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Foldable low-cost point-of-care device for testing blood coagulation using smartphones
Weiming Xu1, Majed Althumayri1, Amin Mohammad2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Center for Remote Health Technologies and Systems, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
Insights
A new smartphone device offers low-cost, portable screening of blood coagulation (INR) at the point of care. This innovation enables convenient monitoring for patients on blood-thinning medications, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Point-of-Care Diagnostics
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) from thrombotic events are a major global health issue.
- Accurate monitoring of blood coagulation status, measured by the international normalized ratio (INR), is crucial for managing anticoagulant therapy.
- Current INR testing requires frequent hospital visits and expert analysis, posing a barrier to optimal patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a low-cost, portable smartphone-based device for point-of-care INR screening.
- To provide a convenient and accessible method for monitoring blood coagulation in patients on anticoagulant medication.
Main Methods:
- A portable device utilizing a 3D-printed platform and LED backlight for a uniform optical environment was designed.
- A smartphone-based algorithm was developed to acquire and process video of blood flow in a microfluidic channel.
- The device's performance was evaluated using control samples and clinical human blood samples.
Main Results:
- The smartphone-based INR device demonstrated high accuracy and reliability in screening blood coagulation levels.
- The device's foldable design and smartphone integration ensure portability and ease of use.
- The system provides a cost-effective solution for point-of-care blood coagulation monitoring.
Conclusions:
- The developed smartphone-based INR device offers a promising, affordable, and portable solution for point-of-care blood coagulation monitoring.
- This technology has the potential to enhance patient outcomes through more frequent INR monitoring and timely medication adjustments.
- The device facilitates convenient INR screening, reducing the need for hospital visits and expert intervention.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) caused by thrombotic events are a significant global health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. The international normalized ratio (INR) is the most widely used measure of coagulation status, and frequent testing is required to adjust blood-thinning drug dosage, requiring hospital visits and experts to perform the test. Here we present a low-cost and portable smartphone-based device for screening INR levels from whole blood samples at the point of care. Our device uses a 3D printed platform and light-emitting diode backlight modules to create a uniform optical environment, and its foldable design allows for easy transport. Our device also features an algorithm that allows users to acquire and process video of sample flow in a microfluidic channel on their smartphone, providing a cost-effective and convenient option for blood coagulation monitoring at the point of care. We tested the performance of our smartphone-based INR device using both commercially available control samples and clinical human blood samples, demonstrating high accuracy and reliability. Our device has the potential to improve patient outcomes by enabling more frequent monitoring and, as appropriate, dosage adjustments of blood-thinning drugs, providing an affordable and portable option for screening INR levels at the point of care.
