FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to systems and methods of automatically analyzing dipsticks, and in particular to such methods implementing image processing techniques tailored for standard user equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to setting forth a short discussion of the related art, it may be helpful to set forth definitions of certain terms that will be used hereinafter.

The term "user equipment" (UE) refers herein to any device used directly by an end-user to communicate. It can be a hand-held telephone, a laptop computer equipped with a mobile broadband adapter, or any other device. In the context used herein UE refers specifically to an arbitrary platform which is equipped with image capturing, image processing, and wireless communication capabilities.

The term "testing dipstick" or simply "dipstick" refers herein to a testing measurement device usually made of paper or cardboard and is impregnated with reagents that indicate some feature of a liquid or a gas by changing color. In medicine, dipsticks can be used to test for a variety of liquids for the presence of a given substance, known as an analyte. For example, urine dipsticks are used to determine properties of a given sample and detect and measure the presence of a variety of substances that indicate a person' s state of health.

The term "specularity" refers herein to the visual appearance of specular reflection. In computer vision, it means the mirror like properties of the surface: A directional reflection of incoming light (illumination) as described by the law of reflection. A simplified modelling of that reflection is the specular component in the Phong reflection model.

Dipsticks are used by a variety of healthcare providers to assist in diagnostics, specifically, but not exclusively of urinary analysis of patients. The core concept is a set of reagents which are designed to chemically react to substances in a liquid under test (e.g., urine) by changing their color within a predefined color range. The set of colored reagents can then be compared to a predefined color key which can be used, either manually (e.g., by an expert user) or automatically (e.g., using a dedicated image processing computerized system) to yield qualitative and quantitative data relating to the substances in the liquid under test.

Currently, computer vision can be used to interpret the color reagent responses into quantitative and qualitative clinical data. This is being carried out by dedicated hardware which may include a pre-calibrated scanner, which is operated in well-known and monitored illumination conditions, and a classifier that operates based on the calibrated images derived by the scanner.

The need to use dedicated hardware necessitates patients carry out the dipstick test in clinics rather than in the convenience of their home or other place of choice. Such a visit to the lab also mandates coming in unnecessary contact with infections and diseases. A non-expert interpretation of the dipstick is also not recommended - for the fear of wrong interpretation and misdiagnosis. It would be therefore be advantageous to be able to produce such accurate clinical data at home, using image processing techniques, without the need to use a dedicated hardware or software. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art by enabling a non-expert user to carry out computerized, automatic interpretation of a dipstick, using a standard arbitrary platform at his or her location of choice.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of visual analysis of a dipstick using user equipment having optical capturing and image processing capabilities. The method may include the following steps: capturing, through a user equipment (UE) having specified image capturing and processing capabilities, an image of a dipstick having one or more colored test reagents, and a calibration array having a plurality of colored reference elements, tailored specifically for the dipstick color reagents; deriving, based on the captured image, local illumination parameters associated with the dipstick and the calibration array; determining whether the illumination parameters are within predefined illumination boundary conditions which are sufficient for interpreting the one or more colored test reagents, given the specified image capturing and processing capabilities of the UE; applying one or more image enhancement operations on the captured image, based on predefined mappings between the derived illumination parameters and one or more required adjustments; and interpreting the one or more colored test reagents, based on the colored reference elements, in the enhanced captured image. Advantageously, by embodiments of the present invention, the dipstick-specific calibrator can, in real time, determine whether the environment of choice crosses boundary conditions.

These additional, and/or other aspects and/or advantages of the present invention are set forth in the detailed description which follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and in order to show how it may be implemented, references are made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate corresponding elements or sections. In the accompanying drawings:

Examples illustrative of embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the figures attached hereto. In the figures, identical structures, elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are generally labeled with the same number in all the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale.

Figure 1 is a high level schematic block diagram illustrating a system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a high level flowchart diagram illustrating an aspect of a method according to some embodiments of the present invention; and

Figures 3A and 3B are exemplary non-limiting calibration arrays illustrating an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention. The drawings together with the following detailed description make the embodiments of the invention apparent to those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are for the purpose of example and solely for discussing the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention. The description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Before explaining the embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following descriptions or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Figure 1 is a high level schematic block diagram illustrating a system 100 according to embodiments of the present invention. System 100 may include an arbitrary platform 10 such as user equipment (UE) having an image capturing device 110 having specified image capturing and a computer processor 120 processing capabilities. Capturing device 110 may be configured to capture one or more images of a dipstick 20 having one or more colored test reagents 20-1 to 20-M, and a pre-generated calibrator 30 (referred herein also as a calibration array) having a plurality of colored reference elements 30-1 to 30-N. Reference elements 30-1 to 30-N are tailored specifically for the dipstick color reagents, and are generated specifically for each type of dipstick based on its properties it is understood that a single calibrator may be tailored for a plurality of dipsticks, as long as it is tailored to a group of dipsticks and not all possible dipsticks.

Computer processor 120 may be configured to: derive, based on the captured image 130, local illumination parameters 140 associated with the dipstick and the calibration array. Computer processor 120 may further be configured to determine whether the illumination and other parameters such as the spatial angle of the UE relative to the calibration array are within predefined illumination boundary conditions 150 which are sufficient for interpreting the one or more colored test reagents, given the specified image capturing and processing capabilities of arbitrary platform (or UE) 10.

In some embodiments of the present invention, computer processor 120 may further be configured to apply one or more image enhancement operation 160 on the captured image, wherein the image enhancement operation 160 is configured for rendering the color reagents at captured image more distinguishable and less prone to artifacts; and interpret the one or more colored test reagents, based on the colored calibration setup, in the enhanced captured image 170.

In an alternative embodiment, aforementioned enhancement operation 160 may be carried on a location remote to arbitrary platform 10 such as one or more servers on a cloud network 50, to which arbitrary platform 10 may be connected, e.g., by a Wi-Fi connection using communication circuitry 190. In a case wireless connection is not available; the data may be stored on UE 10 and transmitted later to cloud 50 once wireless connectivity is resumed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, in a case that the illumination parameters are not within the predefined illumination boundary conditions, instructing a user of the arbitrary platform with instructions 180 how to improve the illumination parameters.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the one or more image enhancement operation may include detecting portions of specular reflections coming from the colored calibration shapes or the colored test reagents, and applying image processing algorithms that reduce the specular reflections.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the one or more image enhancement operation comprises determining, for each pixel at the captured image associated with one of the colored test reagents, a uniform color, based on a normalization factor calculated based on the derived illumination parameters and the specified image capturing and processing capabilities.

According to some embodiments of the invention, in a case that the illumination parameters are not within the predefined illumination boundary conditions, indicating to a user that interpreting of the dipstick by the arbitrary platform is not possible.

According to some embodiments of the invention, wherein the one or more colored test reagents, and the colored reference elements are located, based on a specified layout, in prearranged locations. According to some embodiments of the invention, the instruction to the user indicate a specified movement pattern of the arbitrary platform vis a vis the dipstick and the calibration array.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the detecting of portions of specular reflections is carried out by comparing pixels associated with a same color reagent, to a predefined threshold.

Figure 2 is a high level flowchart diagram illustrating an aspect of a method 200 according to some embodiments of the present invention. The method may include the following steps: capturing, using an arbitrary platform having specified image capturing and processing capabilities, an image of: a dipstick having one or more colored test reagents, and a calibration array having a plurality of colored reference elements which are specifically tailored to the test reagents of the dipstick 210; deriving, based on the captured image, illumination parameters associated with the dipstick and the calibration array 220; determining whether the illumination parameters are within a predefined illumination boundary conditions which is sufficient for interpreting the one or more colored test reagents, given the specified image capturing and processing capabilities of the arbitrary platform 230; applying one or more image enhancement operation on the captured image, based on predefined mapping between the derived illumination parameters and one or more required adjustments 240; and interpreting the one or more colored test reagents, based on the colored reference elements, in the enhanced captured image 250. It is understood that, while implementing method 200 may be carried out using the aforementioned architecture of system 100, other architectures may be used by those skilled in the art.

Figures 3A and 3B are exemplary non limiting embodiments of calibration array 30A and 30B exhibiting a plurality of reference elements used as reference values for feature vector normalization and designated locations for dipstick 20A and 20B. Calibration array may be pre-generated after a long process of learning the myriads of illumination conditions that may be presented when capturing the image using the arbitrary platform (UE). The reference elements are carefully tailored per each type of dipstick for optimal performance. Additionally, the different capturing capabilities of many platforms (e.g., smart telephones, tablet PC and the like) are being studied. All of the above is being carefully used in embodiments of the present invention in order to produce dipstick- specific calibrators that have a very large dynamic range in the sense that many illumination conditions are within the operation boundary of the capturing process that is sufficient for proper interpretation of the medical data on the dipstick. The reference elements (used as reference values for feature vector normalization) of calibrator 30A shown in Figure 3A have been carefully selected to have different shades of basic colors, several textures and positions relative to dipstick 20A, while of calibrator 30B shown in Figure 3B have been carefully selected to have different shades of basic colors, several textures and positions relative to dipstick 20B.

According to some embodiments, calibrators 30A and 30B may be provided with a texture for matching or rectification and base colors for on the fly normalization. Additionally, the calibrator may apply a reverse effect of the response function of the capturing device of the arbitrary platform 10. In some embodiments, a representative response function is assumed. In others, different calibrators are used for groups of known arbitrary platforms.

According to other embodiments, the calibrator is provided with arbitrary geometrical elements for simplifying dipstick extraction (when dipstick 20 has rectangular reagents), and exhibiting more gray levels for improved gamma correction.

According to other embodiments, the calibrator is provided with reference elements using two reference elements per color for a better normalization and specularity identification.

According to other embodiments, calibrator 30 is provided with reference elements having black borders around them for minimizing over smoothing of certain colors by some camera models. Additionally, uniform gray arbitrary geometrical elements may be are added for better normalization (again, due to over smoothing). Adding high contrast elements for enabling fast blob based calibrator rectification on the phone.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the aforementioned process of generating the calibration may be the product of trial and error process that can be implemented in various manners. It should be noted that the aforementioned guidelines may be used in order to generate further improvements for the calibration. Aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or an apparatus. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system, and a "cloud".

The aforementioned flowchart and block diagrams illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems and methods according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware- based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of "one embodiment," "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment.

Reference in the specification to "some embodiments", "an embodiment", "one embodiment" or "other embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples.

It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above. It is to be understood that the terms "including", "comprising", "consisting" and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers. If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to "a" or "an" element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may", "might", "can" or "could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.

The term "method" may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only.

Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, and applications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.