TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application is related to a compact analytical device integrated onto a portable computing device for (bio)-chemical and clinical analytical analysis. In detail, the device may detect albumin, phenylalanine, glucose, and hematocrit in a blood sample. Also, the device is configured to conduct bacteriological testing.

BACKGROUND

Despite all the advances in development of new methods for clinical and chemical analysis, one of the main limitations of most (bio)analytical methods is their reliance on expensive, bulky, and sophisticated devices that limit their applications for in situ sample analysis and point-of-use (POU) purposes. Therefore, one promising frontier for (bio)analytical chemistry is the ever-increasing development of novel analytical methods and tools that are able to meet the intended analytical requirements through efficient and easy-to-use approaches with no need for expensive, large and sophisticated instruments, and trained operators to run the tests/equipment and interpret the results.

Among these, simplification, automation, and miniaturization of analytical devices and methods, and more recently, the coupling of analytical devices with new emerging and ubiquitous technologies such as smartphones have witnessed significant growth.

The universal availability, affordability, ease-of-use, portability, and other useful and beneficial features of smartphones as miniature computers with fast operating systems, high-quality cameras, large memories, powerful and rechargeable batteries, several wireless connectivity and data transferring modes, touch-screen, USB and audio ports, and so on, make them promising and appealing platforms or tools in analytical chemistry and particularly in (bio)sensing and (bio)diagnostics technology.

Although significant developments have already been reached in terms of smartphone applications in (bio)analytical chemistry, a substantial gap still remains in moving a compact analytical devices integrated onto a smartphone from purely sensing and data analyzing platforms toward more functional and integrated analytical devices that may fulfill most of the (bio)analytical/diagnostic procedures, which often require multiple-steps of mixing, separating, analyzing, and microscopy. Because of this obstacle, the applications of smartphone-based analytical devices are greatly limited, especially in resource-limited settings and at the point-of-care (POC) and POU, where access to routine laboratory equipment is usually either lacking or very limited. To overcome this access limitation, the development of new compact analytical devices integrated onto smartphone for performing main steps of (bio)analytical procedures is required, which are portable, easy-to-use, efficient, rapid and moreover needed small volumes of sample and reagents.

SUMMARY

This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter of this patent, and is not intended to identify essential elements or key elements of the subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to determine the scope of the claimed implementations. The proper scope of this patent may be ascertained from the claims set forth below in view of the detailed description below and the drawings.

In one general aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an exemplary compact analytical device for performing main steps of analytical procedures. The exemplary compact analytical device may comprise a driving part comprising a chamber with at least two holes for holding at least two pillars, an armature, a motor speed controller, and a connection port, the driver part configured to be attached to a stirrer part or a centrifuge part, wherein: the stirrer part may be configured to mix at least one sample, the stirrer part including a stirrer plate, at least two pillars, a stirrer blade, and at least two magnets placed on two sides of the stirrer blade, and the centrifuge part may be configured to separate a component, the centrifuge part including a conical plate with at least two micro tube positions and two capillary tub positions. Furthermore, the exemplary compact analytical device may further comprise an analyzer part configured to produce analytical data, the analyzer part including a dark chamber with an image capturing aperture, at least one hole for an optical source, a connection port, and a strip hole configured to insert a strip holder. Also, the exemplary compact analytical device may further comprise a microscope part including a magnifying lens, a microscopy slid holder, at least two gears, and a light source, wherein the light source may be placed on an opposite side of the image capturing aperture within the dark chamber. Moreover, the exemplary compact analytical device may further comprise a portable computing device configured to quantify analytical data, the portable computing device including one or more processors, a memory, an image capturing device, and a charger port, and a frame configured to hold the analyzer part and the microscope part, the frame comprising a chamber with a connection port and a cover plate, wherein a first substrate of the cover plate may be configured to hold the portable computing device.

The above general aspect may have one or more of the following features. In an exemplary implementation, the pillars may be fixed on the holes of the chamber of the driving part. In an exemplary implementation, the pillars may be movable inside the holes of the chamber of the driving part. In an exemplary implementation, the pillars may comprise a first section and at least one second section configured to change a height level of the stirrer plate, wherein the second section of the pillars may be configured to move between a retracted position inside of the first section and an extended position outside of the first section. In an exemplary implementation, the stirrer plate may include a plurality of holes for holding more than one sample. In an exemplary implementation, the stirrer plate may be configured to hold one sample. In an exemplary implementation, a cone angle of the conical plate may be in a range of 30 to 60 degrees. In an exemplary implementation, the portable computing device may be configured to charge the compact analytical device. In an exemplary implementation, the device may be configured to analyze a body fluid. In an exemplary implementation, the device may be configured to conduct an analytical diagnosis of Phenylketonuria disease, point-of-care testing of glucose, hematocrit, and albumin, perform a bacteriological test, and diagnosis of Tuberculosis. In an exemplary implementation, the device may be configured to determine phenylalanine, glucose, albumin, or hematocrit level based on an analysis of a blood sample. In an exemplary implementation, the device may be configured to detectMycobacterium tuberculosisbacteria in a sputum sample. In an exemplary implementation, the device may further comprise a phenylalanine assay kit comprising a bacterial cellulose substrate, a plurality of circle patterns embedded with quantum dot and Fe (III), wherein the plurality of circle patterns may print on a first surface of the bacterial cellulose substrate.

