Digital health system for the continuous quantification of physiological biomarkers, biological regulators, and analytes in real-time using optical quantification
A wearable device for the quantification of regulatory substances produced in the body, such as analytes and hormones, is disclosed. The wearable device includes contact sensors formed on an outer portion of a casing of the wearable device, and those contact sensors are positioned to contact skin of a wearer of the device and configured to measure galvanic skin response and temperature. The wearable device also includes a microprocessor in the casing of the wearable device adapted to control programs and execute algorithms, a system memory in the casing of the wearable device adapted to store data, an entry port in the casing of the wearable device adapted to receive a biological-assay cartridge containing a biological sample, and a biological-assay reader placed inside the casing of the device, which includes multiple light sources and detectors for identifying the concentration of an analyte by measuring light reflected from the light source.
1 . A device, comprising:
a casing comprising an entry port;
a biological-assay cartridge comprising a housing:
the entry port being adapted to receive the biological-assay cartridge;
the biological-assay cartridge being configured to receive a biological sample comprising analytes wherein the biological-assay cartridge comprises a sampling port for obtaining the biological sample, the sampling port being located outside the housing, a plunger shaft for creating a vacuum to obtain the biological sample through the sampling port, a vacuum port configured to cause the flow of the biological sample into a channel within the cartridge, and a flowrate check valve configured to control the flowrate of the biological sample into the channel;
contact sensors formed on an outer portion of the casing; and
a biological-assay reader placed inside the casing configured to read the biological sample, wherein the biological-assay reader comprises:
at least one light source for directing light onto the biological sample; and
at least one light detector for identifying a concentration of an analyte in the biological sample by analyzing light emitted from the biological sample in response to the light directed from the source.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the biological-assay cartridge further comprises a test line for the biological sample, the test line being visible from the outside of the housing, and the test line being configured to display information about one or more analytes in the biological sample.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the biological-assay cartridge further comprises:
a first membrane for passage of the biological sample to the test area; and
a second membrane for passage of the biological sample from the test area.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the light source transmits light of a predetermined wavelength.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the light detector measures the light reflected by the biological sample.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the biological sample reflects light at an angle dependent upon the concentration of the analyte in the biological sample, and the light detector is used to analyze the angle of the reflected light.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the light detector measures the intensity of the light emitted by the biological sample.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the biological-assay cartridge further comprises:
a site inside the housing for binding the analytes within the biological sample.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the biological-assay cartridge further comprises a transparent analysis chamber configured to receive the biological sample, the transparent analysis chamber being configured to allow light from the light source to be transmitted through the transparent analysis chamber and onto the biological sample, and to allow the light emitted from the biological sample to be analyzed by the light detector.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the biological-assay cartridge further comprises a mixer for mixing the biological sample.
11 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the biological-assay cartridge further comprises an electrical reference probe configured to measure resistance of the mixture of the biological sample, and an electrochemical test configured to measure analytes in the biological sample.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the biological sample is a bodily fluid.