Method for detection of pathogenic microorganisms

• US 7,256,875 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chemimage Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chemimage Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Matthew P., Treado, Patrick J., Schweitzer, Robert C., Vanni, G. Steven, Wolfe, Julianne, Gardner, Charles W. Jr., Maier, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, FANNIE L
• Application Number:
  US11/440,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20070086003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 356/72, 356/301
• US Class Current: 356/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1736 with two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6423 Spectral mapping, video display
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/656 Raman microprobe
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6458 Fluorescence microscopy fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering

Abstract

A method for the detection and identification of pathogenic microorganisms using Raman scattered light and transmitted light in the near infrared spectral region. The method may include passing the Raman scattered light and transmitted light through a FAST fiber array spectral translator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) illuminating a sample with substantially monochromatic light,

b) illuminating the sample with broad band light;

c) collecting a spectrum of Raman scattered light from the sample;

d) collecting a spectrum of light transmitted through the sample in a near infrared spectral range;

e) forming a first spatially accurate wavelength resolved image of the sample using Raman scattered light and a second spatially accurate wavelength resolved image using light transmitted through the sample;

f) analyzing the first spatially accurate wavelength resolved image and the second spatially accurate wavelength resolved image for patterns characteristic of a pathogenic microorganism; and

(g) based on said analyzing, identifying the pathogenic microorganism.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising passing the Raman scattered light from the sample and light transmitted through the sample through a filter selected from the group consisting of a tunable filter, a band pass filter, a liquid crystal tunable filter, an interferometer, an acousto optic tunable filter, a dispersive optical device and a computed tomography imaging spectrometer.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing spatially resolved Raman spectra.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing spatially resolved near infrared spectra.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing the patterns characteristic of the pathogenic microorganism to determine viability of the pathogenic microorganism.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing the patterns characteristic of the pathogenic microorganism to determine a growth medium in which the pathogenic microorganism was grown.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing the patterns characteristic of the pathogenic microorganism to determine a strain of the pathogenic microorganism.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing the first spatially accurate wavelength resolved image and the second spatially accurate wavelength resolved image for patterns characteristic of one of a biological material and a non-biological material.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the pathogenic microorganism is selected from the group of viruses consisting of filoviruses, naviruses, and alphaviruses.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the pathogenic microorganism is selected from the group of microorganisms consisting of protozoa, cryptosporidia microorganisms, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli 157 microorganisms, Plague (Yersinia pestis), Smallpox (variola major), Tularemia (Francisella tularensis), Brucellosis (Brucella species), Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, Shigella, Glanders (Burkholderia mallei), Melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei), Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci), Q fever (Coxiella burnetil), Typhus fever (Rickettsia prowazekii), and Vibrio cholerae.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the pathogenic microorganism is selected from the group of bacteria consisting of Giardia, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Pseudomonas eruginosa, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein in the pathogenic microorganism is selected from the group of fungus consisting of Microsporum audouini, Microspotum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton verrucosum, and Epidermophytum floccosum.

13. A method comprising:

a) illuminating a sample with substantially monochromatic light,

b) illuminating the sample with broad band light;

c) passing the Raman scattered light and light transmitted through the sample through a FAST fiber array spectral translator;

d) collecting a spectrum of Raman scattered light from the sample;

e) collecting a spectrum of light transmitted through the sample in a near infrared spectral range;

f) forming a first spatially accurate wavelength resolved image of the sample using Raman scattered light and a second spatially accurate wavelength resolved image using light transmitted through the sample;

g) analyzing the first spatially accurate wavelength resolved image and the second spatially accurate wavelength resolved image for patterns characteristic of a pathogenic microorganism; and

(h) based on said analyzing, identifying the pathogenic microorganism.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising passing the Raman scattered light and light transmitted through the sample through a filter selected from the group consisting of a tunable filter, a band pass filter, a liquid crystal tunable filter, an interferometer, an acousto optic tunable filter, a dispersive optical device and a computed tomography imaging spectrometer.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing spatially resolved Raman spectra.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing spatially resolved near infrared spectra.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising analyzing the patterns characteristic of the pathogenic microorganism to determine viability of the pathogenic microorganism.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising analyzing the patterns characteristic of the pathogenic microorganism to determine a growth medium in which the pathogenic microorganism was grown.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising analyzing the patterns characteristic of the pathogenic microorganism to determine a strain of the pathogenic microorganism.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising analyzing the first spatially accurate wavelength resolved image and the second spatially accurate wavelength resolved image for patterns characteristic of one of a biological material and a non-biological material.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the pathogenic microorganism is selected from the group of viruses consisting of filoviruses, naviruses, and alphaviruses.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the pathogenic microorganism is selected from the group of microorganisms consisting of protozoa, cryptosporidia microorganisms, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli 157 microorganisms, Plague (Yersinia pestis), Smallpox (variola major), Tularemia (Francisella tularensis), Brucellosis (Brucella species), Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, Shigella, Glanders (Burkholderia mallei), Melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei), Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci), Q fever (Coxiella burnetil), Typhus fever (Rickettsia prowazekii), and Vibrio cholerae.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the pathogenic microorganism is selected from the group of bacteria consisting of Giardia, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Pseudomonas eruginosa, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein in the pathogenic microorganism is selected from the group of fungus consisting of Microsporum audouini, Microspotum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton verrucosum, and Epidermophytum floccosum.