Infectious disease detection system

• US 9,175,356 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Peltz, Leora, Park, Shawn Hyunsoo
• Primary Examiner(s): MERKLING, SALLY ANNE
• Application Number:
  US14/591,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20150125937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 3/00 Condition responsive control processes apparatus therefor C12M1/36; controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0255 with mechanical, e.g. inertial, classification, and investigation of sorted collections with centrifuges G01N15/042
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/80 for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics, e.g. flu
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing a zone. Information is obtained about an environment in the zone with a sensor system. A determination is made by an analyzer system as to whether a contagious condition is present in the zone using the information from the sensor system. An action is performed by a management system in response to the contagious condition being present.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing contagious conditions, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor system configured to

obtain information about an environment within a zone with the sensor system, the zone comprising an area in which people are located for a time, the sensor system disposed in a ceiling, wall, or floor of the zone, and in which a physical sample is taken from the zone; and

an analyzer system comprising a number of processors configured to;

analyze at least an air sample to obtain one or more of bio-information, particle information, and airflow pattern information;

determine whether a contagious condition is present in the zone using the information from the sensor system; and

identify an action to be performed in response to the contagious condition being present.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action comprises changing a parameter in the environment that reduces the contagious condition.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the parameter is for the zone and is selected from one of a direction of airflow, a type of light, a temperature, passenger movement, and a humidity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action comprises identifying a source originating the contagious condition and indicating an additional examination of the source should be performed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action comprises causing airflow that is configured to move particles away from a person in the zone.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the action further comprises collecting the particles from the airflow and determining whether a contagion is present in the particles.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action comprises presenting an instruction to change a pattern of movement by people in the zone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone is selected from one of a corridor, a lounge, a restroom, a gate waiting area, a walkway, a security screening area, a baggage area, a passenger boarding bridge, an eating area, a check-in area, and a passenger area.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone comprises a passenger boarding bridge and the sensor system is positioned in part in a ceiling of the passenger boarding bridge.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone comprises, a passenger lounge and the sensor system is positioned at least in part in a ceiling, wall, or floor of the passenger lounge.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone comprises a gate waiting area and the sensor system is positioned at least in part in a ceiling, wall, or floor of the gate waiting area.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone comprises a corridor or a walkway and the sensor system is positioned at least in part in a ceiling, wall, or floor of the corridor or walkway.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensor system is positioned in part in a ceiling of the passenger boarding bridge to draw the at least an air sample from the passenger boarding bridge.

14. The apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the number of processors of the analyzer system is further configured to:

send a command to a management system to change a parameter in the environment.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone comprises a preboarding lounge and the sensor system is positioned at least in part in a ceiling, wall, or floor of the preboarding lounge.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone comprises a gate waiting area and the sensor system is positioned at least in part in a ceiling, wall, or floor of the gate waiting area.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone comprises a corridor or a walkway and the sensor system is positioned at least in part in a ceiling, wall, or floor of the corridor or walkway.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the number of processors of the analyzer system is further configured to;

analyze the air sample to obtain bio-information, particle information, and airflow pattern information;

assess a threat level based on results obtained from the analyzer system;

analyze the information including obtaining bio-information regarding biohazards and obtaining image information;

perform a simulation using the information; and

send a command to a management system to perform the action in response to the contagious condition being present, including at least causing airflow to move particles away from a person in the zone and activating an alert system;

wherein to activate the alert system, the management system is further configured to deliver instruction to persons in the zone using an audio system and to visually present instructions or information to persons in the zone using a display system;

wherein to perform the simulation, the number of processors of the analyzer system is further configured to identify changes to the zone, and the management system is further configured to implement the changes to the zone;

wherein to perform the simulation, the number of processors of the analyzer system is further configured to identify a radius of infection;

wherein to analyze the information, the number of processors of the analyzer system is further configured to use an infrared camera to develop a temperature profile of the person;

wherein to analyze the information, the number of processors of the analyzer system is further configured to analyze images to identify bodily fluid ejection patterns; and

wherein to analyze the information, the number of processors of the analyzer system is further configured to use an image analyzer, a bio-information analyzer, an audio analyzer, and a particle analyzer.