Early Detection of Harmful Agents: Method, System and Kit

• US 20080262321A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd. (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Original Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd. (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Inventors: Erad, Yariv, Belkin, Shimshon, Shacham-Diamand, Yosi, Rabner, Arthur, Pedahzur, Rami, Yarmut, Yehuda, Erad, Mendy
• Application Number:
  US11/659,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262321A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0424 Dielectrophoretic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0457 passive flow or gravitation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/44 Protection from terrorism or theft
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6454 using an integrated detector array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0826 Fibre array at source, distributing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0833 Fibre array at detector, resolving
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 : using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A portable system for detecting agents present in a sample is disclosed. The system comprises a sensing device, having a substrate formed with a plurality of reaction chambers and a plurality of channels interconnecting at least a portion of the plurality of reaction chambers, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of reaction chambers comprises a sensor, capable of generating a detectable signal when exposed to the agents. The system further comprises a detector, which receives signals from the sensing device and provides an image of sensors generating the optical signals. The portable system is connected to a communication network via a communication unit.

Claims

1. A portable system for detecting agents present in a sample, the system comprising:

a sensing device having a substrate formed with a plurality of reaction chambers and a plurality of channels interconnecting at least a portion of said plurality of reaction chambers, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of reaction chambers comprises a sensor, capable of generating a detectable signal when exposed to the agents;

a detector capable of receiving signals from said sensing device and providing an image of sensors generating said detectable signals; and

a communication unit, for connecting the portable system to a communication network.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication unit is designed to transmit signals representing presence, level or absence of the agents.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises a positioning unit, for determining a location of the system, wherein said communication unit is designed to transmit said location over said communication network.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises an activation unit for activating or selecting an operational mode of the system.

25. The system of claim 1 being identifiable by an identification code, and further wherein said communication unit is operable to transmit said identification code over said communication network.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises detection hardware.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises vital signs measuring unit for measuring vital signs of a mammal carrying the system.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises an atmospheric condition measuring unit for measuring at least one atmospheric condition.

29. The system claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises an image capturing unit.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises an input-output audio unit.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication unit is supplemented with at least one communication protocol, tangibly embodied in a readable memory, said at least one communication protocol being configured to allow a takeover of said communication network.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises a nucleic acid amplification unit.

33. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises a shape detector.

34. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises a motion detector.

35. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises a data processor, supplemented by an algorithm for receiving image information from said detector and determining presence or level of the agents.

36. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises a control unit for sending control signals to said sensing device.

37. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises a temperature control unit for controlling a temperature of said sensing device and/or said detector.

38. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensing device is removable.

39. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensing device is disposable.

40. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a biological sensor.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said biological sensors is capable of producing a bioluminescent material.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein said biological sensors is capable of producing a phosphorescent material.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein said biological sensor is capable producing a fluorescent material.

44. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable detection system further comprises a transport mechanism for actuating transport of a sample fluid in said plurality of fluid channels, thereby to fill said plurality of reaction chambers with said sample fluid.

45. The system of claim 1 wherein said detector is capable of providing said image substantially in real time.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein a portion of said plurality of reaction chambers comprises a material capable of generating a detectable reference signal at all times.

47. The system of claim 1 wherein said sample is a liquid sample.

48. The system of claim 1 wherein said sample is a gas sample.

49. The system of claim 1 wherein said sample is a solid sample.

50. The system of claim 40, wherein said biological sensors comprises a population of cells, said population of cells including a reporter expression construct being expressible in a cell of said population when exposed to the agent.

2. A kit for detecting agents present in a sample, the kit comprising:

(a) a portable detection system, comprising;

a sensing device having a substrate formed with a plurality of reaction chambers and a plurality of channels interconnecting at least a portion of said plurality of reaction chambers, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of reaction chambers comprises a sensor, capable of generating a detectable signal when exposed to the agents;

a detector capable of receiving signals from said sensing device and providing an image of sensors generating said optical signals; and

a communication unit, for connecting the portable system to a communication network; and

(b) a sampling device being connectable to said detection system and capable of sampling fluids from the environment and delivering said fluids to said sensing device.

3. The kit of claim 2 wherein said sampling device comprises a plurality of containers and treating elements for treating fluids in said plurality of containers prior to said transfer of said fluids to said sensing device.

4. The kit of claim 2, further comprising a medical injection device, for injecting at least one medicament to a mammal.

5. The kit of claim 4, wherein said injection device comprises:

an injection needle;

a plurality of syringes, each having a plunger slidably disposed therein;

a driving mechanism having a plurality of drive members, each drive member of said plurality of drive members being operable to engage a plunger of a respective syringe of said plurality of syringes; and

a redirector for redirecting medicaments, released by at least one syringe of said plurality of syringes, into said injection needle.

6. The kit of claim 2, further comprising a storage unit for storing said sensing device, said sampling device and/or said fluids, and maintaining a predetermined temperature thereof.

7. The kit of claim 6, wherein said storage unit comprises:

at least one cavity having a plurality of temperature control units and configured to receive a plurality of objects in a manner such that a plurality of thermal communications are established between said plurality of temperature control units and said plurality of objects, each of said plurality of objects being selected from the group consisting of said sensing device, said sampling device and said fluids; and

a controller, configured to receive temperature information from said plurality of temperature control units and to independently activate each temperature control unit to maintain a predetermined temperature of a respective object.

8. A method of distributing information of a presence of agents in the environment, the method comprising:

sampling the environment thereby providing a sample;

delivering said sample through a plurality of channels to thereby contact said sample with at least one sensor, capable of generating detectable signals when exposed to the agents;

upon a detection of said detectable signals, processing said detectable signals so as to determine presence or level of an agent in said sample; and

transmitting signals indicative of said presence or level of said agent over a communication network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining a location at which said sampling is performed and transmitting said location over said communication network.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising continuously monitoring environmental conditions, wherein said sampling is performed when said environmental conditions meet a predetermined set of criteria.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting an identification code over said communication network.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising detection presence of agents in the environment by a process selected from the group consisting of optical detection, gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, time of flight analysis and any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising monitoring atmospheric condition and transmitting said atmospheric condition over said communication network.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising capturing an image of at least a portion of the environment and capturing and transmitting said image over said communication network.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said sample is a liquid sample.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein said sample is a gas sample.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein said sample is a solid sample.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising binding components of said solid sample to a liquid phase.

19. A medical injection device, comprising:

an injection needle;

a plurality of syringes, each having a plunger slidably disposed therein;

a driving mechanism having a plurality of drive members, each drive member of said plurality of drive members being operable to engage a plunger of a respective syringe of said plurality of syringes;

a redirector for redirecting medicaments, released by at least one syringe of said plurality of syringes, into said injection needle.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising a communication unit, operable to communicate a communication network, wherein said driving mechanism is designed and constructed to receive activation signals from said communication unit, to thereby activate said at least one syringe.

21. A distributed detection system for detection of the presence of harmful agents in an environment, comprising a central monitoring unit and a plurality of portable agent detection systems being mounted on mobile vectors for release into said environment, each portable agent detection system of said plurality of portable agent detection systems comprising:

a sensing device having a substrate formed with a plurality of reaction chambers and a plurality of channels interconnecting at least a portion of said plurality of reaction chambers, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of reaction chambers comprises a sensor, capable of generating a detectable signal when exposed to the agents;

a detector capable of receiving signals from said sensing device and providing an image of sensors generating said optical signals; and

a communication unit, for connecting the portable system to a communication network.

51. A storage unit, comprising:

at least one cavity having a plurality of temperature control units and configured to receive a plurality of objects in a manner such that a plurality of thermal communications are established between said plurality of temperature control units and said plurality of objects; and

a controller, configured to receive temperature information from said plurality of temperature control units and to independently activate each temperature control unit to maintain a predetermined temperature of a respective object.