Method, system, and apparatus for detecting biological agents with a portable computing device

• US 20050283319A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ferenczi, John L., Barrus, William G.
• Application Number:
  US10/869,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283319A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/20
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 25/00 ICT specially adapted for hybridisation; ICT specially adapted for gene or protein expression
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for detecting genetic patterns can include a bio-detector and an adapter configured to cooperatively engage the bio-detector. The system also can include a portable computing device being communicatively linked with the bio-detector via the adapter. The portable computing device can be programmed to interpret output from the bio-detector.

Claims

1. A system for detecting genetic patterns comprising:

a bio-detector;

an adapter configured to cooperatively engage the bio-detector; and

a portable computing device being communicatively linked with said bio-detector via said adapter, wherein said portable computing device is programmed to interpret output from said bio-detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bio-detector includes at least one microarray.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said adapter is an attachment to said portable computing device such that said portable computing device cooperatively engages said adapter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said adapter is integrated within said portable computing device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said adapter is physically distinct from said portable computing device, and wherein said adapter is communicatively linked with the portable computing device via a wireless communications link.

6. The system of claim 5, said adapter further comprising an optical sensing mechanism to detect fluorescence from said bio-detector.

7. The system of claim 1, said portable computing device being configured to communicate output from said bio-detector to a remote information processing system.

8. The system of claim 1, said portable computing device further comprising items of descriptive information for biological agents detectable by said bio-detector, said portable computing device being configured to select at least one of the items of descriptive information corresponding with the output from said bio-detector.

9. The system of claim 8, said portable computing device, being configured to communicate the selected at least one item of descriptive information to a remote information processing system.

10. Within a portable computing device, a method of communicating biological agent-related data comprising:

receiving, within the portable computing device, signals indicative of a detected biological agent;

comparing the detected biological agent with items of biological information stored within the portable computing device;

selecting at least one of the items of biological information that corresponds with the detected biological agent; and

presenting, via the portable computing device, the selected at least one item of biological information.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicating the selected at least one item of biological information to a remote information processing system.

12. The method of claim 11, said communicating step wirelessly communicating the selected at least one item of biological information.

13. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a portable computing device for causing the portable computing device to perform the steps of:

receiving, within the portable computing device, signals indicative of a detected biological agent;

comparing the detected biological agent with items of biological information stored within the portable computing device;

selecting at least one of the items of biological information that corresponds with the detected biological agent; and

presenting, via the portable computing device, the selected at least one item of biological information.

14. The machine readable storage of claim 13, further comprising communicating the selected at least one item of biological information to a remote information processing system.

15. The machine readable storage of claim 14, said communicating step wirelessly communicating the selected at least one item of biological information.