DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

• US 20120157961A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Integrated Sensing Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Integrated Sensing Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Sparks, Douglas Ray, Najafi, Nader
• Application Number:
  US12/031,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20120157961A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14272 for emergency, field or home use, e.g. self-contained kits to be carried by the doctor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/152 pressurised by contraction of elastic reservoirs containers for dispensing contents by contraction of an elastic bag provided therein, in general B65D83/0061
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8409 constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8445 micromachined flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8472 having curved measuring conduits, i.e. whereby the measuring conduits' curved center line lies within a plane G01F1/8481 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/006 measuring volume in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/003 using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence

Abstract

A device and method capable of sensing the presence of biochem agents, and preferably also capable of delivering precise amounts of one or more antidotes to treat a victim exposed to the agents. The device includes a freestanding tube portion having an internal passage containing a substance selective to a chemical or biological agent so that matter accumulates within the freestanding tube portion when a fluid drawn through the tube portion contains the agent. When vibrated at resonance, the resonant frequency of the tube portion is indicative of the accumulation of matter and thereby the presence of the agent to which the substance is selective. The device then preferably delivers precise amounts of one or more appropriate antidotes to treat the victim. The device is a sufficiently small and lightweight unit to permit being carried by an individual.

Claims

1. A device capable of detecting a chemical or biological agent, the device comprising:

a freestanding tube portion comprising an internal passage containing a substance selective to a chemical or biological agent so that matter accumulates within the freestanding tube portion;

means for flowing a fluidic sample through the freestanding tube portion;

means for vibrating the freestanding tube portion at a resonant frequency thereof that varies with a combined density of the freestanding tube portion and contents of the internal passage;

means for sensing movement of the freestanding tube portion and producing an output signal based on the resonant frequency of the freestanding tube portion, the output signal being indicative of accumulation of the matter; and

means for identifying the agent in the fluidic sample based on the accumulation of the matter in the freestanding tube portion.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the freestanding tube portion is a constituent of a unit sufficiently small and light-weight to be carried by a person.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the unit comprises at least one antidote, means coupled to the at least one antidote for selecting the at least one antidote based on the agent identified by the identifying means, and means for delivering the at least one antidote into the body of the person.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the delivering means comprises:

a second freestanding tube portion through which the at least one antidote flows;

means for vibrating the second freestanding tube portion at a resonant frequency thereof that varies with the density of the fluid flowing therethrough, the Coriolis effect causing the second freestanding tube portion to twist while being vibrated at resonance, the second freestanding tube portion exhibiting a degree of twist that varies with the mass flow rate of the fluid flowing therethrough;

means for sensing movement of the second freestanding tube portion and producing a first output signal based on the resonant frequency of second the freestanding tube portion and a second output signal based on the degree of twist of the second freestanding tube portion;

means for measuring elapsed time during which the fluid has flowed through the second freestanding tube portion; and

means for stopping flow of the fluid through the second freestanding tube portion in response to a specified amount of the at least one antidote having passed through the second freestanding tube portion based on the elapsed time and the second output signal.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the unit comprises a plurality of antidotes and the selecting means selects among the plurality of antidotes.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the selecting means is operable to select more than one antidote, and the delivering means is operable to deliver the more than one antidote into the body of the person.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the delivering means operates to deliver the at least one antidote subdermally, intravenously, intra-arterially, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally or intrathecally.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluidic sample flowed by the flowing means through the freestanding tube portion is air, water, blood or urine.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the freestanding tube portion, the vibrating means and the sensing means are contained within an evacuated, hermetically-sealed enclosure.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the freestanding tube portion is a micromachine.

11. A method of detecting a chemical or biological agent, the method comprising the steps of:

flowing a fluidic sample through an internal passage within a freestanding tube portion, the passage containing a substance selective to a chemical or biological agent so that matter accumulates within the freestanding tube portion;

vibrating the freestanding tube portion at a resonant frequency thereof that varies with a combined density of the freestanding tube portion and contents of the internal passage;

sensing movement of the freestanding tube portion and producing an output signal based on the resonant frequency of the freestanding tube portion, the output signal being indicative of accumulation of the matter; and

identifying the agent in the fluidic sample based on the accumulation of the matter in the freestanding tube portion.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the freestanding tube portion is a constituent of a unit carried by a person.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the unit comprises at least one antidote, means coupled to the at least one antidote for selecting the at least one antidote, and means for delivering the at least one antidote into the body of the person, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

sending a signal to the selecting means based on the agent identified in the fluidic sample;

selecting with the selecting means the at least one antidote as being capable of counteracting the agent; and

then delivering with the delivering means the at least one antidote into the body of the person.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of delivering the at least one antidote comprises the steps of:

flowing the at least one antidote through a second freestanding tube portion;

vibrating the second freestanding tube portion at a resonant frequency thereof that varies with the density of the fluid flowing therethrough, the Coriolis effect causing the second freestanding tube portion to twist while being vibrated at resonance, the second freestanding tube portion exhibiting a degree of twist that varies with the mass flow rate of the fluid flowing therethrough;

sensing movement of the second freestanding tube portion and producing a first output signal based on the resonant frequency of second the freestanding tube portion and a second output signal based on the degree of twist of the second freestanding tube portion;

measuring elapsed time during which the fluid has flowed through the second freestanding tube portion; and

stopping flow of the fluid through the second freestanding tube portion in response to a specified amount of the at least one antidote having passed through the second freestanding tube portion based on the elapsed time and the second output signal.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the unit comprises a plurality of antidotes and the selecting means selects among the plurality of antidotes.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the selecting step comprises selecting more than one antidote, and the delivering step comprises delivering the more than one antidote into the body of the person.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one antidote is delivered subdermally, intravenously, intra-arterially, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally or intrathecally.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fluidic sample is air, water, blood or urine.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the freestanding tube portion is contained within an evacuated, hermetically-sealed enclosure, and the vibrating and sensing steps are performed by vibrating and sensing means contained within the enclosure.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of fabricating the freestanding tube portion using a micromachining process.