R&D safe & convenient home based blood cell counting system for the improved response to chronic disease management

这个应用程序的重点是为慢性病患者提供一个非常方便和简单的方法来自我监测他们的血液中白细胞的数量在他们的疾病。白细胞是我们免疫系统的重要组成部分，通过破坏血液中的细菌、细菌碎片和病毒，作为抵抗体内感染的主要防御。血液中白细胞水平低，即中性粒细胞减少症，是病人身体不适的一个关键指标，也是治疗癌症等疾病的一个重要部分。目前，白细胞计数只有在患者到临床机构就诊后才能进行，以便从手臂上采集血液样本，然后在正式的实验室设施中进行检测。所有免疫抑制患者都需要经常进行这项检查，以使他们能够控制自己的病情和治疗。因此，患有长期疾病的患者不得不打乱他们的日常生活，走很远的路，消耗医疗保健系统收集样本的时间和在实验室进行这些常规血液检查的资源。提交此申请的申请人证明，将新技术集成到一个简单的手持设备中是可能的，该设备足够智能，可以在家中或任何方便的地方计算他们的白细胞。申请人已经进行了将低成本激光和计算机智能（人工智能）相结合的科学研究，使计算机可以自动“观察和计数”患者血液样本中的血细胞数量。这项研究给了研究小组信心，认为这种方法是有效的，可以作为可靠的血细胞计数测试的基础。该团队现在的目标是研究和开发这种细胞计数器的手持版本，流体处理系统和软件，这样任何用户，无论他们的技能水平如何，都可以在任何环境下获得白细胞计数。该项目将侧重于生产小型化系统所需的工程和设计工作。然后，该团队将使用该设备分析大量血液样本，以训练算法检测所有类型的血细胞。最终，该项目将由一组患者和医生（即该设备的长期主要用户）对原型微型血细胞计数器进行测试和评估。

This application is focused on providing chronically ill patients with a highly convenient and easy way to self monitor the number of white blood cells in their blood during their illness. White blood cells are a vital part of our immune systems and serve as the primary defence against infections in the body by destroying bacteria, bacterial fragments and viruses in the blood. Low levels of white blood cells in the blood, a condition called neutropenia, is a key indicator that the patient is unwell and a major part of managing conditions such as cancers.At present white blood cell counts are only possible if the patient visits a clinical facility so that a blood sample can be taken from the arm and then tested in formal laboratory facilities. All immunosuppressed patients need to have this test done frequently to enable them to manage their condition and treatment. Consequently, patients with long term conditions are having to disrupt their day, travel considerable distances, consuming the healthcare system's time in collection of samples and resources to perform these routine blood tests in laboratories. The applicants presenting this application, demonstrated it is possible to integrate new technologies into a simple hand held device that is intelligent enough to count their white blood cells when at home or any convenient location.The applicants have conducted scientific research on combining low-cost lasers and computer intelligence (artificial intelligence) such that a computer can automatically "watch and count" the amount of while blood cells in a patient's blood sample. This research has given the team confidence that the method works and can be the basis of a reliable blood count test.The team's goal now is to research and develop a handheld version of this cell counter, fluid handling system and software such that any user, regardless of their skill level, can obtain a white blood cell count in any setting. The project will focus on the engineering and design work needed to produce the miniaturised system. The team will then use this device to analyse a large collection of blood samples in order to train the algorithm to detect all types of blood cells. Ultimately the project will lead to testing and evaluation of the prototype miniature blood cell counter by a panel of patients and doctors (i.e. primary users of the device in the long term).