computers. A network resource identifier may be analogized to a “location” of a network resource such as an image or a web page. Currently, when the network is the Internet, network resource identifiers are known as URLs that are formatted in accordance with RFC 3986 of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). For the purposes of this disclosure, any format for specifying a network resource in client access requests issued to a network is within the definition of the term network resource identifier. A network resource identifier, including URLs as currently defined on the Internet, may further include data in addition to data identifying the network resource that a server hosting the network resource associated with the network resource identifier may use for other purposes beyond identifying the requested network resource. 
     Web Site: A collection of network resources including at least some web pages that share a common network resource identifier portion, such as a set of web pages with URLs sharing a common domain name but different pathnames. 
     Web Server: A server that includes functionality for responding to requests issued by browsers to a network, including, for example, requests to receive network resources such as web pages. Currently, browsers and web servers format their requests and responses thereto in accordance with the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) promulgated by the IETF and W3C. In some embodiments, a web server may also be a content server. 
     Network Resource: A web page, file, document, program, service, or other form of data or instructions which is stored on a network node and which is accessible for retrieval and/or other use by other network nodes. 
     Algorithm: A connected sequence of two or more data processing acts. Software programs are implementations of algorithms. 
       FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system for performing an assay and outputting a result of the assay procedure, according to some example embodiments. The system can include any one or more of a reader  100 , a probe  120 , a computing device configured to run an app  145  and a server  150 , which may be one or more of a node of a local area network, a web server, and/or a component or collection of components hosting Internet connected cloud services. 
     As will be described in more detail below in connection with one or more other figures, reader  100  may be configured to receive a test strip  102  containing a sample thereon and perform an assay of the sample by generating a signal or other form of test data indicative of the presence and/or estimated amount or concentration of an analyte in the sample at one or more locations on strip  102  at one or more instants in time. The test strip  102  may comprise a porous carrier and one or more reagents forming a lateral flow immunoassay test strip. The construction and functionality of such strips are well known, with one example being the test strips described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,823,726 assigned to the applicant, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. A wide variety of technologies for reading lateral flow assay test strips are available which may be optical, resistive, or magnetic in nature. 
     The reader  100  may also output an indication of the presence and/or estimated amount or concentration of the analyte to one or more other devices, for example, probe  120 , computing device  140  and/or server  150 . Typically, the front-end sensing technology of the reader  100  generates a series of raw data points indicative of a property of the test strip  102  at one or more times during the assay process. This data may be pre-processed with filters and the like if desired and is then further processed to generate a final assay output. This further processing to generate the final assay output may involve baseline corrections, comparisons to thresholds, linear or non-linear fitting, calibration, and the like to generate a final assay output. The final assay output may comprise text or other binary indication of the presence or absence of the analyte, may be a numerical estimate of the concentration of the analyte in the sample, or may be another mathematical manipulation of the raw and/or pre-processed data to produce an output that conveys the assay result information in a manner actionable or otherwise useful to a user of the assay. 
     In some embodiments, the reader  100  and test strip  102  are integrally constructed as a single use disposable device. To reduce production costs for a disposable product, in some embodiments, reader  100  may be configured to sense a level of a target substance at one or more locations on sample strip  102  and at one or more instants in time but not configured to directly communicate those sensed levels to computing device  140  and/or computing device  150  via, for example, a Bluetooth or WiFi connection and may also not be configured to determine whether one or more conditions of the testing are satisfied to generate and/or output a final assay result. Producing a reader  100  in this manner allows reader  100  to be manufactured with reduced functionality and requiring fewer components components and is, therefore, better suited for disposable, single-use applications. However, the present disclosure is not so limited, and reader  100  can in some embodiments be configured to directly communicate those sensed levels to computing device  140  in a similar manner as probe  120  is configured, as described anywhere in this disclosure. 
     The probe  120  may be configured to receive an output from the reader  100  indicative of the presence and/or sensed level(s) of the analyte on strip  102 . In some embodiments, the received output may be one or more raw or minimally processed data values generated by the sensor technology used by the reader such as strip reflectivity or conductivity values measured by the reader at different time points and/or different locations on the test strip  102 . In some embodiments, the reader  100  output received by the probe  120  may be a single processed binary indication such as “present” or “not present” or a single analyte concentration estimate generated by processing circuitry in the reader  100 . The probe  120  may further communicate one or more indications of the sensed presence or level(s) of the analyte on test strip  102  to one or more other devices, for example, computing device  140  and/or server  150 . In some embodiments, probe  120  is configured to directly communicate the reader  100  output or a processed reader output to a separate computing device  140 . This communication may, for example, be over a wireless connection implementing a standard protocol such as Bluetooth. In some embodiments, probe  120  is configured to indirectly communicate the reader  100  output to computing device  140  via, for example, wide area network  130 , which may comprise a portion of the Internet and/or any other suitable wired or wireless network or portions thereof. This may be performed via a WiFi connection to a router for communication over the Internet. In some embodiments, the probe  120  may function essentially as a relay device that does not perform significant data processing on the output that the probe  120  receives from the reader  100 . In some embodiments, probe  120  is configured to process raw or pre-processed data received by the reader to generate a final assay output using processing circuitry located in the probe  120  and transmit this processed output to computing device  140  and/or server  150 . The probe  120  may additionally or alternatively be configured to display one or more indications of the sensed level(s) of the target substance on sample strip  102  from the reader  100  and/or processed information derived at least partly therefrom and/or a final assay output. Accordingly, in such embodiments, while not shown in  FIG. 1 , the probe  120  can further include a display configured to present information externally that may be human readable and/or machine readable. 
     Computing device  140  may be configured to execute an app  145  which may be configured to receive, process, and/or output raw or processed data of such an assay performed by reader  100 . In some embodiments, computing device  140  can be a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, server, or any other suitable computerized user terminal. Computing device  140  may be configured to receive, directly or indirectly, one or more indications of the received sensed level(s) of the analyte on test strip  102  from the probe  120 . Based at least in part on those indications, app  145  may be configured to determine whether one or more conditions of the testing are satisfied and/or to display a result of such a determination to a user. In some embodiments, app  145  is additionally or alternatively configured to display one or more indications of the sensed level(s) of the target substance on test strip  102  and/or processed information derived at least partly therefrom. Accordingly, in such embodiments, while not shown in  FIG. 1 , computing device  140  can further include a display configured to present information externally that may be human readable and/or machine readable. 
     In some embodiments, at least part of the processing of the indications of the received sensed level(s) of the target substance on sample strip  102  and/or the determination of whether one or more conditions of the testing are satisfied can be performed remote from app  145  and/or of computing device  140 , for example, by a remote computing device  150 , which may be a server, a cloud computing system, or any other suitable computing device. 
     In some embodiments, computing device  140  and/or server  150  is/are configured to receive the one or more indications of the received sensed level(s) of the target substance on sample strip  102  directly or indirectly from probe  120  and determine whether one or more conditions of the testing are satisfied and/or display one or more indications of the sensed level(s) of the target substance on sample strip  102 , and/or processed information derived at least partly therefrom, to a user. 
       FIG. 2A  shows a reader  100 , according to some example embodiments.  FIG. 2B  illustrates an exploded view of several components of reader  100  shown in  FIG. 2A . As illustrated in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , reader  100  comprises a housing  115 . Housing  115  comprises an aperture for receiving a sample on test strip  102 , one or more apertures for one or more light emitting sources, e.g., LEDs,  108   a,    108   b,    108   c,  and an aperture  107  for an ambient light sensing capability described further below. Within the housing  115 , reader  100  can further comprise a battery  101 , the plurality of LEDs  108   a - c,  an ambient light sensor proximate to the aperture  107 , sample strip  102 , at least one sensor  103 / 104 , and an integrated circuit  110  comprising processing circuitry which may comprise a processor  105  and a memory  106  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     Battery  101  is configured to provide electrical power for any components of reader  100 . In some embodiments, LEDs  108   a - c  can comprise an LED configured to emit red light, an LED configured to emit yellow light and an LED configured to emit green light. However, the present disclosure is not so limited and LEDs  108   a - 108   c  can be configured to emit any color or colors of light, within or outside the human-visible spectrum. 
     Test strip  102  is configured to receive a sample, for example an analyte suspended in an aqueous or non-aqueous solvent. In some embodiments, test strip  102  comprises a lateral flow immunoassay strip that may comprise antibodies labeled with a reflective substance, for example gold particles, latex beads, or any other suitable optically reflective or absorbing substance that is configured to migrate along test strip  102 , to provide a detectable indication of the presence, absence, and/or amount of an analyte in the sample. 
     Sensor(s)  103 / 104  may be, for example, a photodetector or any other suitable detector configured to sense a characteristic (e.g., reflectivity) of a first portion of test strip  102  that changes when at least one of the liquid, analyte, and/or label migrate to the portion of test strip  102  being sensed by sensor(s)  103 / 104 . 
     Light detector  107  is an optional feature configured to allow ambient light around reader  100  to reach another photodetector inside the housing  115  and communicate a signal indicative of the level of ambient light to processing circuitry  110  for waking processor  105  and/or other components of reader  100  from a low-power sleep mode. Accordingly, reader  100  can be stored in a bag  160  that is substantially opaque to the type(s) or bandwidth(s) of light that light detector  107  is configured to sense, such that, when reader  100  is disposed within bag  160  and bag  160  is sealed, reader  100  is either powered off or in a low-power sleep mode to save power and extend the useful storage life of reader  100 . 
     Upon exiting the low-power sleep mode and transitioning to an operational mode, processing circuitry  110  may be configured to cause a first LED  108   a  to illuminate with a first color (e.g., green) to indicate to a user that reader  100  is ready to accept a liquid sample onto test strip  102 . 
     The reader  100  may be configured to sample a signal from the one or more sensor(s)  103 / 104  according to a sampling interval (e.g., once every second) for the duration of the data collection for a test strip strip  102 . In some embodiments, the sensor signals are indicative of the relative or absolute values of the amounts of light reflecting onto and/or otherwise striking the one or more sensors from sample strip  102 . 
     Upon detection of a sample on test strip  102 , either immediately after or a predetermined period of time after (e.g., 10 seconds after), the processing circuitry  110  may be configured to cause a second LED  108   b  to illuminate with a second color (e.g., yellow) to indicate to the user that reader  100  is analyzing test strip  102 . 
     In some embodiments, processing circuitry  110  may cause second LED  108   b  to illuminate for a predetermined interval of time (e.g., 10 minutes) corresponding to a sampling interval. 
     At the end of the sampling interval, processing circuitry  110  may be configured to cause second LED  108   b  to turn off and cause third LED  108   c  to illuminate a third color (e.g., red). It will be appreciated that processing circuitry  110  may be configured to cause any of LEDs  108   a - c  to illuminate or stop illuminating in accordance with any desired information or test sequence to be delivered to a user. In some embodiments, rather than utilizing a plurality of LEDs  108   a - 108   c,  one or more LEDs or other light sources capable of multi-color illumination may be utilized instead, configured to provide the same signaling as any one or more of LEDs  108   a - c.    
     In the interest of decreasing manufacturing costs for reader  100 , the memory  106  may be significantly limited (e.g., 40 bytes). However, the present disclosure is not so limited and memory  106  can have any suitable capacity. 
     In some embodiments, while processor  105  may be configured to read signals from the one or more sensor(s) according to a predetermined sampling interval (e.g., once every second) for the duration of the data collection, processor  105  may be further configured to only store the Nth signal or sample from the one or more sensor(s)  103 / 104 , where N is equal to an integer greater than one, for example and not limitation 7 or 14, and ultimately discard the remaining additional samples. Accordingly, in some embodiments, to decrease the amount of memory required to store signals and/or readings from the one or more sensors  103 / 104 , processor  105  may be configured to store only every 7th or 14th sensor sample from each of first and second sensors  103 ,  104  in memory  106  and discard (e.g., not store) the rest. However, the samples that are later discarded can still be used by processor  105  in real-time or near real-time for error, variance detection and/or other signal processing functions. In some embodiments, reader  100  does not perform any computation on the signal values stored in memory  106 , only storing them for future communication to probe  120  and ultimate processing by another device in the system of  FIG. 1  (e.g., probe  120 , computing device  140  and/or computing device  150 ). 
     As described previously, upon completion of data collection for sample strip  102 , processing circuitry  110  may cause third LED  108   c  to illuminate. For transmitting the stored assay data to another device, processing circuitry  110  may be configured to encode sampling data stored in memory  106  as an intensity modulation of the illumination output of third LED  108   c.  In some embodiments, processing circuitry  110  achieves this by controlling the illumination output intensity of the third LED  108   c  according to a carrier frequency (e.g., 38 kHz) modulated by a serial data signal of the stored bits. Data output rate may, for example, be 1200 baud, or approximately 833 microseconds (μs) per bit. In some embodiments therefore, a 38 kHz intensity modulation of the illumination output of the LED for 833 microseconds may indicate a “1” bit and an 833 microsecond period of no intensity modulation of the LED illumination may indicate a “0” bit. A wide variety of well-known coding schemes can be used to randomize the bit stream and/or provide error detection or correction for the transmitted data. In some embodiments, processing circuitry  110  is configured to repeat the modulated readout of the data stored in memory  106  a predetermined number of times, for a predetermined amount of time, or in an infinite loop. In some embodiments, processing circuitry  110  is configured to modulate one or more escape characters (e.g., hex01 or hex10) onto the carrier frequency to signify the beginning and/or end of the data stream of bits being read out, for example, as stored in memory  106 . As will be described in more detail below, probe  120  may be configured to decode the data stream modulated onto the illumination intensity of third LED  108   c  and forward or relay the extracted data, directly or indirectly, to computing device  140  utilizing a different mode of electronic communication such as wireless RF transmission methods including, for example, Bluetooth and WiFi. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a probe  120  for receiving data from reader  100 , according to some example embodiments.  FIG. 3B  illustrates the probe of  FIG. 3A  being held by a user.  FIG. 3C  illustrates several components of probe  120  as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
     As illustrated in at least  FIG. 3A , probe  120  comprises a housing  135 . Housing  135  comprises an aperture for each of a light emitting source, e.g., LED  128 , an aperture for a power switch or button  122  and an aperture for light sensor  127 , e.g., a photodetector. As illustrated in at least  FIGS. 3C and 5 , within housing  135 , probe  120  can further comprise a battery  121 , light emitting source, e.g., LED,  128 , switch  122 , light sensor  127 , a transceiver module  125  (e.g., a Bluetooth transceiver chip) and one or more RC circuits or chips  124  as required for operation of probe  120  as described anywhere herein. 
     Battery  121  is configured to provide electrical power for any components of probe  120 . In some embodiments, battery  121  is replaceable. In some embodiments, LED  128  can be configured to emit any color or colors of light. Activating switch  122  turns on probe  120  and causes LED  128  to illuminate, providing visual indication that probe  120  is activated. In some embodiments, activating switch  122  also causes transceiver module  125  to transition from a low power or deep sleep mode to a functional mode. In some embodiments, in such a deep sleep mode, transceiver module  125  may be configured to draw an insignificant amount of power, e.g., 50 nanoamperes (nA), which may be less current than the intrinsic self-discharge rate of battery  121  itself. This allows for a longer battery life when probe  120  is in storage mode for an extended period of time. 
     Once turned on, probe  120  is configured to, for example, optically read the data being communicated by the modulated illumination intensity of LED  108   c  of reader  100 . For example, once LED  108   c  on reader  100  is illuminated, a user can hold probe  120  in his or her hand and point light sensor  127  at LED  108   c  of reader  100 . Light sensor  127  is configured to communicate a signal indicative of the illumination intensity modulation of LED  108   c  in reader  100  to transceiver module  125 . 
     In some embodiments, transceiver module  125  is a Bluetooth module, for example, a programmable transceiver chip made by Nordic Semiconductor. However, any wireless communication transceiver chip capable of performing the functions described herein is also contemplated. Accordingly, transceiver module  125  may also comprise a processor, logic, memory, an antenna, an oscillator, capacitors, inductors, filters, and any other customary transceiver components as required for performing the functions described herein. 
     Transceiver module  125  is configured to decode the signal from light sensor  127 , package and/or encode at least the decoded data (e.g., the bits as previously stored in memory  106  of microchip  110  of reader  100 ) into a second wireless communication format (e.g., Bluetooth) and transmit the encoded data directly, or indirectly (via WAN  130  for example), to computing device  140 , which is configured to run app  145 , as previously described in connection with at least  FIG. 1 . 
     Accordingly, probe  120  can act as a relay, translator and/or gateway between reader  100  and computing device  140 . In some such embodiments, the data collected by reader  100  is not analyzed or substantively processed by either reader  100  or probe  120  but is, instead, collected and stored by reader  100 , extracted, translated or packaged into a second communication format and relayed by probe  120 , and analyzed by app  145  of computing device  140 . In this way, a positive or negative result, or concentration determination of sample strip  102  is analyzed and determined by app  145  of computing device  140 , rather than by reader  100  or probe  120 . System design in this manner allows either or both of reader  100  and probe  120  to be made with reduced functionality and, so, with fewer components and less complication and expense. Of course, as previously described in connection with  FIG. 1 , at least some of this analysis could also or alternatively be carried out by an intermediate computing device  150 , or similar, such as by utilizing cloud computing resources. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram for an example embodiment wherein probe  120  is configured to receive reader  100  in a predetermined orientation, according to some example embodiments. In the prior example embodiment, a user points probe  120  toward reader  100  such that light sensor  127  of probe  120  is able to sense or read data from the illumination of LED  108   c  of reader  100 . In some other embodiments, for example as illustrated by  FIG. 6 , probe  120 , for example housing  135  of probe  120 , may be physically configured (e.g., formed) to receive reader  100 , having sample strip  102  disposed therein, in such an orientation that light sensor  127  of probe  120  is facing LED  108   c  of reader  100 . In some such embodiments, probe  120  may also have a lid  150  under which reader  100  is configured to be disposed by a user. 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a single apparatus and/or housing  700  integrating several components of reader  100  and several components of probe  120 , according to some example embodiments.  FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a side view of apparatus  700 , according to some example embodiments. As illustrated, apparatus  700  can comprise battery  701 , first and second sensors  703 ,  704 , microchip  710  including processor  705  and memory  706 , switch  722 , transceiver module  725 , RC circuit(s)  724 , and display  708 , which may be substantially similar to or the same as battery  101 / 121 , first and second sensors  103 ,  104 , microchip  110  including processor  105  and memory  106 , switch  122 , transceiver module  125 , RC circuit(s)  124 , and LED(s)  108   a - c / 128 , respectively, as previously described in connection with reader  100  and/or probe  120 . As will be described in more detail below, in some embodiments, display  708  comprises one or more light emitting sources, e.g., LEDs, configured to independently indicate one or more states of apparatus  700  and/or configured to collectively indicate one or more states of apparatus  700 . 
     Apparatus  700  further comprises a sample  702 , which may be substantially identical to sample on test strip  102 , except that, rather than being disposed within a separate reader  100 , sample on test strip  702  is disposed within a plastic cassette  707  or housing that can be physically disposed within apparatus  700  during data collection and/or analysis and then discarded. Cassette  707  may be devoid of any electronics. In some such embodiments, apparatus  700  may further comprise a clampable lid  750  similar to lid  150  of probe  120  described in connection with  FIG. 6 , configured to snap over cassette  707 . This may be different from sliding a sample strip  102 ,  702  into tester at least because apparatus  700  is configured to completely enclose and snap over and/or around cassette  707 . 
     Function of apparatus  700  may be substantially as previously described for reader  100  and for probe  120  except that no aligning and optical or IR readout between a reader and a probe is necessary, since they are physically disposed within the same apparatus  700  and can communicate directly and electronically with one another. Instead, once cassette  707 , having sample  702  therein, is properly disposed within apparatus  700 , LED(s)  708  may be configured to function as previously described for any of LEDs  108   a - c  of reader  100  or LED  128  of probe  120  and the data stored in memory  706 , as received from first and second sensors  703 ,  704 , may be directly transferred from processing circuitry  710  to transceiver module  725 , with or without any of the previously described carrier/data modulation and/or XOR encoding with alternating “1”s and “0”s. Moreover, the data may be transferred from processing circuitry  710  to transceiver module  725  in either real time (e.g., as the data is saved to memory  706 ) or in the previously-described delayed cache fashion occurring after a predetermined full data collection interval (e.g., 10 minutes). 
     Embodiments as described in connection with  FIGS. 7 and 8  can offer a reduced cost and lower negative environmental impact compared to some other embodiments, since all that is discarded is cassette  707 , comprising test strip  702  and being devoid of other electronics. All electronics previously disposed in reader  100 , that would otherwise be discarded after the single use, are now disposed in apparatus  700 . 
     In yet other embodiments, all functionality of probe  120  and/or of apparatus  700  can be disposed within and handled directly by computing device  140  on which app  145  is executed. In some such embodiments, computing device  140  can also be equipped with a camera that is configured to read blinking LED  108   c.  In some such embodiments, computing device  140  may be configured, similarly to the embodiments of probe  120  illustrated in  FIG. 6 , such that reader  100  is mountable on or in an orientation with respect to computing device  140  that allows such a camera to read blinking LED  108   c.  In some embodiments, reader  100 , probe  120 , apparatus  700  and/or computing device  140  may alternatively or additionally be configured to communicate utilizing a multilevel coding scheme that allows more complicated and/or efficient signaling patterns that incorporate simultaneous blinking and/or flashing of any two or more of LEDs  108   a -c, or that blink one or more LEDs in a multicolor and/or multi-tempo signaling protocol. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate perspective views of an example embodiment of apparatus  700  and cassette  707  comprising sample  702  to be assayed. Only a subset of the components of apparatus  700  are shown for ease of illustration. 
     Apparatus  700  may comprise lid  750 , configured to open at a hinge assembly (not shown in detail in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ) and to accept cassette  707  in a predetermined orientation. Cassette  707  is configured to have an end portion, configured to accept a sample to be assayed, extending from apparatus  700  when cassette  707  is properly disposed at least partially within apparatus  700 . In some embodiments, to facilitate proper placement of cassette  707 , a base of apparatus  700  comprises a test strip mounting locations that comprises a recessed portion having a complementary shape to cassette  707 . In some embodiments as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the one or more sensors  703 / 704  may be disposed in an underside of lid  750  such that, when cassette  707  is disposed in apparatus  700  and lid  750  is closed, the one or more sensors  703 / 704  are disposed directly over respective portions of test strip  702  within cassette  707 . In some embodiments, apparatus  700  may be configured to begin processing cassette  707  upon closing lid  750 . 
     In  FIG. 10 , LEDs  708  are disposed in a top surface of apparatus  700 . Each of LEDs  708  may be configured to illuminate and/or flash to indicate a different state or mode of apparatus  700 . For example, one of LEDs  708  may be configured to indicate that apparatus  700  is ready to process cassette  707 ; one of LEDs  708  may be configured to indicate that apparatus  700  is currently processing cassette  707 ; one of LEDs  708  may be configured to indicate a positive result regarding the processing of cassette  707 ; one of LEDs  708  may be configured to indicate a negative result regarding the processing of cassette  707 ; one of LEDs  708  may be configured to indicate an invalid test result or an invalid cassette  707 . 
     While  FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a substantially square or rectangular form factor for apparatus  700 , the present disclosure is not so limited and apparatus  700  may have any suitable shape and/or form factor. 
     In some embodiments, apparatus  700  is configured with a display to display a 2-dimensional machine-readable code such as a QR code. For example, in embodiments according to at least  FIGS. 11 and 12 , display  708  of apparatus  700  may be configured to display a 2-dimensional machine-readable code  1402 , for example a QR code, that can be read by a network enabled computing device such as computing device  140 . The 2-dimensional machine-readable code may encode data related to the assay performance such as data related to the sampled sensor signals, e.g. raw or only partly processed sensor signals. In some embodiments, the 2-dimensional machine-readable code may encode a final assay result output indicating a result of the assay. In some embodiments, the 2-dimensional machine-readable code may additionally encode a network resource identifier such as a URL of a network service that receives the data from the computing device  140  that is encoded in the 2-dimensional machine-readable code. The accessed network service may process the received assay data to generate a final assay result output and incorporate that result in a webpage delivered back to the computing device  140  by the network service so that a result of the test may be displayed to a user. In some embodiments, the QR code may include a reader ID (e.g., an identification of apparatus  700 ) and/or the result and/or value of a test performed on cassette  707 . 
     In embodiments according to  FIG. 12 , cassette  707  may also comprise a code, such as a second QR code  1502  configured to identify, for example, a type of test cassette  707  is configured for (e.g., a test identifier regarding any one or more of bedbugs, ticks, lice, etc.), a duration of the test of cassette  707 , a positive and/or negative threshold for the test of cassette  707 , a serial number, a lot number, an expiration date, and/or a hash code to ensure cassette  707  is genuine and not counterfeit. 
     A system according to either of  FIGS. 11 and 12  may be substantially similar to the system of  FIG. 1 , however, including integrated apparatus  700  as described anywhere herein rather than separate reader  100  and probe  120 . Mobile device  140 , which may be a mobile phone or tablet for example, comprises a camera  1410  configured to capture an image of the code  1402  on apparatus  700  (see  FIGS. 11 and 12 ) and/or a code  1502  on cassette  707  (see  FIG. 12 ). 
     Where camera  1410  is configured to capture an image of code  1502  on cassette  707 , mobile device  140  may be configured to extract any of the previously-mentioned information encoded in code  1502 . In addition, and/or alternative, mobile device  140  may be configured to extract a subset of the previously mentioned information encoded in code  1502  and derive a different subset of the previously mentioned information, or other information, that may not be encoded in code  1502 . For example, code  1502  may encode a serial number of cassette  707  and mobile device  140  may be configured to extract the serial number from code  1502  and then derive, request from another computing device  150  over a network  130  or look up a lot number and/or expiration date based on the serial number. As another example, code  1502  may encode a test identifier of cassette  707  and mobile device  140  may be configured to extract the test identifier number from code  1502  and then derive, request from another computing device  150  over a network  130  or look up a duration of the test and/or positive and/or negative thresholds for the test based on the test identifier. In some embodiments, apparatus  700  may be configured to read or extract information directly from cassette  707  once disposed therein, for example, via one or more electrical contacts communicatively coupling circuitry in cassette  707  and circuitry in apparatus  700  and/or via another sensor configured to read a pattern or code on cassette  707 . Once mobile device  140  and/or apparatus  700  has extracted, derived, received via request or looked up sufficient information, apparatus  700  may perform a test on cassette  707 . 
       FIG. 13A  illustrates a screen shot of app  145  returning another set of information extracted, derived, received via request or looked up based on the two codes (e.g.,  1402 ,  1502 ). The cassette ID, lot number, and expiration date are illustrated in the first entry, while a different result of the test on cassette  707  is illustrated in the second entry. 
       FIG. 13B  illustrates another screen shot of app  145  returning yet another set of information extracted, derived, received via request or looked up based on the two codes (e.g.,  1402 ,  1502 ). A result of the test on cassette  707  is illustrated in the first entry, while the cassette ID, lot number, and expiration date are illustrated in the second entry. 
     Example embodiments of apparatus  700  and/or of cassette  707  are illustrated in more detail in one or more of the following FIGs. 
       FIG. 14 a    and  FIG. 14B  illustrate an apparatus  700  having cassette  707  disposed therein. Apparatus  700  comprises a housing base  1710  and lid  750  coupled to one another via a hinge assembly  1750 . Display  708  is illustrated displaying QR code  1402 , visible through an aperture in lid  750 . An advantageous display technology for this application is known as e-paper, which is a very low power consuming persistent display. However, it will be appreciated that any display technology could be utilized.  FIG. 14B  illustrates a perspective bottom view of apparatus  700 . 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate an example embodiment of a test strip cassette  707 . In this embodiment a housing includes a sample application opening  712  and a test result viewing opening  714 . As can be seen in  FIG. 15 , the test result viewing opening comprises beveled walls at least partially around the edge of the opening, a function of which is described further below. The housing may be formed from a top portion and an opposing bottom portion. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16 through 23 , lid  750  comprises aperture  2234  ( FIG. 19 ) through which display  708  and QR code  1402  is ultimately made visible. In some embodiments, a printed circuit board (PCB)  2210  is configured to be disposed on an underside of lid  750 . While PCB  2210  may comprise any electronics and/or circuitry of apparatus  700  as described anywhere herein,  FIG. 16  specifically illustrates one or more sensors  703 / 704  and batteries  701  (e.g., 3× AAA batteries) disposed thereon. Battery cover  2220  is configured to be disposed over a top (or bottom) and sides of batteries  701 . For example,  FIG. 16  illustrates apparatus  700  with PCB  2210  attached to the underside of open lid  750 , cassette mounting structure  2260  attached to base shell  1710 , and neither cassette  707  nor cover  2220  coupled to apparatus  700 .  FIG. 17  illustrates apparatus  700  as in  FIG. 16  but with cover  2220  coupled over batteries  701 .  FIG. 18  illustrates apparatus  700  as in  FIG. 17  but lid laid open, completely flat and cassette  707  properly disposed on cassette mounting structure  2260 . As illustrated, one or both of PCB  2210  and cassette mounting structure  2260  may be respectively secured to lid  750  and base shell  1710  using screws. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates an exploded perspective view of apparatus  700  of any of  FIGS. 14-18 , according to some example embodiments. Apparatus  700  comprises base housing portion  1710  having a first portion  2242  of hinge apparatus  1750  and lid housing portion  750  having a second portion  2232  of hinge apparatus  1750 . A hinge pin  2250  may be configured to pass through apertures in each of first and second portions  2242 ,  2232  of hinge apparatus  1750 . In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , second portion  2232  may be configured to be disposed between each of two laterally disposed aspects of first portion  2242 . 
     Base shell  1710  comprises a cassette mounting structure  2260  configured to receive cassette  707  such that at least an end portion of cassette  707  extends outside of apparatus  700 . 
       FIGS. 20-23  illustrate different cutaway views of apparatus  700  with all aspects of apparatus  700  installed. A protruding housing  2215  forms a mounting location for the one or more sensors  703 / 704  which is disposed on PCB  2210  (which is coupled to the underside of lid  750 ).Cassette mounting structure  2260  is disposed on base housing portion  1710  such that when cassette  707  is disposed in structure  2260  and lid  750  is closed, the one or more sensors  703 / 704  are aligned directly over the correct portion of test strip  702  to be analyzed within cassette  707 . 
       FIG. 24  and  FIG. 25  illustrate the placement and registration of the cassette  707  with respect to the test strip/cassette mounting structure  2260  As shown in  FIG. 24 , the mounting structure includes a protruding pin  732  that mates with an opening  730  in the cassette  707  configured to accept the pin  732  when the cassette  707  is placed and oriented correctly on the mounting structure  2260 .  FIG. 25  shows the pin  732  mated with the opening  730 . The pin  732  and opening  730  form registration or alignment features for the cassette  707  with respect to the mounting structure  2260 . 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 25 , the sensor housing  2215  and the test result viewing opening  714  are also configured to mate in a manner providing accurate registration/alignment of the one or more sensors with the desired location of the test strip. In this embodiment, the viewing opening  714  on the cassette  707  has one or more inwardly beveled walls  716  around at least a portion of the viewing opening  714 . The mounting structure  2215  for the one or more sensors has one or more protruding walls  2216  with matching bevels to mate snugly inside the result viewing opening  714 . These registration and alignment structures, which can be provided together or separately in various embodiments, help ensure that a user of the device obtains accurate and reproducible test strip and sensor alignments for each assay performed, enhancing accuracy of test results. 
       FIG. 26  illustrates a flowchart of another method for testing an assay and reading out a result of such testing, according to some example embodiments. The method of  FIG. 26  may correspond with or apply to any apparatus described in this disclosure. 
     Block  2602  includes disposing a liquid sample on a test disposed in a reader. Test strip  702  may be disposed in a cassette  707  that is removably disposed in apparatus  700 . 
     Block  2604  includes generating a signal indicative of a change in a characteristic of the test strip with the reader. 
     Block  2606  includes generating a pattern on a display of the reader, the pattern encoding data related to a result of an assay conducted by the reader based on sampled sensor signals. For example, as previously described, display  708  may generate a pattern (e.g., a bar code or QR code. The pattern encodes data related to a result of an assay conducted by apparatus  700 . 
     In some embodiments, the method further include utilizing an application running on a mobile device to cause a camera to generate an image of the pattern on the display of the reader and decode the data related to the result based on the image. For example, as previously described, app  145  running on mobile device  140  may cause camera  1410  to generate an image of pattern  1402  on display  708  of apparatus  700  and decode the data related to the result based on the image. 
     In some embodiments, app  145  may cause camera  1410  to generate the image that simultaneously includes second pattern  1502  on cassette  707  and pattern  1402  on display  708  of apparatus  700 . App  145  may further decode the second data based on the image. 
     In some embodiments, apparatus  700  may read information directly from cassette  707  via one or more electrical contacts communicatively coupling cassette  707  with apparatus  700  when cassette  707  is disposed on cassette carrier  2260  within apparatus  700 . 
     In some embodiments, sample strip  702  comprises a reflective substance (e.g., gold) and the characteristic being sensed is a reflectivity of the sample strip. In some embodiments, the first portion of sample strip  702  is disposed between the initial portion and the second portion of the sample strip. The liquid sample received by sample strip  702  is configured to migrate from the initial portion toward the first and second portions of sample strip  702 . In some embodiments, apparatus  700  includes hinged lid  750  and first and second sensors  703 ,  704  are disposed on an underside of lid  750  such that, when cassette  707  is disposed in carrier  2260  and lid  750  is closed, first and second sensors  703 ,  704  are disposed directly over the respective first and second portions of sample strip  702  within cassette  707 . In some embodiments, first and second sensors  703 ,  704  are disposed on PCB  2210  secured to an underside of lid  750  such that first and second sensors  703 ,  704  protrude from PCB  2210  and into one or more recesses  2324  in cassette  707  when cassette  707  is disposed on carrier  2260 . In some embodiments, the data related to the result of the assay includes at least one of text of a result of the assay, a pictorial representation of the result of the assay, and a link to a webpage configured to convey at least one of a result of the assay, and a unique identifier of apparatus  700 . In some embodiments, cassette  707  comprises second pattern  1502  encoding second data related to at least one of a type of assay cassette  707  is configured for, a duration for carrying out the assay, a positive and/or negative threshold associated with the assay, a unique serial number, lot number and/or expiration date of cassette  707 , and a hash code. 
       FIG. 27  illustrates a flowchart of a method for testing an assay and reading out a result of such testing, according to some example embodiments. The method may correspond with or apply to any apparatus described in this disclosure. 
     Block  2702  includes disposing the liquid sample on a portion of test strip of a reader. For example, as previously described, a user can dispose the liquid sample on an initial portion of sample strip  102  of reader  100 . 
     Block  2704  includes generating a signal indicative of a change in a characteristic at a portion of the test strip from a sensor of the reader. In some embodiments, the characteristic is a reflectivity of sample strip  102 . 
     Block  2706  includes sampling the signal according to a predetermined sampling interval utilizing a processor of the reader. For example, processor  105  of processing circuitry  110  of reader  100  is configured to sample a signal from the one or more sensors according to a predetermined sampling interval (e.g., once every second) for the duration of the data collection for sample strip  102 . 
     Block  2708  includes storing only a subset of the samples of the signal in a memory of the reader. For example, memory  106  of processing circuitry  110  of reader  100  can be configured to only store the Nth signal or sample from each of first and second sensors  103 ,  104 , where N is equal to an integer greater than one, for example and not limitation 7 or 14. 
       FIG. 28  illustrates a flowchart of another portion of a method for performing an assay and reading out a result of such testing, according to some example embodiments. The method of  FIG. 28  may correspond with or apply to any apparatus described in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the method of  FIG. 28  can follow the method of  FIG. 27 . 
     Block  2802  includes pointing a light sensor of a probe toward a light emitting source of a reader. For example, a user can point light sensor  127  of probe  120  toward LED  108   c  of reader  100 . In some embodiments, for example as previously described in connection with  FIG. 6 , block  2802  can also include physically disposing reader  100  into probe  120  in a predetermined orientation such that light sensor  127  of probe  120  is facing LED  108   c  of reader  100 . 
     Block  2804  includes generating, utilizing the light sensor of the probe, a signal indicative of the subset of the samples based on an illumination intensity pattern of at least the first light emitting source of the reader. For example, light sensor  127  of probe  120  can be configured to generate a signal indicative of the subset of samples based on the blinking pattern of LED  108   c  of reader  100 . 
     Block  2806  includes packaging the signal indicative of the subset of the samples into a predetermined wireless communication protocol format utilizing a transceiver module of the probe. For example, transceiver module  125  of probe  120  can be configured to package the signal indicative of the subset of the samples generated by light sensor  127  of probe  120  into a predetermined wireless communication protocol format. In some embodiments, the predetermined wireless communication protocol is Bluetooth. 
     Block  2808  includes transmitting the packaged signal in the predetermined wireless communication protocol format, utilizing the transceiver module, to a computing device configured to analyze the subset of the samples. For example, transceiver module  125  of probe  120  can be configured to transmit the packaged signal in the predetermined wireless communication protocol format to computing device  140  (and/or intermediate computing device  150 ) configured to analyze the subset of the samples ultimately relayed from memory  106  of reader  100 , through probe  120 , to computing device  140  and/or intermediate computing device  150 . 
     In some embodiments, neither reader  100  nor probe  120  is configured to analyze or substantively process the subset of the samples of the first and second signals initially generated by first and second sensors  103 ,  104  of reader  100  with respect to determination of a result of the assay of the liquid sample on sample strip  102 . 
     General Interpretive Principles for the Present Disclosure 
     Various aspects of the novel systems, apparatuses, and methods are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The teachings disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the novel systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of or combined with any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, a system or an apparatus may be implemented, or a method may be practiced using any one or more of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover such a system, apparatus or method which is practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect disclosed herein may be set forth in one or more elements of a claim. Although some benefits and advantages of the preferred aspects are mentioned, the scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited to particular benefits, uses, or objectives. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the disclosure rather than limiting, the scope of the disclosure being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
     With respect to the use of plural vs. singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. 
     When describing an absolute value of a characteristic or property of a thing or act described herein, the terms “substantial,” “substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” and/or other terms or phrases of degree may be used without the specific recitation of a numerical range. When applied to a characteristic or property of a thing or act described herein, these terms refer to a range of the characteristic or property that is consistent with providing a desired function associated with that characteristic or property. 
     In those cases where a single numerical value is given for a characteristic or property, it is intended to be interpreted as at least covering deviations of that value within one significant digit of the numerical value given. 
     If a numerical value or range of numerical values is provided to define a characteristic or property of a thing or act described herein, whether or not the value or range is qualified with a term of degree, a specific method of measuring the characteristic or property may be defined herein as well. In the event no specific method of measuring the characteristic or property is defined herein, and there are different generally accepted methods of measurement for the characteristic or property, then the measurement method should be interpreted as the method of measurement that would most likely be adopted by one of ordinary skill in the art given the description and context of the characteristic or property. In the further event there is more than one method of measurement that is equally likely to be adopted by one of ordinary skill in the art to measure the characteristic or property, the value or range of values should be interpreted as being met regardless of which method of measurement is chosen. 
     It will be understood by those within the art that terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are intended as “open” terms unless specifically indicated otherwise (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). 
     It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). 
     In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C” is used, such a construction would include systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together without C, A and C together without B, B and C together without A, as well as A, B, and C together. It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include A without B, B without A, as well as A and B together.” 
     Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure can be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and generic principles defined herein can be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the claims, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein. The word “exemplary” is used exclusively herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. 
     Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations also can be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation also can be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination can be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination. 
     The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method. The method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is specified, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims.