This paper proposes a cloud-based software architecture for fully automated point-of-care molecular diagnostic devices. The target system operates a cartridge consisting of an extraction body for DNA extraction and a PCR chip for amplification and fluorescence detection. To facilitate control and monitoring via the cloud, a socket server was employed for fundamental molecular diagnostic functions such as DNA extraction, amplification, and fluorescence detection. The user interface for experimental control and monitoring was constructed with the RESTful application programming interface, allowing access from the terminal device, edge, and cloud. Furthermore, it can also be accessed through any web-based user interface on smart computing devices such as smart phones or tablets. An emulator with the proposed software architecture was fabricated to validate successful operation.

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is revolutionizing healthcare by integrating smart diagnostic devices with cloud computing and real-time data analytics. The emergence of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, underscores the need for rapid and decentralized diagnostics to facilitate early intervention. Traditional centralized laboratory testing introduces delays, limiting timely medical responses. While point-of-care molecular diagnostic (POC-MD) systems offer an alternative, challenges remain in cost, accessibility, and network inefficiencies. This study proposes an IoMT-based architecture for fully automated POC-MD devices, leveraging WebSockets for optimized communication, enhancing microfluidic cartridge efficiency, and integrating a hardware-based emulator for real-time validation. The system incorporates DNA extraction and real-time polymerase chain reaction functionalities into modular, networked components, improving flexibility and scalability. Although the system itself has not yet undergone clinical validation, it builds upon the core cartridge and detection architecture of a previously validated cartridge-based platform for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (CT/NG). These pathogens were selected due to their global prevalence, high asymptomatic transmission rates, and clinical importance in reproductive health. In a previous clinical study involving 510 patient specimens, the system demonstrated high concordance with a commercial assay with limits of detection below 10 copies/μL, supporting the feasibility of this architecture for point-of-care molecular diagnostics. By addressing existing limitations, this system establishes a new standard for next-generation diagnostics, ensuring rapid, reliable, and accessible disease detection.

In this paper, we investigate an efficient structure for a point-of-care (POC) molecular diagnostic system based on the industrial Internet of things (IIoT). The target system can perform automated molecular diagnosis including DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and fluorescence detection. Samples and reagents are placed in a multi-room cartridge and loaded into the system. A rotating motor and a syringe motor control the cartridge to extract DNA from the sample. The extracted DNA is transferred to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chamber for DNA amplification and detection. The proposed system provides multiplexing of up to four colors. For POC molecular diagnostics, the World Health Organization demands features such as low volume, low cost, fast results, and a user-friendly interface. In this paper, we propose a system structure that can satisfy these requirements by using a PCR chip and open platform. A distributed structure is adopted for the convenience of maintenance, and a web-based GUI is adopted for the user’s convenience. We also investigated communication problems that may occur between system components. Using the proposed structure, the user can conveniently control from standard computing devices including a smartphone.