Bio-sensor and bio-sensor reporting system

• US 20090010808A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clifford H. Kraft
• Original Assignee: Clifford H. Kraft
• Inventors: Kraft, Clifford H.
• Application Number:
  US12/214,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20090010808A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/83
• 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 2015/0088 Biological contaminants; Fouling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/019 Biological contaminants; Fouling

Abstract

A biosensor unit that can be wall mounted in a location to perform testing of ambient air for bio-contaminants. This could contain an air filter for collecting contaminants and a micro-laboratory on a chip or otherwise situated within the unit to perform DNA or RNA binding tests for specific biological targets. Information from such units distributed within an environment could be communicated to one or more central locations via the internet or other communication means to be logged or recorded or to produce reports or alarms.

Claims

1. An ambient air bio-sensor comprising:

a collection filter collecting bio-contaminants from ambient air;

a preparation area wherein collected biological air contaminants are prepared for target identification;

a target identification area wherein said biological air contaminants are matched with biological targets;

a detector counting matches of air contaminates with said biological targets.

2. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 1 wherein said biological targets are DNA or RNA probes.

3. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 1 further comprising a means for removing said air contaminants from said collection filter.

4. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 3 wherein said means for removing air contaminants from said collection filter is a pump.

5. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 1 wherein said target identification area is a micro-laboratory.

6. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 5 wherein said micro-laboratory is a laboratory-on-a-chip.

7. An ambient air bio-sensor comprising:

an air contaminant collection filter collecting biological contaminants from ambient air;

a liquid injection device for removing bio-contaminants from said filter;

a liquid phase preparation area wherein collected biological air contaminants are prepared for target identification by cleaving molecules of said biological air contaminants into single strand DNA or RNA;

marker molecules attached to said single strand DNA or RNA, said marker molecules detectable with a detector;

a plurality of micro-channels each containing target DNA or RNA;

a means for moving said single strand DNA or RNA through said micro-channels;

a means for flushing said micro-channels of unbound material;

a detector detecting remaining marker molecules.

8. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of valves for choosing certain of said micro-channels for a particular test.

9. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 7 further comprising a pump causing ambient air to pass through said collection filter.

10. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 7 wherein said detector contains a photo-multiplier.

11. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 7 wherein said marker molecules are fluorophores.