Integrated airborne substance collection and detection system

• US 20080050803A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MicroFluidic Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MicroFluidic Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Pourahmadi, Farzad, Yuan, Bob, Northrup, Allen, Devitt, Amy J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,858,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56911 Bacteria

Abstract

An integrated collection and detection system is configured to monitor the ambient air for specific particles, such as toxins and pathogens. An air collector captures airborne particles and outputs a fluid sample including the captured particles in a fluid solution. The collection and detection system includes a control module configured to control the processing of the fluid sample such that detection of one or more types of particles is fully automated within the integrated system. The types of particles to be processed and detected include, but are not limited to, cells, bacteria, viruses, nucleic acids, toxins, and other pathogens. If one or more specific types of particles are detected, a system alarm is triggered. The system alarm triggers a local audio/visual alarm and/or is transmitted over a communications network to either a local or central monitoring location. More than one collection and detection system can be coupled to the network and monitored by the central monitoring location.

Claims

1. An integrated detection apparatus to detect the presence of one or more different types of particles, the integrated detection apparatus comprises:

a. an air collection device configured to intake ambient air including airborne particles and to output a fluid sample including the particles;

b. a toxin detection module configured to detect the presence of one or more specific toxins within the fluid sample;

c. a nucleic acid detection module configured to detect the presence of one or more specific nucleic acids within the fluid sample; and

d. microfluidic circuitry to couple the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module within the integrated detection apparatus.

2. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the toxin detection module comprises one or more capture devices configured to capture the one or more specific toxins from the fluid sample.

3. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 2 wherein the toxin detection module further comprises an optical detection module configured to optically detect the presence of the captured one or more specific toxins within the one or more capture devices.

4. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an archive module to store the fluid sample.

5. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a distribution module configured to meter and to distribute a first portion of the fluid sample to the toxin detection module, to meter and to distribute a second portion of the fluid sample to the nucleic acid detection module, and to meter and to distribute a third portion of the fluid sample to the archive module.

6. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air collection device is further configured to continuously intake ambient air and to periodically output a new fluid sample to be processed by the toxin detection module and the nucleic acid detection module.

7. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the nucleic acid detection module comprises a lysis module configured to lyse one or more cell types within the fluid sample, thereby forming a lysate fluid sample.

8. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 7 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises one or more purification devices configured to capture one or more nucleic acids from the lysate fluid sample.

9. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 8 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises a thermal cycling module coupled to the purification device to receive the one or more nucleic acids and configured to thermally cycle the one or more nucleic acids, thereby forming an amplified fluid sample including an amplified number of each of the one or more nucleic acids.

10. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an optical detection module coupled to the thermal cycling module and configured to optically detect the presence of the one or more specific nucleic acids within the amplified fluid sample.

11. The integrated detection apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a control module configured to control the operation of the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module.

31. The detection apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a control module configured to control the operation of the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module.

12. An autonomously functioning detection apparatus to detect the presence of one or more different types of particles, the autonomously functioning detection apparatus comprises:

a. an air collection device configured to automatically intake ambient air including airborne particles and to automatically output a fluid sample including the particles;

b. a toxin detection module configured to automatically detect the presence of one or more specific toxins within the fluid sample;

c. a nucleic acid detection module configured to automatically detect the presence of one or more specific nucleic acids within the fluid sample; and

d. a control module configured to provide control signals to the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module to enable the detection apparatus to function autonomously.

13. The autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 12 wherein the toxin detection module comprises one or more capture devices configured to automatically capture the one or more specific toxins from the fluid sample.

14. The autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 13 wherein the toxin detection module further comprises an optical detection module configured to automatically optically detect the presence of the captured one or more specific toxins within the one or more capture devices.

15. The autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an archive module to automatically store the fluid sample.

16. The autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a distribution module configured to automatically meter and to automatically distribute a first portion of the fluid sample to the toxin detection module, to automatically meter and to automatically distribute a second portion of the fluid sample to the nucleic acid detection module, and to automatically meter and to automatically distribute a third portion of the fluid sample to the archive module.

17. The autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 12 wherein the air collection device is further configured to continuously intake ambient air and to periodically output a new fluid sample to be processed by the toxin detection module and the nucleic acid detection module.

18. The autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 12 wherein the nucleic acid detection module comprises a lysis module configured to automatically lyse one or more cell types within the fluid sample, thereby forming a lysate fluid sample.

19. The autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 18 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises a purification device configured to automatically capture one or more nucleic acids from the lysate fluid sample.

20. The autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 19 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises a thermal cycling module coupled to the purification device to receive the one or more nucleic acids and configured to automatically thermally cycle the one or more nucleic acids, thereby forming an amplified fluid sample including an amplified number of each of the one or more nucleic acids.

21. The autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 20 further comprising an optical detection module coupled to the thermal cycling module and configured to automatically optically detect the presence of the one or more specific nucleic acids within the amplified fluid sample.

22. A detection apparatus to detect the presence of one or more different types of particles, the integrated detection apparatus comprises:

a. an air collection device configured to intake ambient air including airborne particles and to output a fluid sample including the particles;

b. a distribution module configured to meter and to distribute a first portion of the fluid sample, and to meter and to distribute a second portion of the fluid sample;

c. a toxin detection module configured to detect the presence of one or more specific toxins within the first portion of the fluid sample; and

d. a nucleic acid detection module configured to detect the presence of one or more specific nucleic acids within the second portion of the fluid sample, wherein the toxin detection module and the nucleic acid detection module are configured to process the first portion of the fluid sample and the second portion of the fluid sample in parallel.

23. The detection apparatus of claim 22 wherein the toxin detection module comprises one or more capture devices configured to capture the one or more specific toxins from the first portion of the fluid sample.

24. The detection apparatus of claim 23 wherein the toxin detection module further comprises an optical detection module configured to optically detect the presence of the captured one or more specific toxins within the one or more capture devices.

25. The detection apparatus of claim 22 wherein the distribution module is further configured to meter and to distribute a third portion of the fluid sample, and the detection apparatus further comprises an archive module to store the third portion of the fluid sample.

26. The detection apparatus of claim 22 wherein the air collection device is further configured to continuously intake ambient air and to periodically output a new fluid sample to be metered and distributed by the distribution module and to be processed by the toxin detection module and the nucleic acid detection module.

27. The detection apparatus of claim 22 wherein the nucleic acid detection module comprises a lysis module configured to lyse one or more cell types within the second portion of the fluid sample, thereby forming a lysate fluid sample.

28. The detection apparatus of claim 27 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises one or more purification devices configured to capture the one or more nucleic acids from the lysate fluid sample.

29. The detection apparatus of claim 28 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises a thermal cycling module coupled to the purification device to receive the one or more nucleic acids and configured to thermally cycle the one or more nucleic acids, thereby forming an amplified fluid sample including an amplified number of each of the one or more nucleic acids.

30. The detection apparatus of claim 29 further comprising an optical detection module coupled to the thermal cycling module and configured to optically detect the presence of the one or more specific nucleic acids within the amplified fluid sample.

32. An integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus to detect the presence of one or more different types of particles, the integrated detection apparatus comprises:

a. an air collection device configured to automatically intake ambient air including airborne particles and to automatically output a fluid sample including the particles;

b. a distribution module configured to meter and to distribute a first portion of the fluid sample, and to meter and to distribute a second portion of the fluid sample;

c. a toxin detection module configured to automatically detect the presence of one or more specific toxins within the first portion of the fluid sample;

d. a nucleic acid detection module configured to automatically detect the presence of one or more specific nucleic acids within the second portion of the fluid sample, wherein the toxin detection module and the nucleic acid detection module are configured to process the first portion of the fluid sample and the second portion of the fluid sample in parallel;

e. microfluidic circuitry to couple the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module within the detection apparatus; and

f. a control module configured to provide control signals to the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module to enable the detection apparatus to function autonomously.

33. The integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 32 wherein the toxin detection module comprises one or more capture devices configured to capture the one or more specific toxins from the first portion of the fluid sample.

34. The integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 33 wherein the toxin detection module further comprises an optical detection module configured to optically detect the presence of the captured one or more specific toxins within the one or more capture devices.

35. The integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 32 wherein the distribution module is further configured to meter and to distribute a third portion of the fluid sample, and the detection apparatus further comprises an archive module to store the third portion of the fluid sample.

36. The integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 32 wherein the air collection device is further configured to continuously intake ambient air and to periodically output a new fluid sample to be processed by the toxin detection module and the nucleic acid detection module.

37. The integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 32 wherein the nucleic acid detection module comprises a lysis module configured to lyse one or more cell types within the second portion of the fluid sample, thereby forming a lysate fluid sample.

38. The integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 37 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises one or more purification devices configured to capture one or more nucleic acids from the lysate fluid sample.

39. The integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 38 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises a thermal cycling module coupled to the purification device to receive the one or more nucleic acids and configured to thermally cycle the one or more nucleic acids, thereby forming an amplified fluid sample including an amplified number of each of the one or more nucleic acids.

40. The integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus of claim 39 further comprising an optical detection module coupled to the thermal cycling module and configured to optically detect the presence of the one or more specific nucleic acids within the amplified fluid sample.

41. A network of devices to detect the presence of one or more different types of particles, the network of devices comprising:

a. a network monitoring point; and

b. one or more detection devices coupled to the network monitoring point, each detection device is configured to detect the presence of one or more types of particles and to provide an alarm signal to the network monitoring point upon detection of the one or more types of particles, each detection apparatus comprises;

i. an air collection device configured to intake ambient air including airborne particles and to output a fluid sample including the particles;

ii. a toxin detection module configured to detect the presence of one or more specific toxins within the fluid sample;

iii. a nucleic acid detection module configured to detect the presence of one or more specific nucleic acids within the fluid sample; and

iv. a control module configured to provide control signals to the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module and to provide the alarm signal to the network monitoring point.

42. The network of devices of claim 41 wherein the toxin detection module comprises one or more capture devices configured to capture the one or more specific toxins from the fluid sample.

43. The network of devices of claim 42 wherein the toxin detection module further comprises an optical detection module configured to optically detect the presence of the captured one or more specific toxins within the one or more capture devices.

44. The network of devices of claim 41 further comprising an archive module to store the fluid sample.

45. The network of devices of claim 44 further comprising a distribution module configured to meter and to distribute a first portion of the fluid sample to the toxin detection module, to meter and to distribute a second portion of the fluid sample to the nucleic acid detection module, and to meter and to distribute a third portion of the fluid sample to the archive module.

46. The network of devices of claim 41 wherein the air collection device is further configured to continuously intake ambient air and to periodically output a new fluid sample to be processed by the toxin detection module and the nucleic acid detection module.

47. The network of devices of claim 41 wherein the nucleic acid detection module comprises a lysis module configured to lyse one or more cell types within the fluid sample, thereby forming a lysate fluid sample.

48. The network of devices of claim 47 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises one or more purification devices configured to capture one or more nucleic acids from the lysate fluid sample.

49. The network of devices of claim 48 wherein the nucleic acid detection module further comprises a thermal cycling module coupled to the purification device to receive the one or more nucleic acids and configured to thermally cycle the one or more nucleic acids, thereby forming an amplified fluid sample including an amplified number of each of the one or more nucleic acids.

50. The network of devices of claim 49 further comprising an optical detection module coupled to the thermal cycling module and configured to optically detect the presence of the one or more specific nucleic acids within the amplified fluid sample.