U.S. patent application number 17/240379 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-12 for non-invasive system for calculating a human or animal, reliable, standardized and complete score.
The applicant listed for this patent is ECHOSENS. Invention is credited to Marie DESTRO, Veronique MIETTE, Laurent SANDRIN.
Application Number | 20210244345 17/240379 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005541204 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210244345 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SANDRIN; Laurent ; et
al. |
August 12, 2021 |
NON-INVASIVE SYSTEM FOR CALCULATING A HUMAN OR ANIMAL, RELIABLE,
STANDARDIZED AND COMPLETE SCORE
Abstract
A non-invasive system for calculating a human or animal score,
the system including a measurement slave device constructed and
arranged to carry out measurements of biological parameters; a
measure slave device constructed and arranged to carry out
measurements of physical parameters; a master device constructed
and arranged to collect the biological and physical parameters and
calculate the human or animal score, the score including biological
and physical parameters.
Inventors: |
SANDRIN; Laurent;
(BOURG-LA-REINE, FR) ; MIETTE; Veronique;
(VILLEJUIF, FR) ; DESTRO; Marie; (NEUILLY
PLAISANCE, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ECHOSENS |
PARIS |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005541204 |
Appl. No.: |
17/240379 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14908942 |
Jan 29, 2016 |
11033222 |
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PCT/EP2014/066102 |
Jul 25, 2014 |
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17240379 |
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61861760 |
Aug 2, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12Q 1/6883 20130101;
A61B 5/4869 20130101; A61B 8/5223 20130101; G01N 33/483 20130101;
C12Q 2600/156 20130101; A61B 8/485 20130101; G01N 33/6893 20130101;
A61B 5/4244 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/00 20060101
A61B005/00; G01N 33/68 20060101 G01N033/68; C12Q 1/6883 20060101
C12Q001/6883; A61B 8/08 20060101 A61B008/08; G01N 33/483 20060101
G01N033/483 |
Claims
1.-24. (canceled)
25. A method for calculating a human or animal score, said method
comprising: carrying out measurements of one or more blood
parameters of a patient with a blood chemical analyzer; carrying
out measurements of one or more physical parameters of the patient
with an elastography apparatus, the one or more physical parameters
comprising at least one of elasticity, stiffness, viscosity,
ultrasound attenuation, or shear wave speed, associated with
biological tissues, the elastography apparatus including an
ultrasonic transducer configured to emit ultrasound shots and to
receive corresponding echo signals to track how biological tissues
of the patient are moved by a shear wave generated by the
elastography apparatus, wherein the measurements of the one or more
blood parameters and the measurements of the one or more physical
parameters are carried out concurrently or within a same time
frame; collecting by a master device said one or more blood
parameters and at least one of said physical parameters, the master
device including a processor and a computer-readable medium having
machine-executable instructions to, when executed by the processor,
calculate said human or animal score on the basis of the
measurements of the one or more blood parameters and the at least
one of said physical parameters.
26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the blood chemical
analyzer is directly operatively connected to the elastography
apparatus by a wired connection, an infrared link or a wireless
link.
27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the master device is
a server.
28. The method according to claim 25, further comprising inputting
via an interface said one or more blood parameters and the at least
one of said physical parameters so that the master device collects
said one or more blood parameters and the at least one of said
physical parameters.
29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the interface is a
keyboard.
30. The method according to claim 25, further comprising displaying
on a display screen said human or animal score.
31. The method according to claim 25, wherein the one or more blood
parameters are selected from the group consisting of: albumin,
alkaline phosphastase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine
aminotransferase, amylase, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, calcium,
creatine kinase, chloride, creatinine, c-reactive protein, gamma
glutamyl, transpeptidase, glucose, potassium, magnesium, sodium,
phosphorus, total carbon dioxyde, total protein, uric acid, total
cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, triglycerides, hyaluronic
acid, alpha 2 macroglobulin, and any combination thereof.
32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the one or more blood
parameters are selected from the group consisting of: aspartate
aminotransferase, hyaluronic acid, alanine aminotransferase,
bilirubin, alpha 2 macroglobulin, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase and
any combination thereof.
33. The method according to claim 25, wherein the one or more blood
parameters are one or more hematology parameters selected from the
group consisting of: platelet, white blood cell, red blood cell,
prothrombin index, INR, and any combination thereof.
34. The method according to claim 25, wherein the one or more blood
parameters are selected from the group consisting of: platelet,
prothrombin index, INR, and any combination thereof.
35. The method according to claim 25, wherein the blood chemical
analyzer is an in-vitro analyzer.
36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the in-vitro analyzer
is a DNA-based test analyzer.
37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the in-vitro analyzer
is an immunology test analyzer.
38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the immunology test
analyzer is configured to measure one or more genetic makers
selected from the group consisting of: Albumin, Bilirubin, CRP,
Ferritin, Alpha 2 macroglobulin, Hyaluronic acid, Laminin,
Apolipoprotein A1, Haptoglobin, PIIINP, TIMP-1, MMPs, Adiponectin,
IL-6, Alpha Fetoprotein, CK18, Chemokine ligand 2, TNF alpha,
HbA1c, anti-HCV, HBsAg, HBsAb, HbeAg, HbeAb, HbcAb and any
combination thereof.
39. The method according to claim 25, wherein the one or more
physical parameters include the stiffness or the ultrasound
attenuation associated with the biological tissues.
40. The method according to claim 25, wherein the master device is
configured to collect said one or more blood parameters and the at
least one of said physical parameters from a point of care
testing.
41. The method according to claim 25, wherein the computer-readable
medium of the master device includes machine-executable
instructions to, when executed by the processor, automatically
collect said one or more blood parameters and the at least one of
said physical parameters.
42. The method according to claim 25, wherein the computer-readable
medium of the master device includes machine-executable
instructions to, when executed by the processor, carry out the
measurements of said one or more blood parameters via the blood
chemical analyzer and of said at least one of said physical
parameters via the elastography apparatus.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a non-invasive
system arranged and construed to calculate a human or animal
accurate, reliable, standardized and complete score.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many different blood tests have been designed to diagnose
Fibrosis or Cirrhosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus
Infection (HepaScore, APRI, ELF, FIB-4, FibroIndex, FibroTest,
FibroSure, FibroMeter, etc. The publication "Blood Tests to
Diagnose Fibrosis or Cirrhosis in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C
Virus Infection, Annals of Internal Medicine, Jun. 4, 2013"
disclose such blood tests. All of these are trademark registered).
These blood tests may be based on serum markers, general blood
parameters (hematology, biochemistry) associated with demographic
information and personal parameters such as weigh, height, etc.
[0003] Systems for photometric analysis for determining the
concentration of a substance carried by a blood sample or other
fluid sample taken from a human or an animal are well known in the
art. Such systems generally proceed to blood fractionation by
centrifugation. They can work on blood serum, other on whole blood.
Different reagents may be added to the biological fluid to be
analyzed.
[0004] The systems generally comprise a light source and a light
detector disposed to detect light directed through the sample
containing the biological fluid-reagent mixes. This light is
partially absorbed by the products of reactions between the
reagents and components of blood sample. The degree to which light
is absorbed is dependent upon the concentration of the reaction
product in the blood sample. By comparing the intensity of the
light transmitted through the sample with a reference intensity,
the concentration of a given component of the reaction between the
blood sample and the reagent can be determined. The concentration
of the reaction is then used to calculate the concentration of a
corresponding biochemical parameter in the blood sample.
[0005] In summary, such system allows the rapid centrifugation,
analysis, and measurement of biochemical parameter present in
fluids including blood or other body fluid samples.
[0006] However, these blood tests suffer from strong limitations as
blood parameters are only indirect markers of liver health status.
Furthermore, the results may vary from one laboratory to another
depending on the systems used to measure blood parameter, the
nature of the reagents used and the travel time of the blood sample
from the blood collection place to the laboratory. These
differences obviously affect the performances of mathematical
formulae involving several biomarkers quantities.
[0007] For the foregoing reasons, the measurement of components
present in fluids does not permit obtaining a reliable, accurate,
standardized and complete score.
[0008] Other biomarkers can be used to assess liver diseases. As an
example, a physical biomarker, liver stiffness measured by
Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography, has been shown to be
very well correlated to liver fibrosis in patients with chronic
liver diseases. The publications "Liver stiffness: a novel
parameter for the diagnosis of liver disease, Hepatic Medicine:
Evidence and Research 2010; 2" and "Transient elastography : a new
noninvasive method for assessment of hepatic fibrosis; ultrasound
in Medicine and Biology, Volume 29, Number 12, 2003" discloses such
correlation. However liver stiffness is influenced by other factors
such as inflammation and congestion. Interestingly liver
inflammation can be assessed by elevated levels of liver enzymes in
blood.
SUMMARY
[0009] An aspect of the invention is directed to a system and a
method that overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. Accordingly, an
embodiment of the invention is directed to a non-invasive system
constructed and arranged to calculate a human or animal accurate,
reliable, standardized and complete score.
[0010] To achieve this, an aspect of the present invention is
directed to a non-invasive system for calculating a human or animal
score, the system comprising: [0011] a measurement slave device
constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of biological
parameters; [0012] a measurement slave device constructed and
arranged to carry out measurements of physical parameters; [0013] a
master device constructed and arranged to collect the biological
and physical parameters and calculate the human or animal score,
the score comprising biological and physical parameters.
[0014] As the calculated score takes into account quantitative
biological parameters and quantitative physical parameters, the
calculated score is accurate, reliable, standardized and
complete.
[0015] In a non limiting embodiment, the measurement slave device
constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of biological
parameters is an in-vitro measure slave device.
[0016] In a non limiting embodiment, the measurement slave device
constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of physical
parameters is an in-vivo measure slave device.
[0017] In a non limiting embodiment, the in-vitro measurement slave
device is a clinical chemistry analyser.
[0018] In a non limiting embodiment, the clinical chemistry
analyser is constructed and arranged to measure biochemical
parameters selected from the group consisting of: albumin, alkaline
phosphastase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase,
amylase, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, creatine kinase,
chloride, creatinine, C-reactive protein, gamma glutamyl,
transpeptidase, glucose, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus,
total carbon dioxyde, total protein, uric acid, total cholesterol,
high density lipoprotein, triglycerides, hyaluronic acid, alpha 2
macroglobulin, or any combination thereof.
[0019] In a non limiting embodiment, the clinical chemistry
analyser is constructed and arranged to measure biochemical
parameters selected from the group consisting of: aspartate
aminotransferase, hyaluronic acid, alanine aminotransferase,
bilirubin, alpha 2 macroglobulin, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase or
any combination thereof.
[0020] In a non limiting embodiment, the in-vitro measurement slave
device is a clinical hematology analyser.
[0021] In a non limiting embodiment, the clinical hematology
analyser is constructed and arranged to measure hematology
parameters selected from the group consisting of: platelet, white
blood cell, red blood cell, prothrombin index, and INR, or any
combination thereof.
[0022] In a non limiting embodiment, the hematology analyser is
constructed and arranged to measure hematology parameters selected
from the group consisting of: platelet, prothrombin index, and INR,
or any combination thereof.
[0023] In a non limiting embodiment, the in-vitro measurement slave
device is a DNA-based test analyzer.
[0024] In a non limiting embodiment, the DNA-based test analyzer is
constructed and arranged to measure genetic maker selected from the
group consisting of IL28, AZIN1, TLR4, and TRPM5, or any
combination thereof.
[0025] In a not limited embodiment, the in-vitro measure slave
device is an immunology-based test analyzer.
[0026] In a not limited embodiment, the immunology-based test
analyzer is constructed and arranged to measure protein maker
selected from the group consisting of Albumin, Bilirubin, CRP,
Ferritin, Alpha 2 macroglobulin, Hyaluronic acid , Laminin,
Apolipoprotein A1, Haptoglobin, PIIINP, TIMP-1, MMPs, Adiponectin,
IL-6, Alpha Fetoprotein, CK18,Chemokine ligand 2, TNF alpha, HbA1c,
anti-HCV, HBsAg, HBsAb, HbeAg, HbeAb, and HbcAb, or any combination
thereof.
[0027] In a non limiting embodiment, the in-vivo measuremrny slave
device is an elastography device.
[0028] In a non limiting embodiment, the elastography device is
constructed and arranged to measure parameters of the liver from
the group consisting of: elasticity, stiffness, viscosity,
ultrasound attenuation, and shear wave speed, or any combination
thereof.
[0029] In a non limiting embodiment, the in-vivo measurement slave
device is a body composition analyzer.
[0030] In a non limiting embodiment, the body composition analyzer
is constructed and arranged to measure parameters from the group
consisting of: body weight, body fat content, or any combination
thereof.
[0031] In a non limiting embodiment, the non-invasive system
comprises a master device constructed and arranged to collect
personal and demographical parameters, the master device being
constructed and arranged to collect the personal and demographic
parameters and calculate the score, the score comprising personal
and/or demographic parameters.
[0032] In a non limiting embodiment, the master device is a
server.
[0033] In a non limiting embodiment, the master device is located
in a slave device.
[0034] An embodiment of the invention relates also to a human or
animal score combining physical parameters and biological
parameters, [0035] the biological parameters being selecting from
the group consisting of: albumin, alkaline phosphastase, aspartate
aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, amylase, bilirubin,
bood urea nitrogen, calcium, creatine kinase, chloride, creatinine,
C-reactive protein, gamma glutamyl, transpeptidase, glucose,
potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, total carbon dioxyde,
total protein, uric acid, total cholesterol, high density
lipoprotein, triglycerides, hyaluronic acid, alpha 2 macroglobulin
platelet, white blood cell, red blood cell, prothrombin index, INR,
IL28, AZIN1, TLR4, and TRPM5, Ferritin, Laminin, Apolipoprotein A1,
Haptoglobin, PIIINP, TIMP-1, MMPs, Adiponectin, IL-6, Alpha
Fetoprotein, CK18,Chemokine ligand 2, TNF alpha, HbA1c, anti-HCV,
HBsAg, HBsAb, HbeAg, HbeAb, and HbcAb or any combination thereof,
[0036] the physical parameters being selecting from the group
consisting of: elasticity, stiffness, viscosity, ultrasound
attenuation, shear wave speed, height, and weight or any
combination thereof.
[0037] In a non limiting embodiment, the human or animal score
combines furthermore personal and/or demographic parameters.
[0038] An embodiment of the invention relates also to a disposable
device that contains reagents which are constructed and arranged to
react with a biological sample taken from a human or an animal, the
disposable device being constructed and arranged to be loaded into
a slave device constructed and arranged to carry out measurements
of biological parameters; the disposable device comprising a device
configured to identify the human or animal score according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0039] An embodiment of the invention relates also to a
non-invasive method for calculating a human or animal score, the
method comprising: [0040] in the vinicity of a patient, measuring
and calculating biological parameters; [0041] in the vinicity of a
patient, measuring and calculating physical parameters ; [0042]
determining the human or animal score comprising the biological and
physical parameters measured and calculated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, to illustrate embodiments
of the invention and, together with the description, to explain the
principles of the invention:
[0044] FIG. 1 represents a non-invasive system for calculating an
accurate, reliable, standardized and complete human or animal score
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0045] FIG. 2 depicts a non-invasive system for calculating an
accurate, reliable, standardized and complete human or animal score
according to another embodiment of the invention; and
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates a non-invasive system for calculating an
accurate, reliable, standardized and complete human or animal score
according to another embodiment of the invention,
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates a non-invasive method for calculating a
human or animal score.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0048] In reference to FIG. 1, a non-invasive system 1 for
calculating a human or animal accurate, reliable, standardized and
complete score according to an embodiment of the invention is
represented. In a non limiting embodiment, this score may be
dedicated to the field of hepatology and more particularly may be
related to the liver.
[0049] The non-invasive system 1 comprises a first measurement
slave device 2 constructed and arranged to carry out measurements
of biological parameters. In a non limiting embodiment, the first
measurement slave device 2 is an in-vitro measurement slave
device.
[0050] The first in-vitro measure slave device 2 may be a point of
care testing, also known under the acronym POCT. This point of care
testing 2 is near or at the site of patient examination and
eliminates the time consuming need to send and carry a biological
sample to a central laboratory for testing. Therefore, the point of
care testing 2 allows a user or a medical practitioner at the
patient's location, to obtain a reliable, accurate quantitative,
analytical result that is qualitatively better as compared to a
result which would be obtained in a laboratory due to the fact that
the biological sample is not transported to the laboratory (i.e. at
a different location than the patient's location).
[0051] In a non limiting embodiment, the first in-vitro measure
slave device 2 is a POCT which may be a system for photometric
analysis for determining the concentration of a substance carried
by a blood sample or other fluid sample taken from a human or an
animal. Such system comprises a disposable device 3 having a
plurality of cuvettes containing reagents wherein, for instance, a
blood sample drawn from a human is placed. The reagents are
constructed and arranged to react with the blood sample. The
disposable device 3 is adapted to be loaded into the first in-vitro
slave device 2. In a non limiting embodiment, the disposable device
3 comprises a device 4 configured to identify the parameters to be
measured, the device 4 being formed by a barcode. In this
embodiment, the first in-vitro measurement slave device 2 formed by
a point of care testing comprises a scanner 5 to scan the barcode 4
to identify the parameters to be measured.
[0052] Then, when the disposable device 3 is loaded into the first
in-vitro slave device 2 and the parameters to be measured are
identified, the in-vitro slave device 2 centrifuges the blood
sample by a rotation of the disposable device 3 in order to
separate the blood plasma from the blood's cellular components. The
in-vitro slave device 2 further comprises a light source and a
light detector arranged to detect light directed through the
cuvettes containing the biological fluid-reagent mixes. The light
is partially absorbed by the products of the reactions between the
reagents and components of the blood sample. The degree to which
the light is absorbed is dependent upon the concentration of the
reaction product in the blood sample. By comparing the intensity of
the light transmitted through the cuvette with a reference
intensity, the concentration of a given product of the reaction
between the fluid and the reagent can be determined. The
concentration of the reaction product is then used to calculate the
concentration of corresponding biological parameters in the blood
sample. In this example, the POCT 2 is a clinical chemistry
analyser. The disposable device may be a rotor for example.
[0053] According to various embodiments of the invention, the
clinical chemistry analyser 2 is adapted to measure biochemical
parameters selected from the group consisting of albumin, alkaline
phosphastase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase,
amylase, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, creatine kinase,
chloride, creatinine, C-reactive protein, gamma glutamyl,
transpeptidase, glucose, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus,
total carbon dioxyde, total protein, uric acid, total cholesterol,
high density lipoprotein, triglycerides, hyaluronic acid, and alpha
2 macroglobulin, or any combination thereof.
[0054] In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the non-invasive
system 1 comprises a second in-vitro measurement slave device 6
constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of biological
parameters. The second in-vitro measurement slave device 6 may be a
point of care testing. In this example, the POCT 6 is a clinical
hematology analyser. According to the non limiting embodiment of
the invention, the clinical hematology analyser 6 is adapted to
measure hematology parameters selected from the group consisting of
platelet, white blood cell, red blood cell, prothrombin index, and
INR, or any combination thereof.
[0055] In a non limiting embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the
non-invasive system 1 comprises a third in-vitro measure slave
device 12 constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of
genetic makers. The third in-vitro measurement slave device 12 may
be a DNA-based test analyzer which may be a system for DNA
microarray (or DNA chip) for determining gene expression and SNPs
(Single Polymorphism Nucleotide) from a drop of blood or other
bio-fluid sample taken from a human or an animal.
[0056] For example, such system comprises a plastic disposable chip
(or disposable device) containing compartments with a reaction mix
adapted to be loaded into a portable lab. The portable lab includes
a heating device, a laser, a CCD based detector and an on-board
control system. Each compartments of the disposable device perform
a single DNA-based diagnostic test including all components
required for the reaction such as DNA sequence used for hybridation
and fluorescent marker.
[0057] When the disposable device is loaded into the portable lab,
sample is prepared; DNA is extracted then amplified by PCR
(Polymerase Chain reaction), purified and reading is done.
[0058] According to an embodiment of the invention, analysis could
be performed on any potential genetic marker of liver disease such
as IL28, AZIN1, TLR4, TRPM5.
[0059] In a not limited embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the
non-invasive system 1 comprises a fourth in-vitro measure slave
device 13 constructed and arranged to carry out measures of
immunologic markers. The fourth in-vitro measure slave device 13
may be a multiplexed magnetic assay which can quantify immunologic
parameters from a drop of blood or other bio-fluid sample taken
from a human or an animal. According to embodiments of the
invention, analysis could be performed on any immunologic markers
related to liver disease such as Albumin, Bilirubin, CRP, Ferritin,
Alpha 2 macroglobulin, Hyaluronic acid , Laminin, Apolipoprotein
A1, Haptoglobin, PIIINP, TIMP-1, MMPs, Adiponectin, IL-6, Alpha
Fetoprotein, CK18,Chemokine ligand 2, TNF alpha, HbA1c, anti-HCV,
HBsAg, HBsAb, HbeAg, HbeAb, and HbcAb or any combination
thereof.
[0060] In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the non-invasive
system 1 comprises also a first measurement slave device
constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of physical
parameters 7. In a non limiting embodiment, the first measurement
slave device 7 is an in-vivo measure slave device. The first
in-vivo measurement slave device 7 may be an elastography device or
an ultrasound scanner. Such elastography device 7 generally
comprises an ultrasonic transducer, a position sensor, a controlled
electrodynamic actuator connected to the ultrasonic transducer.
Such elastography device 7 is, for instance, disclosed by document
US2005203398 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Such elastography device 7 is constructed and arranged to emit and
acquire ultrasonic signals to follow tissue motions associated with
shear wave propagation through biological tissues. The so called
shear waves are induced by natural body motion (breathing, heart
beats, etc), by mechanical actuators placed in the vicinity of the
tissues or by acoustic radiation force generated by an ultrasound
probe.
[0061] In a non limiting embodiment, the elastography device 7 is
adapted to measure physicals parameters of the liver from the group
consisting of elasticity, viscosity, ultrasound attenuation, and
shear wave speed, or any combination thereof.
[0062] In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the non-invasive
system 1 also comprises a second measurement slave device
constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of physical
parameters 8. The second physical measurement slave device 8 is for
example an in-vivo body composition analyzer adapted to measure
parameters from the group consisting of weight, body fat
percentage, and body lean percentage, or any combination
thereof.
[0063] In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the non-invasive
system 1 also comprises a slave device constructed and arranged to
collect demographic and personal parameters 9, for instance, age,
gender, height, weight. This slave device 9 may be a computer. The
computer may include a memory or machine readable medium or be
connected to a memory or a machine readable medium encoded with
instructions to carry one or more operations.
[0064] The non-invasive system 1 comprises also a master device 10
constructed and arranged to collect the parameters measured and
collected in order to calculate the accurate, reliable,
standardized and complete score.
[0065] Therefore, according to the example illustrated in FIG. 1,
the master device 10 is constructed and arranged to collect the
parameters from: [0066] the first in-vitro measurement slave device
2 constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of biological
parameters which is formed according to the example by a point of
care testing of the type clinical chemistry analyser, [0067] the
second in-vitro measurement slave device 6 constructed and arranged
to carry out measurements of biological parameters which is formed
according to the example by a point of care testing of the type
clinical hematology analyser, [0068] the third in-vitro measure
slave device 12 constructed and arranged to carry out measurements
of biological parameters (more particularly, genetic makers) which
is formed according to the example by a DNA-based test analyzer,
[0069] the fourth in-vitro measure slave device 13 constructed and
arranged to carry out measurements of biological parameters (more
particularly, immunologic markers) which is formed according to the
example by a multiplexed magnetic assay, [0070] the first in-vivo
measurement slave device 7 constructed and arranged to carry out
measurements of physical parameters which is formed according to
the example by an elastography device (a device with elastography
modality), [0071] the second in-vivo measure slave device 8
constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of physical
parameters which is formed according to the example by a body
composition analyzer, [0072] the slave device constructed and
arranged to collect demographic and personal parameter 9 which is
formed according to the example by a computer.
[0073] Therefore, the calculated score comprises biological,
physical, personal and demographical parameters.
[0074] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the master device
is a server. The server may be physical (hardware) or virtual (as
the cloud computing).
[0075] In a non limiting embodiment, the biological, physical,
personal and demographical parameters are collected automatically
by the master device 10. For that purpose, each slave device 2, 6,
7, 8, 9, 12, 13 is connected to the master device 10 using, for
instance, an infrared link, a wired connection, a wireless
communication, or any form of data communication capable of
transmitting and receiving information, or any combination
thereof.
[0076] Furthermore, the master device 10 comprises a calculator 11
constructed and arranged to calculate the accurate, reliable,
standardized and complete score.
[0077] In an embodiment, the master device is a computer. In this
embodiment, the biological, physical, personal and demographical
parameters may be collected via an interface, such as a keyboard,
on which the user enters parameters measured by the slave devices.
In this example, the master device comprises a display screen
capable of displaying the calculated accurate, reliable,
standardized and complete score.
[0078] Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in
carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to
processor of the master device 10 for execution. For example, the
instructions may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of a remote
computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its
dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line
using a modem. A modem local can receive the data on the telephone
line and use an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an
infrared signal. An infrared detector coupled to bus can receive
the data carried in the infrared signal and place the data on bus.
Bus carries the data to main memory, from which processor of the
master device 10 retrieves and executes the instructions. The
instructions received by main memory may optionally be stored on
storage device either before or after execution by processor of the
master device 10. A communication interface can be coupled to bus.
Communication interface provides a two-way data communication
coupling to a network link that is connected to a local network.
For example, communication interface may be an integrated services
digital network (ISDN) card or a modem to provide a data
communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line.
As another example, communication interface may be a local area
network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a
compatible LAN. Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such
implementation, communication interface sends and receives
electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital
data streams representing various types of information.
[0079] Network link typically provides data communication through
one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network
link may provide a connection through local network to the of the
master device 10 operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
ISP in turn provides data communication services through the
worldwide packet data communication network, now commonly referred
to as the "Internet". Local network and Internet both use
electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital
data streams. The signals through the various networks and the
signals on network link and through communication interface, which
carry the digital data, are exemplary forms of carrier waves
transporting the information.
[0080] The master device 10 can send messages and receive data,
including program code, through the network(s), network link, and
communication interface. In the Internet example, a server might
transmit a requested code for an application program through
Internet, ISP, local network and communication interface. In
accordance with the invention, one such downloaded application
provides for the illumination optimization of the embodiment, for
example. The received code may be executed by processor as it is
received, and/or stored in storage device, or other non-volatile
storage for later execution. In this manner, the master device 10
may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave.
[0081] In another non limited embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the
non-invasive system 1 for calculating a human or animal accurate,
reliable, standardized and complete score comprises: [0082] an
in-vitro measurement slave device 2 constructed and arranged to
carry out measurements of biological parameters formed by a point
of care testing, [0083] a in-vivo measurement slave device 7
constructed and arranged to carry out measurements of physical
parameters formed by an elastography device (for example, the
elastography device is the FIBROSCAN, FIBROSCAN is a trademark
registered), [0084] a master device 10 located in the in-vitro
measure slave device 2, the master device 10 being constructed and
arranged to collect biological parameters from the point of care
testing 2 and physical parameter from the elastography device 7 and
calculate the accurate, reliable, standardized and complete
score.
[0085] In another non limiting embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the
non-invasive system 1 for calculating a human or animal accurate,
reliable, standardized and complete score comprises: [0086] an
in-vivo measurement slave device 7 constructed and arranged to
carry out measurements of physical parameters formed by an
elastography device, [0087] an in-vitro measurement slave device 2,
located in the elastography device 7, constructed and arranged to
carry out measurements of biological parameters formed by a point
of care testing, [0088] a master device 10, located also in the
elastography device 7, the master device 10 being constructed and
arranged to collect biological, physical, personal and
demographical parameters and calculate the score.
[0089] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention showing a
non-invasive method 100 for calculating a human or animal score,
the method 100 comprising: [0090] in the vinicity of a patient (in
other words in the room where the measurements are carried out),
measuring and calculating biological parameters 101; [0091] in the
vinicity of a patient (in other words in the room where the
measurements are carried out), measuring and calculating physical
parameters 102; [0092] determining 103 the human or animal score
comprising the biological and physical parameters that are measured
and calculated. The step of determining 103 may be realized in the
room where the measurements are carried out or at a remote
room/location.
[0093] The embodiments of the invention have significant benefits:
[0094] The accurate, reliable, standardized and complete score can
be obtained shortly (even during the consultation), [0095] It is
not necessary to qualify laboratories because the disposable device
4 is standard and the reagents are in it with all necessary control
means, [0096] Better control of time between the blood sample taken
from the body and measurements: no problem of transportation of
blood samples, [0097] No problem due to manual entry measures (no
conversion of units, no risk of incorrect entry), [0098]
Possibility to combine the results of several devices, on site,
[0099] Ability to correct the influence of certain parameters on
the other: for example the influence of liver enzymes on liver
stiffness.
[0100] According to an embodiment of the invention, the measurement
slave devices and/or master device may each include one or more
processors executing one or more sequences of one or more
instructions contained in a memory to perform their intended
functions (carry out measurements, collect information, send
information, . . . ). In alternative embodiments, hard-wired
circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software
instructions to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the
invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware
circuitry and software.
[0101] The term "computer-readable medium" as used herein refers to
any medium that participates in providing instructions to processor
for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not
limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission
media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic
disks, such as storage device. Volatile media include dynamic
memory, such as main memory. Transmission media include coaxial
cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that
comprise bus. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic
or light waves, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF)
and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of
computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a
flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium,
a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape,
any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM,
and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a
carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from
which a computer can read.
[0102] Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in
carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to
processor for execution. For example, the instructions may
initially be borne on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The
remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory
and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem.
[0103] It is to be understood that the present invention
contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of
any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any
other embodiment.
[0104] The descriptions above are intended to be illustrative, not
limiting. Thus, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the invention as described without
departing from the scope of the claims set out below.
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