Method and system for real-time analysis of biosensor data

• US 8,812,239 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Greenbaum, Elias, Rodriguez, Miguel Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIMS, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US11/302,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,170 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/02 involving viable microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/22 Testing for sterility conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/405 from algae
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method of biosensor-based detection of toxins includes the steps of providing a fluid to be analyzed having a plurality of photosynthetic organisms therein, wherein chemical, biological or radiological agents alter a nominal photosynthetic activity of the photosynthetic organisms. At a first time a measured photosynthetic activity curve is obtained from the photosynthetic organisms. The measured curve is automatically compared to a reference photosynthetic activity curve to determine differences therebetween. The presence of the chemical, biological or radiological agents, or precursors thereof, are then identified if present in the fluid using the differences.

Claims

1. A water or air quality analysis system, comprising:

a photodetector for measuring photosynthetic activity of photosynthetic organisms; and

an electronics package comprising a processor coupled to the photodetector, the processor comprising executable instructions for analyzing qualitative changes in photosynthetic activity data that can indicate the identity of chemical, biological, or radiological agents;

where the executable instructions comprise;

obtaining a photosynthetic activity curve from the processor at a first time; and

comparing at least two data points from the photosynthetic activity curve to at least two data points from a reference photosynthetic activity curve to identify the presence of a specific chemical, biological, or radiological agent;

and where

the comparing comprises calculating a degree of difference between a first photosynthetic activity data point and a first reference photosynthetic activity data point, and between a second photosynthetic activity data point and a second reference photosynthetic activity data point;

the calculating comprises adding or subtracting a constant differential offset to at least the first and second photosynthetic activity data points to obtain at least first and second offset photosynthetic activity data points; and

the comparing further comprises calculating at least a first transformation coefficient that maps the first offset photosynthetic activity data point to the first reference photosynthetic activity data point, and a second transformation coefficient that maps the second offset photosynthetic activity data point to the second reference photosynthetic activity data point.

2. A water or air quality analysis system, comprising:

a photodetector for measuring photosynthetic activity of photosynthetic organisms; and

an electronics package comprising a processor coupled to the photodetector, the processor comprising executable instructions for analyzing qualitative changes in photosynthetic activity data that can indicate the identity of chemical, biological, or radiological agents;

where the executable instructions comprise;

obtaining a photosynthetic activity curve from the processor at a first time; and

comparing at least two data points from the photosynthetic activity curve to at least two data points from a reference photosynthetic activity curve to identify the presence of a specific chemical, biological, or radiological agent;

and where

the comparing comprises calculating a degree of difference between a first photosynthetic activity data point and a first reference photosynthetic activity data point, and between a second photosynthetic activity data point and a second reference photosynthetic activity data point;

the comparing comprises calculating, for each photosynthetic activity data point from the photosynthetic activity curve, a degree of difference between a photosynthetic activity data point and a reference photosynthetic activity data point;

the calculating comprises adding or subtracting a constant differential offset to each of the photosynthetic activity data points to obtain a plurality of offset photosynthetic activity data points;

the constant differential offset minimizes a sum of the square residuals between the photosynthetic activity data points and the reference photosynthetic activity data points; and

the comparing further comprises calculating a plurality of transformation coefficients that map the offset photosynthetic activity data points to the photosynthetic activity data points.

3. The system of claim 2, where the executable instructions further comprise identifying the presence of one or more specific chemical, biological, or radiological agents by comparing the transformation coefficients to reference transformation coefficients corresponding to specific chemical, biological, or radiological agents.

4. A water or air quality analysis system, comprising:

a photodetector for measuring photosynthetic activity of photosynthetic organisms; and

an electronics package comprising a processor coupled to the photodetector, the processor comprising executable instructions for analyzing qualitative changes in photosynthetic activity data that can indicate the identity of chemical, biological, or radiological agents;

where the executable instructions comprise;

obtaining a photosynthetic activity curve from the processor at a first time; and

comparing at least two data points from the photosynthetic activity curve to at least two data points from a reference photosynthetic activity curve to identify the presence of a specific chemical, biological, or radiological agent;

and where;

the comparing comprises calculating a degree of difference between a first photosynthetic activity data point and a first reference photosynthetic activity data point, and between a second photosynthetic activity data point and a second reference photosynthetic activity data point; and

the comparing further comprises calculating at least a first transformation coefficient that maps the first photosynthetic activity data point to the first reference photosynthetic activity data point, and a second transformation coefficient that maps the second photosynthetic activity data point to the second reference photosynthetic activity data point.

5. The system of claim 4, where the executable instructions further comprise identifying the presence of one or more specific chemical, biological, or radiological agents by comparing the transformation coefficients to reference transformation coefficients corresponding to specific chemical, biological, or radiological agents, or portions thereof.

6. A water or air quality analysis system, comprising:

a photodetector for measuring photosynthetic activity of photosynthetic organisms; and

an electronics package comprising a processor coupled to the photodetector, the processor comprising executable instructions for analyzing qualitative changes in photosynthetic activity data that can indicate the identity of chemical, biological, or radiological agents;

where the executable instructions comprise;

obtaining a photosynthetic activity curve from the processor at a first time; and

comparing at least two data points from the photosynthetic activity curve to at least two data points from a reference photosynthetic activity curve to identify the presence of a specific chemical, biological, or radiological agent;

and where;

the comparing comprises calculating a degree of difference between a first photosynthetic activity data point and a first reference photosynthetic activity data point, and between a second photosynthetic activity data point and a second reference photosynthetic activity data point; and

the comparing further comprises constructing a transformation matrix that maps the photosynthetic activity data points to the reference photosynthetic activity data points.

7. The system of claim 6, where the executable instructions further comprise identifying the presence of one or more specific chemical, biological, or radiological agents by comparing the transformation matrix to a reference transformation matrix corresponding to specific chemical, biological, or radiological agents, or portions thereof.