Methodology and Apparatus for the Detection of Biological Substances
First Claim
1. A system for determining the presence of a biological target, comprising:
- a. a sensor array comprising;
i. at least one sensor element, each sensor element further comprising;
1. a plurality of ligands of at least one ligand type applied to a coating on the sensor element;
2. an electrostatic output signal generated by the sensor element from an interaction when one of the plurality of ligands of the at least one ligand type binds to at least one biological target type;
3. an electrostatic sensing surface, positioned in proximity to the at least one ligand for detecting the electrostatic output signal; and
a measurement means for measuring the detected electrostatic output signal;
b. a controller for controlling a sequencing of the selection of sensor elements within the array to sequentially select a column of the sensor array, to sequentially select each of the rows of the array and then to sequentially select and input a sample of the electrostatic output signal of each sensor element;
c. means for converting the sample of the electrostatic output signal of the sensor element from an analog signal to a digital equivalent signal by a digital-to-analog converter, the digital equivalent sample signal being combined with other digital equivalent sample signals from a same sensor element and stored in the controller to form a digital signature signal;
d. means for transmitting the digital signature signal to a digital signal processor which compares the digital signature signal with a library of pre-stored signature signals representing known biological targets; and
e. means for generating a notification alert when the digital signature signal matches a pre-stored signal type in the library of pre-stored signature signals that represents a signature generated when the at least one ligand type binds with the at least one biological target.
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Abstract
A methodology and an apparatus for the detection of biological substances employing the integration of multiple functions and units designed into and implemented in the form of an individual silicon chip, described as a sensor unit. The deployment of a set of sensor units as a group results in a distributed detecting, discriminating, and alerting network. Distribution of the sensor units facilitates the on-the-spot detection of different biological substances such as viruses, bacteria, spores, allergens, and other toxins that can be suspended in multiple media (air, liquid, blood, etc.). Besides detection/sensing, the individual sensor units perform: data acquisition, data development, data storage, statistical analysis, and data transmission.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for determining the presence of a biological target, comprising:
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a. a sensor array comprising;
i. at least one sensor element, each sensor element further comprising;
1. a plurality of ligands of at least one ligand type applied to a coating on the sensor element;
2. an electrostatic output signal generated by the sensor element from an interaction when one of the plurality of ligands of the at least one ligand type binds to at least one biological target type;
3. an electrostatic sensing surface, positioned in proximity to the at least one ligand for detecting the electrostatic output signal; and
a measurement means for measuring the detected electrostatic output signal;
b. a controller for controlling a sequencing of the selection of sensor elements within the array to sequentially select a column of the sensor array, to sequentially select each of the rows of the array and then to sequentially select and input a sample of the electrostatic output signal of each sensor element;
c. means for converting the sample of the electrostatic output signal of the sensor element from an analog signal to a digital equivalent signal by a digital-to-analog converter, the digital equivalent sample signal being combined with other digital equivalent sample signals from a same sensor element and stored in the controller to form a digital signature signal;
d. means for transmitting the digital signature signal to a digital signal processor which compares the digital signature signal with a library of pre-stored signature signals representing known biological targets; and
e. means for generating a notification alert when the digital signature signal matches a pre-stored signal type in the library of pre-stored signature signals that represents a signature generated when the at least one ligand type binds with the at least one biological target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 28, 29)
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16. A system for determining the presence of a biological target, comprising:
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a. at least one sensor element, each sensor element further comprising;
i. a plurality of ligands of at least one ligand type applied to a coating on the sensor element;
ii. an electrostatic output signal generated by the sensor element from an interaction when one of the plurality of ligands of the at least one ligand type binds to at least one biological target type;
iii. an electrostatic sensing surface, positioned in proximity to the at least one ligand for detecting the electrostatic output signal; and
iv. a measurement means for measuring the detected electrostatic output signal;
b. a controller to select and input samples of the electrostatic output signal of each sensor element;
c. means for converting the electrostatic output signal samples of the sensor element from an analog signal sample to a digital equivalent signal sample by a digital-to-analog converter, the digital equivalent signal sample being stored in the controller;
d. means for combining a plurality of digital equivalent signal samples from a same sensor element to form a digital signature signal;
e. means for transmitting the digital signature signal to a digital signal processor which compares each digital signature signal with a library of pre-stored signature signals representing known biological targets; and
f. means for generating a notification alert when the digital signature signal matches a pre-stored signal in the library of pre-stored signature signals that represents a signature generated when the at least one ligand type binds with the at least one biological target type. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31)
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Specification