Portable detection system and method

• US 20090066507A1
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Detection (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Detection (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lewington, Jay, Czajka, John Walter, Volpe, Carmelo, Green, Douglas Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,138,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/185 Long distance transport, e.g. mailing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• 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: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing assay information to a portable detection unit, by way of a remote server in communication with the portable detection unit or a consumable with stored information for use with the portable detection unit. Global Positioning System (GPS) information is provided to a portable detection unit having a GPS receiver, so that the unit can determine its current position, including altitude. Based on the determined position, assays and parameters, such as PCR melt temperatures, can be selected. Assays to be performed by the portable detection unit can be selected based on the results of a prior assay.

Claims

1. A system for testing an unknown sample, comprising:

a portable detection unit having stored therein assay parameter information for testing the unknown sample with respect to a plurality of assays; and

a remote server providing updated assay parameter information to the portable detection unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the portable detection unit comprises:

a wireless transceiver for wireless communicating with the remote server.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the portable detection unit further comprises:

means for notifying the remote server whenever the portable detection unit is turned on, and

wherein the remote server comprises;

means for determining whether or not current assay parameter information stored therein is different from the assay parameter information stored at the portable detection unit, and for outputting the current assay parameter information to the portable detection unit if there is a difference.

4. A system for testing an unknown sample, comprising:

a portable detection unit having stored therein data specific to a reaction on a consumable; and

a remote server providing updated data to the portable detection unit.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the portable detection unit comprises:

a wireless transceiver for wireless communication with the remote server.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the portable detection unit further comprises:

means for notifying the remote server whenever the portable detection unit is turned on, and

wherein the remote server comprises;

means for determining whether or not current data stored therein is different from the cycling data stored at the portable detection unit, and for outputting the current cycling data to the portable detection unit if there is a difference.

7. A portable detection unit for testing an unknown sample, comprising:

a memory having stored therein assay parameter information for testing the unknown sample with respect to a plurality of assays, the assay parameter information including a minimum melt temperature for each of the plurality of assays;

an altitude determining unit configured to determine a current altitude of the portable detection unit with respect to sea level; and

a melting temperature recalculating unit configured to recalculate the melt temperature for the plurality of assays based on the current height of the portable detection unit.

8. The portable detection unit according to claim 7, further comprising:

a prevention unit configured to prevent a particular assay from being run using the portable detection unit, when the recalculated melt temperature is determined to be higher than the minimum melt temperature for the particular assay.

9. The portable detection unit according to claim 7, further comprising:

a prevention unit configured to prevent a particular assay from being run using the portable detection unit, based on predetermined criteria.

10. The portable detection unit according to claim 8, wherein prevention unit outputs at least one of an audible or textual warning on a display of the portable detection unit, to inform a user of the prevention of running the particular assay.

11. A method of testing an unknown sample, comprising:

storing, at a portable detection unit, assay parameter information for testing the unknown sample with respect to a plurality of assays; and

providing, via a remote server, updated assay parameter information to the portable detection unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the providing step comprises:

wirelessly communicating the updating assay parameter information from the remote server to the portable detection unit.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

notifying, by the portable detection unit, the remote server whenever the portable detection unit is turned on, and

determining, by the remote server, whether or not current assay parameter information stored therein is different from the assay parameter information stored at the portable detection unit, and outputting the current assay parameter information to the portable detection unit if there is a difference.

14. A method of testing an unknown sample, comprising:

storing, at a portable detection unit, cycling data specific to a reaction on a consumable; and

providing, by a remote server, updated cycling data to the portable detection unit.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the providing step comprises:

wirelessly communicating the updating assay parameter information from the remote server to the portable detection unit.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the portable detection unit further comprises:

notifying, by the portable detection unit, the remote server whenever the portable detection unit is turned on, and

determining, by the remote server, whether or not current cycling data stored therein is different from the cycling data stored at the portable detection unit, and outputting the current cycling data to the portable detection unit if there is a difference.

17. A method of testing an unknown sample by a portable detection unit, comprising:

storing, in a memory, assay parameter information for testing the unknown sample with respect to a plurality of assays, the assay parameter information including a minimum melt temperature for each of the plurality of assays;

determining a current altitude of the portable detection unit with respect to sea level; and

recalculating the melt temperature for the plurality of assays based on the current altitude of the portable detection unit as determined by the determining step.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

preventing a particular assay from being run using the portable detection unit, when the recalculated melt temperature is determined to be higher than the minimum melt temperature for the particular assay.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein prevention step comprises:

outputting at least one of an audible or textual warning on a display of the portable detection unit, to inform a user of the prevention of running the particular assay.

20. A consumable for use with a portable detection unit, comprising a memory or a barcode, wherein the memory or the barcode contains information for performing an assay.

21. The consumable of claim 20, wherein the consumable is a PCR consumable.

22. The consumable of claim 20, wherein the information for performing an assay includes all of the information needed by the portable detection unit to perform the assay.

23. The consumable of claim 20, wherein the memory is an RF ID chip.

24. The consumable of claim 21, wherein the memory identifies the reagents to use, the number of cycles, the time of each cycle, the temperature for each cycle, temperature profiles, detection temperatures, and detection excitation and emission wavelengths.

25. The consumable of claim 20, further comprising:

a communications unit configured to receive information from a remote server; and

a transfer unit configured to transfer the information received by the communications unit to the memory.

26. The consumable of claim 20, wherein the consumable comprises both a memory and a barcode.

27. A system for testing an unknown sample, comprising:

a portable detection unit for testing an unknown sample using at least one assay; and

a consumable having information for performing the assay,

wherein the portable detection unit can read the information stored on the consumable.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the information is stored on the consumable using a memory or a barcode.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the portable detection unit can perform at least two assays.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein one of the assays is PCR.

31. A system for testing an unknown sample, comprising:

a portable detection unit that can perform at least two assays for testing a sample, wherein the at least two assays can be of the same assay type or different assay types and

software or firmware that controls the detection unit.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the assays comprise PCR.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the assays comprise a binding affinity-based assay.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the binding affinity-based assay is an antibody binding assay.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the assays comprise a first assay and a second assay, wherein the first assay comprises a binding affinity-based assay and wherein the second assay comprises a PCR assay.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the assays are of the same type.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the software or firmware is present on the portable detection unit.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the software or firmware is present on a remote server in communication with the portable detection unit.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the firmware or software comprises assay parameters.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein a result from a first assay is used to determine an assay type of a second assay, and wherein the second assay type is determined by the firmware or software.

41. The system of claim 31, wherein a result from a first assay is used to determine an assay parameter of a second assay, and wherein the second assay parameter is determined by the firmware or software.

42. An apparatus for analyzing a sample and assessing its global position comprising a portable detection unit and a global positioning device.

43. An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the global positioning device is a GPS receiver.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detection unit is for multiple use.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detection unit has one or more removable canisters or consumables.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detection unit is suitable for analyzing a biological or chemical sample to be analyzed.

47. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detection unit performs a PCR analysis.

48. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detection unit is an affinity-based assay device.

49. The apparatus of claims 48, wherein the affinity-based assay is an antibody-binding assay.

50. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detection unit also is suitable for sample preparation before analysis.

51. The apparatus of claim 42, which further comprises or is linked to a remote server.

52. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the apparatus is fully automated.

53. A use of the apparatus of claim 42 for the analysis of a sample and detection of its global position.

54. The use of claim 53, wherein the apparatus is placed at a known distance and direction from the sample collection site and the current position of the portable detection unit is determined.