Patent Description:
<CIT> describes a DS system to measure dielectric permittivity. The DS system includes a sensing apparatus and a sensor interface system. The sensor interface system drives sensor circuitry, which is connected with electrodes positioned in a fluid channel of the sensing apparatus, with an RF input signal. The sensor circuitry is configured to have a dielectric permittivity that depends on fluid that is within the fluid channel. Another electrode also positioned in the fluid channel provides a corresponding RF output signal to a receiver in the sensor interface system that is connected with a computing system. The computing system is programmed with processing algorithms for computing permittivity in response to the RF output data provided by the receiver.

Improvements can be made in the aforementioned DS system to make the system more portable, intuitive and user friendly.

In view of the foregoing, the invention is a portable dielectric spectroscopy device as defined by claim <NUM> and an associated removable sensor receiver assembly as defined by claim <NUM>. The portable DS device includes a device housing, device - side electrical contacts, a computing system and a removable sensor receiver assembly. The device housing includes a removable sensor receiver compartment. The device - side electrical contacts are positioned in or adjacent to the removable sensor receiver compartment. The computing system is in the device housing, is in communication with the device - side electrical contacts and includes an impedance analyzer. The removable sensor receiver assembly includes a removable sensor receiver housing configured to be selectively received in and removable from the removable sensor receiver compartment. The removable sensor receiver housing includes a fluid sensing apparatus receiving section configured to receive an associated fluid sensing apparatus in which a fluid to be tested is loaded. The removable sensor receiver assembly is also configured to provide for an electrical connection between the associated fluid sensing apparatus and the device - side electrical contact when the removable sensor receiver housing is received in the removable sensor receiver compartment. The portable dielectric spectroscopy device includes at least two position sensors in communication with the computing system and configured to detect a relative location of an associated cap for the associated sensing apparatus.

Also, a removable sensor receiver assembly for use with a portable DS device includes a removable sensor receiver housing and at least two electrical contacts provided on the removable sensor receiver housing. The removable sensor receiver housing includes a fluid sensing apparatus receiving section configured to receive a fluid sensing apparatus in which a fluid to be tested is loaded. The electrical contacts are provided on the removable sensor receiver housing to provide for an electrical connection between the fluid sensing apparatus and an impedance analyzer on the portable DS device when the removable sensor receiver housing is received in a removable sensor receiver compartment of the portable DS device. The at least two electrical contacts include electrical contacts to provide for an electrical connection between an associated heater on the associated sensing apparatus and an associated computer system on the associated portable DS device for controlling the associated heater when the removable sensor receiver housing is received in the removable sensor receiver compartment of the associated portable dielectric device. The sensor receiver assembly further includes a back panel including at least two position sensor openings, each position sensor opening receiving a respective position sensor window, which is translucent or transparent, each position sensor opening being configured for alignment with a respective position sensor on the associated portable DS device that is configured to detect a relative location of an associated cap for the associated sensing apparatus.

<FIG> schematically depicts a portable dielectric spectroscopy (DS) device <NUM> that is useful for the quantitative measurement of complex dielectric permittivity of a material versus frequency. The portable DS device <NUM> can be used for chemical analysis of many fluids including, but not limited to, blood to help determine whether certain drugs that may affect the coagulation rate of the blood are found in a blood sample. As such, the portable DS device <NUM> may be used as a portable coagulometer. The portable DS device <NUM>, however, can be used for other quantitative measurements as well.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the portable DS device <NUM> includes a device housing <NUM> that can house internal components of the portable DS device <NUM>. The device housing <NUM> can be made of any suitable materials to house electrical components, which will be described in more detail below. The device housing <NUM> can be similar in size to a mobile phone, although slightly larger, so as to be easily grasped and manipulated by a human hand thus making the portable DS device <NUM> a hand held device.

With reference to <FIG>, the device housing <NUM> includes a removable sensor receiver (RSR) compartment <NUM> that is configured to receive an RSR housing <NUM> of an RSR assembly <NUM>, which will be described in more detail below. The RSR assembly <NUM>, and thus the RSR housing <NUM>, is/are insertable into and removable from the RSR compartment <NUM>, which can allow for easier cleaning of the portable DS device <NUM> as well as allowing for other advantages that will be described in more detail below.

With reference to <FIG>, the RSR housing <NUM> receives a fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> in which a fluid sample <NUM> (schematically depicted in <FIG>) to be tested is loaded. The fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> includes circuitry residing in a compartment in which the fluid sample <NUM> to be tested resides. The circuitry is configured to have a dielectric permittivity that depends on the fluid sample <NUM> being tested. The sensor circuitry is more particularly described in <CIT> as well as in <CIT>. When the fluid sample <NUM> to be tested is blood, for example, allowing the RSR assembly <NUM> to be removable from the device housing <NUM> allows for easier cleaning of the portable DS device <NUM>; however, providing for an electrical connection between the portable DS device <NUM> and the fluid sample <NUM> in the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> must be taken into consideration.

With reference to <FIG>, a rechargeable battery <NUM> is disposed in the device housing <NUM>. The rechargeable battery <NUM> can be in electrical contact with charging contacts <NUM>. The portable DS device <NUM> can be placed on a docking station <NUM> (<FIG>), which can connect with an electrical outlet in a conventional manner, to charge the portable DS device <NUM> in a manner similar to other small portable electronics.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the portable DS device <NUM> further includes a computing system, which can include programmable integrated circuits, system on modules (SOM) boards, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and similar devices to operate the electrical components described below. <FIG> depicts one example in which the computing system includes a main circuit board <NUM> with FPGA, a SOM board <NUM>, a power supply board <NUM>, a scanner/decoder board <NUM>, and miniature impedance analyzer components <NUM> (<FIG>) being located on the main circuit board <NUM>. Each component of the computing system is electrically connected with the battery <NUM> so as to receive power from the battery <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> depict one example of a computing system including a plurality of boards, however, any computing system capable of performing the functions described below could also be employed.

In the illustrated embodiment, the miniature impedance analyzer components <NUM> are located proximal to the RSR compartment <NUM> so as to inhibit the likelihood of interference and noise with regard to electrical communication between the miniature impedance analyzer components <NUM> and the fluid sample <NUM> being tested within the RSR compartment <NUM>. In one particular embodiment, the miniature impedance analyzer components <NUM> are positioned within one centimeter of the fluid being tested within the RSR compartment <NUM> when a test is being run. As explained in <CIT>, when performing impedance analyzation on a fluid, measured signals are amplified in the miniature impedance analyzer components <NUM>, and thus the minimization of interference and other noise signals is very useful. The miniature impedance analyzer components <NUM> can be similar to those described in <CIT> for measuring the impedance and dielectric permittivity of the fluid sample <NUM> in the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>.

The portable DS device <NUM> further includes a display screen <NUM> on the device housing <NUM>. The display screen <NUM> is useful to present information to a user of the portable DS device <NUM>. The display screen <NUM> can be a thin-film-transistor (TFT) display such as those used with mobile phones. The display screen <NUM> is in electrical communication with the aforementioned computing system and receives power from the battery <NUM>. A structural support <NUM> is disposed in the device housing <NUM> to provide structural support behind the display screen <NUM>.

With reference back to <FIG>, the portable DS device <NUM> can further include a USB-C connector <NUM> on the device housing <NUM>. The USB-C connector <NUM> can allow for the electrical connection of an external device or computer to communicate with the aforementioned computing system to debug the portable DS device <NUM> as well as to program the computing system. Other types of connectors that allow for the connection of an external computing device can also be employed.

With reference to <FIG>, the portable DS device <NUM> can further include a scanner camera <NUM> positioned within the device housing <NUM> and including a lens that is directed outwardly from the device housing <NUM>. The scanner camera <NUM> is in electrical communication with the scanner/decoder board <NUM>, which is part of the aforementioned computing system, to allow for the scanning of bar codes and other machine - readable indicia. This can be useful to associate the fluid sample <NUM> to be tested by the portable DS device <NUM> with a particular sample and/or patient.

The portable DS device <NUM> can further include buttons or other similar user interface devices to control the operation of the portable DS device <NUM> in general, for example, a button <NUM> (<FIG>) which can control the on/off function of the portable DS device <NUM> as well as to control the scanner camera <NUM> and other components on the portable DS device <NUM> is provided.

The RSR assembly <NUM> includes the RSR housing <NUM>, which is configured to be received inside the RSR compartment <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The RSR housing <NUM> includes a fluid sensing apparatus receiving section <NUM> configured to receive the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>. The RSR assembly <NUM> is also configured to provide for an electrical connection between the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> and the computing system and the miniature impedance analyzer components <NUM> via device - side electrical contacts (described in more detail below) when the RSR housing <NUM> is received in the RSR compartment <NUM>.

The RSR housing <NUM> includes a lid <NUM> movably connected with a back panel <NUM>. The lid <NUM> includes a lid ceiling <NUM> defining a ceiling inner surface <NUM> and a ceiling outer surface <NUM>. When the lid <NUM> is closed with respect to the back panel <NUM>, such as that shown in <FIG>, the ceiling inner surface <NUM> faces toward the fluid sensing apparatus receiving section <NUM> and the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> if it is loaded into the RSR assembly <NUM>. A peripheral rim <NUM> extends away from the lid ceiling <NUM> and more particularly the ceiling inner surface <NUM>. A magnet <NUM> is provided near the peripheral rim <NUM> and cooperates with the back panel <NUM> to retain the lid <NUM> in the closed position when the lid <NUM> is closed over the back panel <NUM>. The lid <NUM> further includes axle hubs <NUM> that receive an axle (not visible) connecting the lid <NUM> with the back panel <NUM> in a pivotal manner. The lid <NUM> is shown pivotally connected with the back panel <NUM>; however, the lid <NUM> could connect with the back panel <NUM> in other movable manners, such as being slidable with respect to the back panel <NUM>. The lid <NUM> includes sensor contact flanges <NUM> that also depend away from the lid ceiling <NUM> and more particularly the ceiling inner surface <NUM> in the same direction as the peripheral rim <NUM>. Each sensor contact flange <NUM> extends downwardly from the ceiling inner surface <NUM> when the lid <NUM> is in the closed position (<FIG>). The sensor contact flange <NUM> is configured to contact the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> and urge the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> toward electrical contacts (described in more detail below) when the lid <NUM> is in the closed position.

The back panel <NUM> includes a peripheral ridge <NUM> having an axle hub receiving recess <NUM> that receives the axle hubs <NUM> on the lid <NUM>. The peripheral ridge <NUM> extends away from a floor <NUM> of the back panel <NUM>. The floor <NUM> includes a recess <NUM> to separate a recessed floor surface <NUM> from an elevated floor surface <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess <NUM> coincides with the fluid sensing apparatus receiving section <NUM>. The fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> and the recess <NUM> are each configured so that the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> is received within the recess <NUM> in only one orientation. The fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> includes a cap <NUM> that is receivable on opposite ends of the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>. In <FIG>, the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> is shown on the left of the portable DS device <NUM> in the configuration in which the fluid sample <NUM> has been loaded into the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> and the fluid sample <NUM> is ready to be tested. Also in <FIG>, the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> is shown on the right of the portable DS device <NUM> in the configuration in which the fluid sample <NUM> has yet to be loaded into the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> and the cap <NUM> is at the opposite end. The fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> is receivable within the recess <NUM> with the cap <NUM> at either end; however, the appropriate side of the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> needs to be facing the recessed floor surface <NUM> and the cap <NUM> needs to be appropriately attached for the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> to be properly received in the recess <NUM>. Small protrusions <NUM> can extend into the recess <NUM> to facilitate alignment of the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> and to preclude the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> from being received in the recess <NUM> in an improper orientation.

The back panel <NUM> includes at least two position sensor openings <NUM>. Each position sensor opening <NUM> receives a respective position sensor window <NUM>, which is translucent or transparent. Each position sensor opening <NUM> is configured for alignment with a respective position sensor <NUM> (<FIG>) on the portable DS device <NUM>. Each position sensor <NUM> can be mounted to the main circuit board <NUM> (see <FIG>). At least two position sensor apertures <NUM>, which are each aligned with a respective position sensor <NUM>, are provided in the device housing <NUM> in the RSR compartment <NUM>. When the RSR housing <NUM> is received in the RSR compartment <NUM>, the at least two position sensor apertures <NUM> are each aligned with a respective position sensor window <NUM> on the removable sensor receiver housing <NUM>. The position sensor openings <NUM> are provided within the recess <NUM> and extend through the recessed floor surface <NUM>. The position sensors <NUM> can be optical position sensors and be configured to detect a relative location of the lid <NUM> with respect to the back panel <NUM>. For example, the position sensors <NUM> can provide a signal to indicate that the lid <NUM> is either opened or closed. Additionally, each of the position sensors <NUM> is provided in an appropriate location to allow for detection of a relative location of the cap <NUM> on the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> to be determined. As indicated above, for the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> shown on the left of the portable DS device <NUM>, the cap <NUM> is shown over a first end of the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>. The cap <NUM> can also connect with the opposite end of the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>, which is shown for the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> shown on the right of the portable DS device <NUM> in <FIG>. When the cap <NUM> is on the first end of fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>, the position sensor <NUM> on the left in <FIG> can detect the presence of the cap <NUM>. When the cap <NUM> is on the second end of fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> (such as that shown for the fluid sensing apparatus on the right of the portable DS device in <FIG>), the position sensor <NUM> on the right in <FIG> can detect the presence of the cap <NUM>.

A control electrical contact opening <NUM> is provided through the floor <NUM> of the back panel <NUM> within the recess <NUM>. A plurality of RSR-side control electrical contacts <NUM>, which can be in the form of pogo pins, extend through the control electrical contact opening <NUM>. The RSR-side control electrical contacts <NUM> are mounted to a small circuit board <NUM> (<FIG>) mounted to a rear surface <NUM> of the back panel <NUM>. The RSR-side control electrical contacts <NUM> provide an electrical connection between electrical components on the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> that can for example control a heater (not shown in <FIG>) on the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> to maintain the fluid sample <NUM> within a desired temperature range. The RSR-side control electrical contacts <NUM> can also provide signals to allow for an identification of the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>. The RSR-side control electrical contacts <NUM> connect with device-side control electrical contacts <NUM> (<FIG>), which can also be in the form of pogo pins, provided on the portable DS device <NUM>. The device-side control electrical contacts <NUM> can be provided in the RSR compartment <NUM> extending through an opening <NUM> provided therein. The device-side control electrical contacts <NUM> can also be mounted to the main circuit board <NUM> (see <FIG>).

With reference back to <FIG>, at least two RSR-side impedance analyzer contacts <NUM> each extend through a respective RSR-side impedance analyzer contact opening <NUM> provided in the back panel <NUM>. Each of the RSR-side impedance analyzer contacts <NUM> are provided within the recess <NUM> and extend upwardly from the recessed floor surface <NUM>. Each of the RSR-side impedance analyzer contacts <NUM> can be in the form of a pogo pin. With reference now also to <FIG>, each of the at least two RSR-side impedance analyzer contacts <NUM> electrically contacts a respective device-side impedance analyzer contact <NUM> when the RSR housing <NUM> is received in the RSR compartment <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, the device-side impedance analyzer contacts <NUM> can make up a portion of the miniature impedance analyzer components <NUM>, which can be provided on the main circuit board <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the back panel <NUM> of the RSR housing <NUM> also includes stand off openings <NUM>. With reference back to <FIG>, each stand off opening <NUM> is configured to receive a respective stand off <NUM> provided in the RSR compartment <NUM>. The stand off openings <NUM> cooperate with the stand offs <NUM> to properly align the RSR assembly <NUM> within the RSR compartment <NUM>. Additionally, locator tabs <NUM> extend downwardly from the floor <NUM> of the back panel <NUM>. Each locator tab <NUM> is received in a respective locator tab opening <NUM> provided in the RSR compartment <NUM>. The locator tabs <NUM> on the RSR housing <NUM> cooperate with the locator tab openings <NUM> provided on the portable DS device <NUM> properly locate the RSR assembly <NUM> within the RSR compartment <NUM>. With reference back to <FIG>, a Hall-effect sensor <NUM> cooperates with the magnet <NUM> to indicate a closed position when the lid <NUM> is closed against the back panel <NUM>.

The RSR assembly <NUM> can further include a heater <NUM>, which is depicted in phantom in <FIG>. The fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> depicted in <FIG> includes a heater (not visible) that is controlled via the device-side control electrical contacts <NUM> and the RSR-side control electrical contacts <NUM>. If the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> did not include the heater, however, or in addition to this heater, the heater <NUM> can connect with the battery <NUM> via the device-side control electrical contacts <NUM> when the RSR housing <NUM> is received in the RSR compartment <NUM>. The heater <NUM> can positioned within the recess <NUM>, which can allow the heater to maintain the fluid sample <NUM> to be tested in the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> within a desired temperature range. A thermistor (not shown) or similar temperature sensor can be provided in the RSR assembly <NUM> and be in communication with the computing system via the device-side control electrical contacts <NUM> when the RSR housing <NUM> is received in the RSR compartment <NUM>. The thermistor or similar temperature sensor can control the operation of the heater <NUM> so as to maintain the temperature of the fluid to be tested within the desired temperature range.

In operation, one removes the portable DS device <NUM> from the docking station <NUM>. If the portable DS device <NUM> needs charging, then a message is displayed on the display screen <NUM> that the portable DS device needs charging and a test cannot be run. If the portable DS device <NUM> does not need charging, then user removes the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> from sterile packaging. When in the sterile packaging, the cap <NUM> is connected with the end of the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> for the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> on the right of the portable DS device <NUM>. The user can then press a button, similar to or the same as the on/off button <NUM> depicted in <FIG> or a "button" provided on the display screen <NUM>, to operate the scanner camera <NUM> to scan a data matrix label (not shown) on the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>. The user then opens the lid <NUM> of the RSR housing <NUM> and places the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> with the cap <NUM> connected in the manner shown to the right of the portable DS device <NUM> in <FIG> in the recess <NUM>.

The lid <NUM> is then closed, which can be confirmed by the position sensors <NUM>. The computing system on the portable DS device <NUM> is configured to determine the temperature of the portable DS device <NUM> via a thermistor provided on the portable DS device <NUM>, which is in electrical communication with the thermistor via the device-side control electrical contacts <NUM> and the RSR-side control electrical contacts <NUM>. If the thermistor measures a temperature outside of a predefined temperature range, then the computing system can operate the heater on the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> (or operate the optional heater <NUM>) to heat the portable DS device <NUM>. During this pre-heating stage, the display screen <NUM> can indicate to the user that the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> is being pre-heated. The location of the cap <NUM> on the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> can be confirmed by the position sensors <NUM>.

During the pre-heating stage, the user can then press a button, similar to or the same as the on/off button <NUM> depicted in <FIG> or a "button" provided on the display screen <NUM>, to operate the scanner camera <NUM> to scan a patient identification, which is associated with the patient from which fluid will be drawn. Optionally, the user can enter the patient identification information manually using the display screen <NUM>. Other information, such as when the last time the patient took medication, can also be entered into the computing system via the display screen <NUM>.

While the portable DS device <NUM> is in the pre-heating stage, if the pre-heating stage is necessary, the patient can be prepped for taking the fluid sample. For example, when the fluid sample is to be blood, the patient's finger can be cleaned and pricked. When the thermistor on the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> measures a predetermined temperature, e.g. <NUM> degrees C, the lid <NUM> can be opened and the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> can be removed from the RSR housing <NUM>. Because of the position sensors <NUM>, the relative location of the lid <NUM> with respect to the back panel <NUM> is known. The computing system can then begin a timer to provide the user a predetermined amount of time, e.g., between about <NUM> and <NUM> seconds, to obtain the fluid sample within the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>, to place the cap <NUM> on the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> (i.e., the position shown on the left of the portable DS device in <FIG>) to cover the fluid sample <NUM>, to place the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> back into the recess <NUM> of the RSR assembly <NUM> and to close the lid <NUM>.

If the predetermined amount of time expires before the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> is placed back into the recess <NUM> of the RSR assembly <NUM> and the lid <NUM> is closed, then the display screen <NUM> can provide an indication to the user that a new fluid sample needs to be obtained with a new the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM>. If the fluid sensing apparatus <NUM> is placed back into the recess <NUM> of the RSR assembly <NUM> and the lid <NUM> is closed within the predetermined amount of time, then a verification procedure can take place.

Claim 1:
A portable dielectric spectroscopy, DS, device (<NUM>) comprising:
a device housing (<NUM>) including a removable sensor receiver compartment (<NUM>);
at least one device - side electrical contact (<NUM>) positioned in or adjacent to the removable sensor receiver compartment (<NUM>);
a computing system in the device housing (<NUM>), in communication with the at least one device - side electrical contact (<NUM>) and including an impedance analyzer (<NUM>);
a removable sensor receiver assembly (<NUM>) including a removable sensor receiver housing (<NUM>) configured to be received in the removable sensor receiver compartment (<NUM>) and including a sensing apparatus receiving section (<NUM>) configured to receive an associated sensing apparatus (<NUM>) in which a fluid sample to be tested is loaded and to provide for an electrical connection between the associated sensing apparatus (<NUM>) and the at least one device - side electrical contact (<NUM>) when the removable sensor receiver housing (<NUM>) is received in the removable sensor receiver compartment (<NUM>), and
at least two position sensors (<NUM>) in communication with the computing system and configured to detect a relative location of an associated cap (<NUM>) for the associated sensing apparatus (<NUM>).