SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING URINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to computer-aided urine analysis, and more particularly to systems, devices and methods for analyzing urine by using computer models.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Urine is a liquid by-product of metabolism in humans and other mammals. Urine flows from kidneys through a ureter to a urinary bladder. Urination results in urine being excreted from a mammalian body through a urethra.

A urine sample may be collected by a patient at home or office of a healthcare provider. Healthcare provider typically give out containers for urine samples to be collected therein. The urine sample collected in the container usually sent to a special laboratory for a urine analysis by using at least one of known urine analysis techniques.

Generally, the urine analysis is a test that examines visual, chemical and microscopic aspects of urine of a patient. The urine analysis includes a variety of tests that detect and measure various urine parameters by using a urine sample.

Because the urine analysis is easy, cheap, and productive, it is usually recommended by healthcare providers as a part of an initial examination for all patients and may be repeated as clinically warranted. A result of the urine analysis may require more sophisticated chemical, immunologic, or bacteriologic studies to be performed for the patient.

Healthcare providers commonly use the urine analysis to diagnose urinary tract infections and to screen for or monitor certain common health conditions, such as a liver disease, kidney disease and diabetes. In particular, the urine analysis may be required for the following reasons:

• checking an overall health of the patient. The urine analysis may be a part of a routine medical exam, pregnancy checkup or pre-surgery preparation. Furthermore, when the patient is admitted to a hospital, the urine analysis may be used to screen for a variety of disorders, such as diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease; • diagnosing a medical condition of the patient. The urine analysis may be requested if the patient has an abdominal pain, back pain, frequent or painful urination, blood in urine, or other urinary problems. In other words, the urine analysis can help diagnose the cause of these signs and symptoms.

• monitoring a medical condition. If the patient is diagnosed with a medical condition, such as kidney disease or a urinary tract infection, a healthcare provider may recommend testing patient’s urine regularly, thereby allowing a condition and treatment of the patient to be monitored.

The urine sample may be examined by a lab technician for various properties, solutes, cells, casts, crystals, organisms, or particulate matter. For example, the urine sample may be examined for the following urine parameters:

• Acidity (pH). The pH level indicates the amount of acid in urine. The pH level may indicate a kidney or urinary tract disorder.

• Specific gravity (concentration). A measure of concentration shows how concentrated the particles are in urine of the patient. A higher than normal concentration often is a result of not drinking enough fluids.

• Protein. Low levels of protein in urine are typical for the most patients. Small increases in protein in urine usually are not a cause for concern, but larger amounts may indicate a kidney problem.

• Glucose. The amount of glucose (sugar) in urine of the patient is typically too low to be detected. Any detection of sugar on this test usually calls for follow-up testing for diabetes.

• Ketones. As with sugar, any amount of ketones detected in urine of the patient may be a sign of diabetes and requires follow-up testing.

• Bilirubin. Bilirubin is a product of red blood cell breakdown. Usually, bilirubin is carried in the blood and passes into liver where it is removed and becomes part of bile. Bilirubin in urine of the patient may indicate liver damage or disease.

• Nitrites or leukocyte esterase. Either nitrites or leukocyte esterase — a product of white blood cells — in urine of the patient may indicate a urinary tract infection.

• Blood. Blood in urine of the patient requires additional testing. It may be a sign of kidney damage, infection, kidney or bladder stones, kidney or bladder cancer, or blood disorders.

• White blood cells (leukocytes). Leukocytes in urine of the patient may be a sign of an infection.

• Red blood cells (erythrocytes). Erythrocytes in urine of the patient may be a sign of kidney disease, a blood disorder or another underlying medical condition, such as bladder cancer. • Bacteria, yeast or parasites. Bacteria, yeast and/or parasites in urine of the patient may indicate an infection.

• Casts — tube-shaped proteins. Casts in urine of the patient may be a result of kidney disorders.

• Crystals. Crystals that form from chemicals in urine of the patient may be a sign of kidney stones.

It is to note that the urine analysis alone usually does not provide a definite diagnosis. Depending on signs and symptoms of the patient, a healthcare provider may recommend examination of the urine sample for a particular combination of urine parameters. However, evaluation of urine parameters recommended by the healthcare provider does not guarantee that a medical condition or disease of the patient will be precisely diagnosed. Furthermore, there may be cases where the patient may not have any noticeable symptoms or may need to examine different urine parameters regularly in order to monitor the development of patient’s disease, wherein the patient may not have time or money resources enough for visiting the healthcare provider. In such cases, non-invasive devices based on computer-aided urine analysis methods may be effectively used by the patient for examining the urine sample of the patient for a plurality of urine parameters at once, thereby replacing an initial reference to a healthcare provider and, thus, an initial medical disposal for examination of particular urine parameters

Meanwhile, most of the known in the art computer-aided devices for analyzing urine samples still have a problem with accuracy of urine parameter identification and evaluation in a wide range of conditions.

Therefore, developing an improved or optimized urine-analyzing computer-aided devices, methods and systems providing an improved accuracy of urine parameter identification and evaluation is an important concern in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to improve accuracy of urine parameter identification and evaluation.

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for analyzing urine, the device comprising: (1) a base for receiving a urine container; (2) a first light source mounted on the base and designed to emit a NIR broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (3) a second light source mounted on the base and designed to emit a VIS broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (4) a light detector mounted on the base and configured to detect the NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a first urine spectrum and the VIS light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a second urine spectrum; and (5) a processing device connected to the light detector to receive the first and second urine spectra therefrom and configured to process the received urine spectra to generate a urine data matrix, wherein the processing device is further configured to feed the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter.

In an embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect, the first and second light sources are both mounted on the same printed circuit board.

In another embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect, each of the first and second urine spectra is a transmission spectrum, scattering spectrum, fluorescence spectrum or luminescence spectrum.

In one embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect, the first light source is a first combination of narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of a NIR wavelength region, and the second light source is a second combination of narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of the VIS light wavelength region.

In still another embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect, the light detector is single or multiple broadband light detectors designed to detect light in a NIR light wavelength region and detect light in a VIS light wavelength region, wherein the first light source is a first combination of narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of a NIR wavelength region, and the second light source is a second combination of narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of the VIS light wavelength region.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect, the light detector is a combination of narrowband light detectors, each being designed to detect light in a predetermined part of the NIR light wavelength region or detect light in a predetermined part of VIS light wavelength region.

In other embodiments of the present invention according to the first aspect, the processing device is further configured to receive personal patient data, wherein the generated urine data matrix further contains the received personal patient data.

In various embodiments of the present invention according to the first aspect, the personal patient data comprises height, weight, gender, age and/or diagnosis.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided device for analyzing urine, the device comprising: (1) a base for receiving a urine container; (2) a light source mounted on the base and designed to emit a UV-VIS-NIR light in a direction of the urine container; (3) a light detector mounted on the base and configured to detect the UV-VIS-NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a urine spectrum; and (4) a processing device connected to the light detector to receive the urine spectrum therefrom and configured to process the received urine spectrum to generate a urine data matrix, wherein the processing device is further configured to feed the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter.

In an embodiment of the present invention according to the second aspect, the light source is a single light source or a combination of light sources.

In another embodiment of the present invention according to the second aspect, the generated urine spectrum is a transmission spectrum, scattering spectrum, fluorescence spectrum or luminescence spectrum.

In one embodiment of the present invention according to the second aspect, the light source is a combination of narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of the UV- VIS-NIR light wavelength region.

In still another embodiment of the present invention according to the second aspect, the light detector is a broadband light detector designed to detect light in a UV-VIS-NIR light wavelength region, wherein the light source is a combination of narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of the UV-VIS-NIR light wavelength region.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention according to the second aspect, the light detector is a combination of narrowband light detectors, each being designed to detect light in a predetermined part of a UV-VIS-NIR light wavelength region.

In other embodiments of the present invention according to the second aspect, the processing device is further configured to receive personal patient data, wherein the generated urine data matrix further contains the received personal patient data.

In various embodiments of the present invention according to the second aspect, the personal patient data comprises height, weight, gender, age and/or diagnosis.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of analyzing a urine, the method comprising: (i) emitting, by means of a first light source, a NIR broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (ii) emitting, by means of a second light source, a VIS broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (iii) detecting, by means of a light detector, the NIR broadband light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a first urine spectrum and the VIS light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a second urine spectrum; (iv) transmitting the first and second urine spectra from the light detector to a computer device connected to the light detector, (v) processing, by the computer device, the transmitted urine spectra to generate a urine data matrix; and (vi) feeding, by the computer device, the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of analyzing a urine, the method comprising: (i) emitting, by means of a light source, a UV-VIS-NIR light in a direction of the urine container; (ii) detecting, by means of a light detector, the UV-VIS-NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a urine spectrum; (iii) transmitting the urine spectrum from the light detector to a computer device connected to the light detector; (iv) processing, by the computer device, the transmitted urine spectrum to generate a urine data matrix; and (v) feeding, by the computer device, the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for analyzing urine, the system comprising: (1) a first light source designed to emit a NIR broadband light in a direction of an urine container; (2) a second light source designed to emit a VIS broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (3) a light detector designed to detect the NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a first urine spectrum and the VIS light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a second urine spectrum; and (4) a computer device connected to the light detector to receive the first and second urine spectra therefrom and configured to process the received urine spectra to generate a urine data matrix, wherein the computer device is further configured to feed the generated urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for analyzing urine, the system comprising: (1) a light source designed to emit a UV-VIS-NIR light in a direction of the urine container; (2) a light detector designed to detect the UV-VIS-NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a urine spectrum; and (3) a computer device connected to the light detector to receive the generated urine spectrum therefrom and configured to process the received urine spectrum to generate a urine data matrix, wherein the computer device is further configured to feed the generated urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for analyzing urine, the device comprising: (1) a base for receiving a urine container; (2) a first light source mounted on the base and designed to emit a NIR broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (3) a second light source mounted on the base and designed to emit a VIS broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (4) a light detector mounted on the base and configured to detect the NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a first urine spectrum and the VIS light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a second urine spectrum; and (5) a processing device connected to the light detector to receive the first and second urine spectra therefrom and configured to process the received urine spectra to generate a urine data matrix, wherein the processing device is further configured to feed the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease and measured urine spectra, so as to detect at least one disease.

In an eight aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for analyzing urine, the device comprising: (1) a base for receiving a urine container; (2) a light source mounted on the base and designed to emit a UV-VIS-NIR light in a direction of the urine container; (3) a light detector mounted on the base and configured to detect the UV-VIS-NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a urine spectrum; and (4) a processing device connected to the light detector to receive the urine spectrum therefrom and configured to process the received urine spectrum to generate a urine data matrix, wherein the processing device is further configured to feed the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease and measured urine spectra, so as to detect at least one disease.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of analyzing a urine, the method comprising: (i) emitting, by means of a first light source, a NIR broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (ii) emitting, by means of a second light source, a VIS broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (iii) detecting, by means of a light detector, the NIR broadband light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a first urine spectrum and the VIS light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a second urine spectrum; (iv) transmitting the first and second urine spectra from the light detector to a computer device connected to the light detector; (v) processing, by the computer device, the transmitted urine spectra to generate a urine data matrix; and (vi) feeding, by the computer device, the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease and measured urine spectra, so as to detect at least one disease.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of analyzing a urine, the method comprising: (i) emitting, by means of a light source, a UV-VIS-NIR light in a direction of the urine container; (ii) detecting, by means of a light detector, the UV-VIS-NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a urine spectrum; (iii) transmitting the urine spectrum from the light detector to a computer device connected to the light detector; (iv) processing, by the computer device, the transmitted urine spectrum to generate a urine data matrix; and (v) feeding, by the computer device, the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease and measured urine spectra, so as to detect at least one disease.

In a eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for analyzing urine, the system comprising: (1) a first light source designed to emit a NIR broadband light in a direction of an urine container; (2) a second light source designed to emit a VIS broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (3) a light detector designed to detect the NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a first urine spectrum and the VIS light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a second urine spectrum; and (4) a computer device connected to the light detector to receive the first and second urine spectra therefrom and configured to process the received urine spectra to generate a urine data matrix, wherein the computer device is further configured to feed the generated urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease and measured urine spectra, so as to detect at least one disease.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for analyzing urine, the system comprising: (1) a light source designed to emit a UV-VIS-NIR light in a direction of the urine container; (2) a light detector designed to detect the UV-VIS-NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a urine spectrum; and (3) a computer device connected to the light detector to receive the generated urine spectrum therefrom and configured to process the received urine spectrum to generate a urine data matrix, wherein the computer device is further configured to feed the generated urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease and measured urine spectra, so as to detect at least one disease.

The present invention according to any of the above-disclosed first-sixth aspects improves accuracy of urine parameter determination due to an improved computing model using a urine data matrix as an input. The present invention according to any of the above-disclosed seventhtwelfth aspects improves accuracy of disease determination due to an improved computing model using a urine data matrix as an input.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, in a nonlimiting fashion, the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention, and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a urine-analyzing system according to a first aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a urine-analyzing device according to a second aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method of analyzing a urine according to a fifth aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method of analyzing a urine according to a sixth aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a urine-analyzing system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a urine-analyzing device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method of analyzing a urine according to a eleventh aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method of analyzing a urine according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. The subject matter of this disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

The following example embodiments of the present invention are provided for analyzing urine by using a urine sample collected by a patient at home or office of a healthcare provider. For example, the patient may collect the urine sample by using a urine container provided by the healthcare provider or purchased by the patient in a drugstore. Thus, the urine sample contained in the urine container is analyzed by the present invention, thereby allowing at least one parameter of the patient urine (i .e. a urine biomarker) to the identified, at least one disease of the patient to be identified, or values of at least one parameter of the patient urine to be determined.

In the context of this document, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the term "patient" means first of all a potentially sick person (a member of the mammalian class) seeking medical advice or remaining under medical observation to have a disease diagnosed and/or treated, wherein the term "patient" also means secondly potentially sick mammalian animals remaining under medical observation to diagnose and/or treat their disease. Meanwhile, in context of this document, unless stated otherwise, the term “patient” also means thirdly any human users (e g. pregnant woman, disabled person, chronic person, healthy person, sportsman, and etc.) wishing to learn their health status.

Furthermore, in the context of this document, unless expressly stated otherwise, the term "mammal" means a human or an animal, in particular anthropoid and non-human primates, dogs, cats, horses, camels, donkeys, cows, sheep, pigs, and other well-known mammals.

In the context of this document, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the term "urine parameter" means any one of the following urine parameters determined during a standard or special analysis of the urine: glucose (sugar), leukocyte esterase, bilirubin, urobilirubin, blood, protein, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), squamous epithelial cells, casts, crystals, bacteria, yeast, parasites, nitrates, nitrite, ketones, specific gravity (density), acidity (pH), concentration, mucus, pathological cylinders, small cells, squamous cells, hyaline casts, microalbumin, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and other appropriate urine factors or parameters known in the art.

Furthermore, in the context of this document, unless expressly stated otherwise, the term "UV- VIS-NIR light" means Ultraviolet/Visible/Near-Infrared light having a wavelength in the range from 200 nm to 1000 nm; the term “NIR broadband light” means near-infrared broadband light having a wavelength in the range from 670 nm to 1000 nm; the term “VIS broadband light” means visible broadband light having a wavelength in the range from 400 nm to 700 nm.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system 1000 for analyzing urine according to a first aspect of the present invention, the urine-analyzing system comprising the following functional devices: a computer device 100, a first light source 200, a second light source 300, a light detector 400, a urine container 500, a data server 600, a cloud storage 700, and an external storage 800.

In the system 1000 according to the first aspect of the present invention, the computer device 100 is configured to process urine data corresponding to a urine sample or urine of the patient in the below-described manner, thereby allowing (i) detection or identification of at least one urine parameter related to the patient urine, (ii) determination of values of at least one urine parameter related to the patient urine (i.e. evaluation of patient urine parameters) or (iii) detection of at least one disease related to the patient. In other words, depending on a particular alternative implementation of the computer device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the computer device 100 uses urine data corresponding to the patient to allow at least one urine parameter to be identified, at least one urine parameter to be evaluated or at least one patient disease to be detected or diagnosed.

The urine container 500 shown in FIG. 1 is installed or mounted between the light detector 400 and the light sources 200, 300 such that light emitted by any of the first and second light sources 200, 300 is allowed to pass through urine contained in the urine container 500. Before the urine container 500 is illuminated by light emitted by any of the light sources 200, 300, the urine container 500 is required to be filled by the urine or urine sample to be analyzed. For example, the urine container 500 may be in the form of a transparent urine container having a cylindrical surface and a standard diameter of 50 mm, wherein the urine container 500 may be made of plastic.

The first light source 200 shown in FIG. 1 is designed to emit a NIR (near-infrared) broadband light in a direction of the urine container 500, wherein the emitted NIR broadband light has a wavelength in the range of 670-1000 nm.

The second light source 300 shown in FIG. 1 is designed to emit a VIS (visible) broadband light in a direction of the urine container 500, wherein the emitted VIS broadband light has a wavelength in the range of 400-700 nm.

In other words, use of a combination of the first and second light sources 200, 300 shown in FIG. 1 allows covering the wavelength range from 400 nm to 1000 nm.

For example, the first and second light sources 200, 300 shown in FIG. 1 may be each in the form of a LED light source (i.e. light source in the form of light-emitting diode) designed to emit light in a corresponding wavelength range being specific for some urine parameters. In another example, the first and second light sources 200, 300 may be each in the form of an incandescent lamp or laser designed to emit light in a corresponding wavelength range.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second light sources 200, 300 may be both installed or mounted on the same printed circuit board. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first and second light sources 200, 300 may be each installed or mounted on a separate circuit board.

In the system 1000 according to the first aspect of the present invention, the light detector 400 is designed to detect the NIR light passed through urine in the urine container 500 to generate a first urine spectrum and detect the VIS light passed through urine in the urine container 500 to generate a second urine spectrum. It is to note that the NIR light and the VIS light may be emitted simultaneously or alternatively (in series) by the first light source 200 and the second light source 300, respectively.

For example, the light detector 400 shown in FIG. 1 may be in the form of a multichannel spectrometer designed to detect light in a wavelength range of 400-1000 nm, i.e. light in the wavelength range being specific for the VIS broadband light emitted by the second light source 300 and light in the wavelength range being specific for the NIR broadband light emitted by the first light source 200. In another example, the light detector 400 may be in the form of multispectral sensor designed to receive light in a wavelength range of 400-1000 nm.

In a preferred example, the light detector 400 shown in FIG. 1 may be in the form of an 18- channel spectrometer. Such 18-channel spectrometer may comprise three (3) measuring units mounted on the same board, each having six (6) independent optical filters with FWHM of 20 nm for each channel, so that these 18 optical channels allow a urine spectrum to be measured in the range from 400 nm to 1000 nm.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the light detector 400 may be a combination of discrete/narrowband light detectors, each being designed to detect light in a predetermined part of the NIR light wavelength region or detect light in a predetermined part of the VIS light wavelength region. It is to note that the first and second urine spectra generated by the light detector 400 shown in FIG. 1 are each a transmission spectrum, scattering spectrum, fluorescence spectrum or luminescence spectrum. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention each of the first and second urine spectra generated by the light detector 400 is a transmission optical spectrum, i.e. the light detector 400 is designed to detect intensity of light transmitted or passed through urine contained in the urine container 500.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first light source 200 may be a first combination of discrete/narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of the NIR wavelength region (e.g. an operating bandwidth may be less than 50 nm), and the second light source 300 is a second combination of discrete/narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of the VIS light wavelength region (e.g. an operating bandwidth may be less than 50 nm). Furthermore, in the present embodiment of the present invention, the light detector 400 shown in FIG. 1 may be a single broadband light detector or multiple broadband light detectors designed to detect light in the NIR light wavelength region and detect light in the VIS light wavelength region. As an alternative, in the present embodiment of the present invention, the light detector 400 shown in FIG. 1 may be a combination of discrete/narrowband light detectors, each being designed to detect light in a predetermined part of the NIR light wavelength region or detect light in a predetermined part of the VIS light wavelength region.

As shown in FIG. 1, the light detector 400 is communicatively connected, via a communication network 900, to the computer device 100, so that urine spectra generated by the light detector 400 are transmitted via the communication network 900 to the computer device 100. In one embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect, the light detector 400 may be connected to the computer device 100 in wire manner. The computer device 100 shown in FIG. 1 receives the first and second urine spectra generated by the light detector 400 and is configured to process the received urine spectra in the below-described manner.

It is to note that the operation of the light sources 200, 300 and the operation of the light detector 400 may be controlled remotely, for example by using the computer device 100 or at least one external control device communicatively connected to said functional components in a wire or wire-less manner and configured to control at least one of said functional components. Alternatively, the operation of the light sources 200, 300 may be each individually controlled by using a special control device mounted together with a corresponding light source controlled by the special control device on the same circuit board or mounted inside a housing of a corresponding light source controlled by the special control device; the operation of the light detector 400 may be controlled by using a separate control unit mounted inside a housing of the light detector 400 and connected to the light detector 400 in wire manner. Alternatively, the operation of the light sources 200, 300 may be controlled by using a special control device mounted together with both light sources controlled by the special control device on the same circuit board.

In the system 1000 according to the first aspect of the present invention, the computer device 100 is comprised of two main functional modules: a communication module 10 and a urine-analysis module 20. The computer device 100 also comprises a local storage 40 and a communication bus 30, wherein the urine-analysis module 20 is communicatively coupled to the communication module 10 via the communication bus 30, and the communication module 10 and the urineanalysis module 20 are each communicatively coupled to the local storage 40 via the communication bus 30.

Functionalities of the communication module 10 and urine-analysis module 20 will be fully described below with reference to FIG. 1.

The communication module 10 shown in FIG. 1 may be communicatively connected, via the communication network 900, to the data server 600, the cloud storage 700, the external storage 800 or other similar external devices used for storing urine spectra generated by the light detector 400 to receive therefrom at least two urine spectra (namely, at least the above first and second urine spectra) to be processed by the computer device 100. In one embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect, the communication module 10 may be connected directly to the data server 600, the cloud storage 700 or the external storage 800 in a wire manner.

The communication network 900 shown in FIG. 1 may be in the form of Internet, 3G network, 4G network, 5G network, Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth network or any other wire or wireless network supporting appropriate data communication technologies or protocols.

The communication module 10 shown in FIG. 1 may be implemented as a network adapter provided with slots appropriate for connecting physical cables of desired types thereto if wired connections are provided between the computer device 100 and any external devices mentioned in the present document. Alternatively, if wireless connections are provided between the computer device 100 and any external devices mentioned in the present document, the communication module 10 may be implemented as a network adapter in form of WiFi-adaptor, 3G/4G/5G-adaptor, LTE-adaptor, Bluetooth adaptor or any another appropriate adaptor supporting any known wireless communication technology or protocol. In an embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect, the communication module 10 may be implemented as a network adaptor supporting a combination of the above-mentioned wire or wireless communication technologies depending on types of connections provided between the computer device 100 and any external devices mentioned in the present document.

Each urine spectrum received by the communication module 10 is transmitted via the communication bus 30 directly to the urine-analysis module 20 to allow the urine spectrum to be processed by the urine-analysis module 20. In another embodiment of the present invention, the urine spectrum received by the communication module 10 may be transmitted via the communication bus 30 to the local storage 40 to be stored therein, and the urine-analysis module 20 may access the local storage 40 via the communication bus 30 to retrieve the previously stored urine spectrum to further process it. Thus, having received the first urine spectrum generated by the light detector 400 and the second urine spectrum generated by the light detector 400, the urine-analysis module 20 shown in FIG. 1 process both the received urine spectra to generate a combined urine data array or a single urine data matrix. In a preferred example, data in the urine data matrix generated by the urine-analysis module 20 shown in FIG. 1 may be recorded as one string. In the embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect where the light detector 400 shown in FIG. 1 is the 18-channel spectrometer, the urine data matrix generated by the urine-analysis module 20 shown in FIG. 1 may has only one string and thirty two (32) columns, wherein one half of the columns corresponds to the first light source 200, and the other half of the columns corresponds to the second light source 300, and a number of columns in each of said two halves corresponds to the number of the spectrometer channels.

The urine-analysis module 20 shown in FIG. 1 is further configured to feed the generated urine data matrix to at least one computing model or a plurality of computing models, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter or a plurality of urine parameters. In other words, applying, by means of the urineanalysis module 20 shown in FIG. 1, the pre-produced computing models to the generated urine data matrix allows particular urine parameters to be identified (i.e. determination on whether particular urine parameters are indicative for the analyzed urine or presented in the analyzed urine or determination on which of the predefined urine parameters are indicative for the analyzed urine or presented in the analyzed urine) or allows particular urine parameters to be evaluated (i.e. determination of values of particular urine parameters).

Thus, each of the computing models allows only corresponding one of the urine parameters to be determined within the urine analysis. It is to note that data on the computing models may be preliminarily stored in the local storage 40, and the urine-analysis module 20 may access the local storage 40 via the communication bus 30 to retrieve the previously stored data on the computing models to be used for determining urine parameters, each retrieved computing model corresponding to a particular one of the urine parameters to be determined or evaluated, wherein the computing models to be used by the urine-analysis module 20 may be pre-programmed or pre-configured by a user or defined by the user in any particular use of the system 1000.

The standard urine analysis method to be used in a corresponding one of the computing models applied by the urine-analysis module 20 to the fed urine data matrix depends on a particular urine parameter to be determined or evaluated with said computing model. In particular, the standard urine analysis method may be one of the following urine analysis methods known in the art: refractometry, dry chemistry, flow cytometry, microscopy and other appropriate urine analysis methods. For example, specific gravity (SG) may be measured by using an automated transmission refractometry method; pH, protein (PRO), bilirubin (BIL), glucose (GLU), ketones (KET), leukocyte esterase (LEU), nitrite (NIT), and urobilinogen (URO) may be determined by using a chemical analysis based on a dual-wavelength reflectance method; single wavelength reflectance for blood (BLD), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), squamous epithelial cells (SEC), hyaline casts (HC), bacteria (BACT), crystals (CRY), yeasts (YEA), transitional epithelial cells (TEC), pathological casts (PC), mucus (MUC) and spermatozoa (SPERM) may be determined by using a flow cytometry method.

The computing models used by the urine-analysis module 20 shown in FIG. 1 may be in the form of any appropriate pre-trained neural network, machine-learning model or any other appropriate preliminary produced computer model known in the art. In particular, each of the computing models used by the urine-analysis module 20 shown in FIG. 1 is preliminarily trained on a plurality of measured urine spectra, each corresponding to a patient having a particular urine parameter determined by using a corresponding standard urine analysis method or having a particular urine parameter with a value preliminarily measured by using a corresponding standard urine analysis method and all corresponding to patients having said urine parameter. Therefore, each of the computing models used by the urine-analysis module 20 shown in FIG. 1 is preliminarily trained to identify or evaluate a particular one of the urine parameters to be detected based on a combination of two different urine spectra related to the same urine sample.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the urine-analysis module 20 may be further configured to retrieve or receive personal patient data (e.g. a patient height, weight, gender, age and/or diagnosis) from the local storage 40 via the communication bus 30 and process them together with the first and second urine spectra received from the light detector 400 in order to generate the urine data matrix to be fed to the computing models used by the urine-analysis module 20, so that the generated urine data matrix may further contain the received personal patient data or further based on the personal patient data (i.e. in addition to the received urine spectra).

The urine-analysis module 20 and any other data-processing modules mentioned in the present document may be each implemented as a single processor, such as a common processor or a special-purpose processor (e.g., a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, or the like). For example, the urine-analysis module 20 may be in the form of a central processing unit of the below-mentioned general-purpose computer (common computer) which may be the implementation of the computer device 100.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the communication module 10 in the computer device 100 may further communicatively connected to a packet capture device (not shown) in wire or wireless manner, in particular via the communication network 900. The packet capture device may be connected to the communication network 900 to capture data packets transmitted via the communication network 900 (network traffic) and to transmit the captured data packets to the communication module 10; the urine-analysis module 20 may further comprises a filtering or analyzing module (not shown) communicatively connected to the communication module 10 and the urine-analysis module 20 via the communication bus 30 to process the data packets received by the communication module 10. The analyzing module may be further configured or programmed to extract all files comprised in the data packets received from the communication module 10 and to analyze each of the extracted files to identify its format, wherein the analyzing module may be further configured or programmed to transmit each file having a format corresponding to a urine spectrum or urine spectra to the urine-analysis module 20 via the communication bus 30. In various embodiments of the present invention, the computer device 100 may be in the form of a computing device comprised of a combination of a hardware and software or a general-purpose computer having a structure known for those skilled in the art. In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer device 100 may be implemented as a single computer server, such as «Dell™ PowerEdge™» server running the operating system «Ubuntu Server 18.04». In some embodiments of the present invention, the computer device 100 may be in the form of a table computer, laptop, netbook, smartphone, tablet and any other electronical or computing device appropriate for solving the above-mentioned prior art problems. In other embodiments of the present invention, the computer device 100 may be implemented in any other suitable hardware, software, and/or firmware, or a combination thereof. A particular implementation of the computer device 100 is not limited by the above-mentioned examples.

The local storage 40 stores executable program instructions or commands allowing the operation of functional modules integrated to the computer device 100 to be controlled, wherein said functional modules are the communication module 10, the urine-analysis module 20 and any other functional modules mentioned in the present document as a part of the computer device 100. Meanwhile, such executable program instructions or commands as stored in the local storage 40 also allow the functional modules of the computer device 100 to implement their functionalities. Furthermore, the local storage 40 stores different additional data used by the functional modules to provide their outputs.

The local storage 40 may be realized as a memory, a hard disk drive or any appropriate longterm storage. For example, the local storage 40 may be in the form of a data storage of the above-mentioned general -purpose computer which may be the implementation of the computer device 100.

The first light source 200, the second light source 300 and the computer device 100 as described above for the first aspect of the present invention may be corresponding functional components of an integral device 2000 for analyzing urine (also referred to in the present document as a urine-analyzing device 2000). It is to note that the urine-analyzing device 2000 may be portable, hand-held or stationary. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the urine-analyzing device 2000 according to the second aspect of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the urine-analyzing device 2000 comprises a docking station or base 150 designed to receive the urine container 500, so that the urine container 500 preliminarily filled with a urine or a urine sample to be analyzed may be easily installed or mounted on the base 150 such that the urine container 500 is positioned between the light detector 400 and the light sources 200, 300. In an embodiment of the present invention, the urine container 500 shown in FIG. 2 may be releasably attached or secured to the base 150. In another embodiment of the present invention, the urine container 500 shown in FIG. 2 may be integral with the base 150.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the first light source 200 and the second light source 300 are each installed or mounted on the base 150 such that the light emitted by any of the light sources 200, 300 is directed to the urine container 500.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the light detector 400 is also installed or mounted on the base 150 such that the light transmitted or passed through urine or urine sample contained in the urine container 500 is received or detected by the light detector 400.

In the urine-analyzing device 2000 shown in FIG. 2, the computer device 100 (not shown in FIG. 2) is installed or mounted inside the base 150, wherein the computer device 100 may be formed as a processing device, processor or any other on-board computing device. It is to note that the operation of the light sources 200, 300 and the operation of the urine container 400 may be controlled by the computer device 100 or another on-board or external control device connected to said functional components in a wire or wire-less manner. The computer device 100 in the urine-analyzing device 2000 shown in FIG. 2 substantially performs the same functionalities as mentioned above for the system 1000, i.e. receive the first urine spectrum corresponding to the first light source 200 and the second urine spectrum corresponding to the second light source 300 from the light detector 400 to process them for generating a urine data matrix and, then, to feed the generated urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter (i.e. allows identification and evaluation of each of the required urine parameters).

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect or second aspect, each of the computing models used by the computer device 100 and provided with the urine data matrix previously generated by the computer device 100 may be alternatively based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease diagnosed by a medical specialist or a standard medical diagnostic technique and measured urine spectra, so that the computer device 100 may allow at least one disease of the patient or a plurality of diseases of the patient to be determined (i.e. allows detection of each of the required patient diseases). In other words, the computer device 100 according to the present alternative embodiment of the present invention substantially generally performs the most functionalities mentioned above for the system 1000, i.e. the computer device 100 also receives the first urine spectrum corresponding to the first light source 200 and the second urine spectrum corresponding to the second light source 300 from the light detector 400 to process them for generating the urine data matrix, however the above alternative computing models based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease diagnosed by a medical specialist or a standard medical diagnostic technique and measured urine spectra are applied to the generated urine data matrix, and patient diseases (i.e. not the at least one urine parameters related to the patient) are alternatively determined or detected as a result or an output provided by the computer device 100. Thus, in the present alternative embodiment of the present invention according to the first or second aspect, each of the computing models allows only corresponding one of the patient diseases to be determined within the urine analysis. Meanwhile, each of the computing models used by the urine-analysis module 20 contained in the computer device 100 according to the present alternative embodiment of the present invention is preliminarily trained on a plurality of measured urine spectra, each corresponding to a patient having a particular diagnosed disease and all corresponding to patients having said diagnosed disease. Therefore, each of the computing models used by the urine-analysis module 20 contained in the computer device 100 according to the present alternative embodiment of the present invention is preliminarily trained to detect a particular one of the patient diseases to be detected based on a combination of two different urine spectra related to the same urine sample. It is clear for a skilled person that the computer device 100 in present alternative embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect may be used as the above-described functional component of the system 1000 shown in FIG. 1 or used as a processing device in the urineanalyzing device 2000 shown in FIG. 2. It is to note that the present alternative embodiment of the present invention according to the first aspect or second aspect actually discloses a system for analyzing urine according to a third aspect of the present invention and a urine-analyzing device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of analyzing a urine according to a fifth aspect of the present invention.

The method of FIG. 3 may be implemented by the above system 1000 according to the first aspect of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 or the above urine-analyzing device 2000 according to the second aspect of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2. Anyway, the method of FIG. 3 may be implemented by any computing or electronic device known in the art, in particular by a processing unit of the above-mentioned general-purpose computer.

The method of FIG. 3 comprises the following stages or steps: 1) emitting, by means of a first light source, a NIR broadband light in a direction of the urine container;

(2) emitting, by means of a second light source, a VIS broadband light in a direction of the urine container;

(3) detecting, by means of a light detector, the NIR broadband light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a first urine spectrum and the VIS light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a second urine spectrum;

(4) transmitting the first and second urine spectra from the light detector to a computer device connected to the light detector;

(5) processing, by the computer device, the transmitted urine spectra to generate a urine data matrix; and

(6) feeding, by the computer device, the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter.

Fig. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of analyzing a urine according to a sixth aspect of the present invention

The method of FIG. 4 may be implemented by the above urine-analyzing system according to the third aspect of the present invention or the above urine-analyzing device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. Anyway, the method of FIG. 4 may be also implemented by any computing or electronic device known in the art, in particular by a processing unit of the above-mentioned general-purpose computer. The method of FIG. 4 comprises the following stages or steps:

(1) emitting, by means of a first light source, a NIR broadband light in a direction of the urine container;

(2) emitting, by means of a second light source, a VIS broadband light in a direction of the urine container; (3) detecting, by means of a light detector, the NIR broadband light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a first urine spectrum and the VIS light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a second urine spectrum;

(4) transmitting the first and second urine spectra from the light detector to a computer device connected to the light detector;

(5) processing, by the computer device, the transmitted urine spectra to generate a urine data matrix; and

(6) feeding, by the computer device, the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease and measured urine spectra, so as to detect at least one disease.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a system 3000 for analyzing urine according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, wherein the urine-analyzing system 3000 is substantially an alternative variant of the urine-analyzing system 1000 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the urine- analyzing system 3000 according to the seventh aspect of the present invention will be similar to the above-described urine-analyzing system 1000 according to the first aspect of the present invention, i.e. the urine-analyzing system 3000 according to the seventh aspect of the present invention has a structure, interconnections and main functional components similar to that of the urine-analyzing system 1000 according to the first aspect of the present invention (see FIGs. 1 and 5). In view of the above-mentioned similarity between the urine-analyzing system 3000 shown in FIG. 5 and the previously described urine-analyzing system 1000 shown in FIG. 1, most of details related to the urine-analyzing system 3000 according to the seventh aspect of the present invention are omitted in the present document and provided therein as a reference to corresponding description of the urine-analyzing system 1000 according to the first aspect of the present invention.

Thus, as compared to the urine-analyzing system 1000 provided with the above-described first and second light sources 200, 300, the urine-analyzing system 3000 shown in FIG. 5 comprises a light source 250. Generally speaking, the light source 250 comprised in the urine-analyzing system 3000 generally replaces the first and second light sources 200, 300 comprised in the urine-analyzing system 1000 and has a functionality similar to that of the light sources 200, 300.

In particular, in the urine-analyzing system 3000 shown in FIG. 5, the light source 250 is designed to emit a UV-VIS-NIR (Ultraviolet/Visible/Near-Infrared) light in a direction of the urine container 500, wherein the UV-VIS-NTR light has wavelength in the range of 200-1000 nm.

Furthermore, the as compared to the urine-analyzing system 1000 provided with the light detector 400, the urine-analyzing system 3000 shown in FIG. 5 comprises a light detector 450. Generally speaking, the light detector 450 comprised in the urine-analyzing system 3000 generally replaces the light detector 400 comprised in the urine-analyzing system 1000 and has a functionality similar to that of the light detector 400.

In particular, in the urine-analyzing system 3000 shown in FIG. 5, the light detector 450 is designed to detect the UV-VIS-NIR light transmitted or passed through urine in the urine container 500 to generate a single urine spectrum.

Similar to the urine-analyzing system 1000 shown in FIG. 1, the computer device 100 shown in FIG. 5 is connected to the light detector 400 to receive the generated urine spectrum therefrom and configured to process the received urine spectrum to generate a urine data matrix, wherein the computer device 100 shown in FIG. 5 is also further configured to feed the generated urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter. In other words, the urine parameters determined by the computer device 100 shown in FIG. 5 is a result or an output provided by the computer device 100 shown in FIG. 5.

It is to note that the above-described particular or alternative embodiments of the urine-analyzing system 1000 are applicable to the urine-analyzing system 3000 shown in FIG. 5.

The first light 250 shown in FIG. 5, the light detector 450 shown in FIG. 5 and the computer device 100 shown in FIG. 5 as described above for the seventh aspect of the present invention may be corresponding functional components of an integral device 4000 for analyzing urine (also referred to in the present document as a urine-analyzing device 4000). FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the urine-analyzing device 4000 according to the eight aspect of the present invention.

The urine-analyzing device 4000 shown in FIG. 6 is substantially an alternative variant of the urine- urine-analyzing device 2000 shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the urine-analyzing device 4000 according to the eight aspect of the present invention will be similar to the above-described urine-analyzing device 2000 according to the second aspect of the present invention, i.e. the urine-analyzing device 4000 according to the eight aspect of the present invention has a structure, interconnections and main functional components similar to that of the urine-analyzing device 2000 according to the second aspect of the present invention (see FIGs. 2 and 5). In view of the above-mentioned similarity between the urine-analyzing device 4000 shown in FIG. 6 and the previously described urine-analyzing device 2000 shown in FIG. 2, most of details related to the urine-analyzing device 4000 according to the eight aspect of the present invention are omitted in the present document and provided therein as a reference to corresponding description of the urine-analyzing device 2000 according to the second aspect of the present invention.

Thus, as compared to the urine-analyzing device 2000 provided with the above-described first and second light sources 200, 300 shown in FIG. 2 and with the light detector 400 shown in FIG. 2, the urine-analyzing device 4000 shown in FIG. 6 comprises the light source 250 described above for the urine-analyzing device 4000 and the light detector 450 described above for the urine-analyzing device 4000. In particular, the light source 250 shown in FIG. 6 is installed or mounted on the base 150 such that the UV-VIS-NIR light emitted by the light source 250 is directed to the urine container 500, and the light detector 450 is installed or mounted on the base 150 such that the UV-VIS-NIR light transmitted or passed through urine or urine sample contained in the urine container 500 is received or detected by the light detector 450. Also, the computer device 100 is installed or mounted inside the base 150 and substantially operates or functions in the same manner as the computer device 100 described above for the urineanalyzing system 3000 shown in FIG. 5. It is to note that the urine spectrum generated by the light detector 450 may be a transmission spectrum, scattering spectrum, fluorescence spectrum or a luminescence spectrum.

Due to objective similarity between the urine-analyzing device 4000 shown in FIG. 6 and the urine-analyzing device 2000 shown in FIG. 2, it is clear for the skilled person that the abovedescribed particular or alternative embodiments of the urine-analyzing device 2000 are applicable to the urine-analyzing device 4000. In particular, in an embodiment of the present invention according to the eight aspect, the light source 250 may be a single light source or a combination of light sources. Further, in one embodiment of the present invention according to the eight aspect, the light source 250 may be a combination of narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of the UV-VIS-NIR light wavelength region. Further, in another embodiment of the present invention according to the eight aspect, the light detector 450 may be a broadband light detector designed to detect light in the UV-VIS-NIR light wavelength region, wherein the light source 250 is required to be a combination of narrowband light sources, each emitting light in a predetermined part of the UV-VIS-NIR light wavelength region. Further, in still another embodiment of the present invention according to the eight aspect, the light detector 450 may be a combination of narrowband light detectors, each being designed to detect light in a predetermined part of the UV-VIS-NIR light wavelength region. Further, in yet another embodiment of the present invention according to the eight aspect, the urine-analysis module 20 in the computer device 100 may be further configured to retrieve or receive personal patient data (e g. a patient height, weight, gender, age and/or diagnosis) from the local storage 40 via the communication bus 30 and process them together with the urine spectrum received from the light detector 450 in order to generate the urine data matrix to be fed to the computing models used by the urine-analysis module 20 shown in FIG. 6, so that the generated urine data matrix may further contain the received personal patient data or further based on the personal patient data (i.e. in addition to the urine spectrum received from the light detector 450).

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention according to the seventh aspect or eight aspect, each of the computing models used by the computer device 100 and provided with the urine data matrix previously generated by the computer device 100 may be alternatively based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease diagnosed by a medical specialist or a standard medical diagnostic technique and measured urine spectra, so that the computer device 100 may allow at least one disease of the patient or a plurality of diseases of the patient to be determined (i.e. allows detection of each of the required patient diseases). In other words, the computer device 100 according to the present alternative embodiment of the present invention substantially generally performs the most functionalities mentioned above for the system 3000 shown in FIG. 5, i.e. the computer device 100 also receives the urine spectrum corresponding to the light source 250 from the light detector 450 to process them for generating the urine data matrix, however the above alternative computing models based on a predetermined correlation between measured urine spectra and a particular disease diagnosed by a medical specialist or a standard medical diagnostic technique are applied to the generated urine data matrix, and patient diseases (i.e. not the at least one urine parameters related to the patient) are alternatively determined or detected as a result or an output provided by the computer device 100. Thus, in the present alternative embodiment of the present invention according to the seventh or eighth aspect, each of the computing models allows only corresponding one of the patient diseases to be determined within the urine analysis. Meanwhile, each of the computing models used by the urine-analysis module 20 contained in the computer device 100 according to the present alternative embodiment of the present invention is preliminarily trained on a plurality of measured urine spectra, each corresponding to a patient having a particular diagnosed disease and all corresponding to patients having said diagnosed disease. Therefore, each of the computing models used by the urine-analysis module 20 contained in the computer device 100 according to the present alternative embodiment of the present invention is preliminarily trained to detect a particular one of the patient diseases to be detected based on a single urine spectrum related to the urine sample and corresponding to the light source 250. It is clear for a skilled person that the computer device 100 in present alternative embodiment of the present invention according to the seventh or eighth aspect may be used as the above-described functional component of the system 3000 shown in FIG. 5 or used as a processing device in the urineanalyzing device 4000 shown in FIG. 6. It is to note that the present alternative embodiment of the present invention according to the seventh or eighth aspect actually discloses a system for analyzing urine according to a ninth aspect of the present invention and a urine-analyzing device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of analyzing a urine according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention.

The method of FIG. 7 may be implemented by the above system 3000 according to the seventh aspect of the present invention as shown in FIG. 5 or the above urine-analyzing device 4000 according to the eight aspect of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6. Anyway, the method of FIG. 7 may be implemented by any computing or electronic device known in the art, in particular by a processing unit of the above-mentioned general-purpose computer. The method of FIG. 7 comprises the following stages or steps:

(1) emitting, by means of a light source, a UV-VIS-NIR light in a direction of the urine container;

(2) detecting, by means of a light detector, the UV-VIS-NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a urine spectrum;

(3) transmitting the urine spectrum from the light detector to a computer device connected to the light detector;

(4) processing, by the computer device, the transmitted urine spectrum to generate a urine data matrix; and

(5) feeding, by the computer device, the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular urine parameter obtained by a standard urine analysis method and measured urine spectra, so as to determine at least one urine parameter.

Fig. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of analyzing a urine according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention.

The method of FIG. 8 may be implemented by the above urine-analyzing system according to the tenth aspect of the present invention or the above urine-analyzing device according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention. Anyway, the method of FIG. 8 may be also implemented by any computing or electronic device known in the art, in particular by a processing unit of the above-mentioned general-purpose computer.

The method of FIG. 8 comprises the following stages or steps:

(1) emitting, by means of a light source, a UV-VIS-NIR light in a direction of the urine container; 2) detecting, by means of a light detector, the UV-VIS-NIR light passed through urine in the urine container to generate a urine spectrum;

(3) processing, by the computer device, the transmitted urine spectrum to generate a urine data matrix; and

(4) feeding, by the computer device, the urine data matrix to at least one computing model, each being based on a predetermined correlation between a particular disease and measured urine spectra, so as to detect at least one disease.

It will be apparent to one of skill in the art that described herein is a novel system method and apparatus for free keystroke biometric authentication. While the invention has been described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it is not limited to these embodiments. The invention may be modified or varied in many ways and such modifications and variations, as would be obvious to one of skill in the art, are within the scope and spirit of the invention and are included within the scope of the following claims.