Detection and identification of biological agents using Bragg filters
First Claim
1. A method of determining the presence of a target agent in an environment, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a first sample from the environment;
introducing the first sample to at least one detection module;
filtering the first sample through at least a first filter and a second filter which are part of the at least one detection module, wherein the first filter and the second filter comprise porous Bragg gratings, further wherein the first filter contains at least one detection molecule for binding the target agent thereto and the second filter contains no detection molecules for binding the target agent thereto;
measuring an optical property of the first filter and the second filter after filtering the first sample there through;
comparing the measured optical property of the first filter to the measured optical property of the second filter to determine a presence of the target agent;
measuring an optical property of a third filter which is not exposed to the first sample, the third filter comprising a porous Bragg grating; and
comparing the measured optical property of the third filter to the measured optical property of the first and second filters to determine a presence of spurious signals caused by the environment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of sensing an environmental agent, comprising obtaining a sample from the environment and transferring the sample into the working fluid for dispensation to a detection module. The sample and working fluid mixture is filtered through a porous polymer Bragg grating. By comparing the refractive index of the grating with the mixture to the refractive index of a grating without the sample, a difference in the refractive index aids in the identification of a hazardous agent in the environment. The sensor also acts as a chemical filter by trapping specific target agents by a highly specific reaction with a conjugate molecule. Recirculation of the working fluid throughout the system provides a sensor that is “always on.”
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of determining the presence of a target agent in an environment, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a first sample from the environment; introducing the first sample to at least one detection module; filtering the first sample through at least a first filter and a second filter which are part of the at least one detection module, wherein the first filter and the second filter comprise porous Bragg gratings, further wherein the first filter contains at least one detection molecule for binding the target agent thereto and the second filter contains no detection molecules for binding the target agent thereto; measuring an optical property of the first filter and the second filter after filtering the first sample there through; comparing the measured optical property of the first filter to the measured optical property of the second filter to determine a presence of the target agent; measuring an optical property of a third filter which is not exposed to the first sample, the third filter comprising a porous Bragg grating; and comparing the measured optical property of the third filter to the measured optical property of the first and second filters to determine a presence of spurious signals caused by the environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 32)
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8. A sensor for determining the presence of at least one target agent in a sample comprising:
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a collector system for collecting the sample from an environment; a transfer system for adding the sample to a working fluid; a dispenser system for introducing the working fluid, including the sample, to a detector system; and a detector system comprising at least one detector module that includes; at least a first optical grating, a second optical grating, and a third optical grating, wherein the first optical grating, the second optical grating, and third optical grating are porous Bragg gratings, further wherein the first optical grating contains at least one detector molecule for binding the at least one target agent thereto and the second optical grating does not contain a detector molecule for binding the at least one target agent thereto, the third optical grating being isolated and not in contact with the working fluid; at least a first measuring device for measuring an optical response of the first optical grating after contact with the working fluid, including the sample, at least a second measuring device for measuring an optical response of the second optical grating after contact with the working fluid, including the sample, at least a third measuring device for measuring an optical response of the third optical grating, and a processor for comparing the measured optical response from the at least a first measuring device to the measured optical response from the at least a second measuring device to determine a presence of the at least one target agent, for comparing the measured optical response from the third filter to the measured optical response from the first and second filters to determine a presence of spurious signals caused by surroundings of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 33)
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17. A detector module for detecting a target agent within a sample, the detector module comprising:
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a first and second inlet reservoir for receiving a working fluid containing the sample therein; a first micro-fluidic channel integrally connected to the first inlet reservoir; a second micro-fluidic channel integrally connected to the second inlet reservoir; a first optical grating physically integrated with the first micro-fluidic channel and a second optical grating physically integrated with the second micro-fluidic channel, wherein the first optical grating and the second optical grating comprise porous Bragg gratings, further wherein the first optical grating includes at least one detector molecule for binding the target agent within the sample thereto and the second optical grating does not include a detector molecule for binding the target agent within the sample thereto; a third optical grating which is isolated from the working fluid, the third optical grating comprising a porous Bragg grating; and at least one outlet reservoir physically integrated with the first and second micro-fluidic channels for removing the working fluid containing the sample from the detector module in order to re-use the working fluid with another sample. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35)
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Specification