A pocket-sized colorimetric urine reader for telemedicine in the developing countries

We have proposed a novel handheld healthcare platform, combining a pocket-sized colorimetric reader (13.5 × 6.5 × 2.5 cm³) and commercially available 10-parameter urinalysis paper strips (glucose, protein, glucose, bilirubin, urobilinogen, ketones, nitrite, pH, specific gravity, erythrocytes, and leukocytes), capable of sending data with a smart phone (Samsung electronics co., Omnia 2) using a window mobile operating system. The reader includes a novel colorimetric multi-detection module, which consists of three-chromatic light-emitting diodes (LED), silicon photodiodes (SPDs) and a novel poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) optical splitter (POS). Data reading methods using conversions of the signal data (red, blue, and green) to the hue color map or the Y model data are utilized, and a curve-fitting method for the quantification is employed. The reader is battery-powered, inexpensive, light-weighing, and very speedy in analysis. And, it was applied to analyzing of a thousand of human urine samples in the Eulji university hospital and demonstrated reliable quantification of urinary glucose and protein. The features can be used by unskilled people on-site to transfer the analyzed data to experts off-site.