Bio-sensor and bio-sensor reporting system

• US 20050221366A1
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oro Grande Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Oro Grande Technology, LLC
• Inventors: Kraft, Clifford
• Granted Patent: US 7,387,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/019 Biological contaminants; Fouling

Abstract

A biosensor unit that can be wall mounted in a location to perform testing of ambient air for bio-contaminants. This unit could contain an air filter for collecting contaminants and a micro-laboratory on a chip or otherwise situated within the unit to perform DNA or RNA binding tests for specific biological targets. Information from such units distributed within an environment could be communicated to one or more central locations via the internet or other communication means to be logged or recorded or to produce reports or alarms.

Claims

1. An ambient air bio-sensor comprising:

a collection filter collecting bio-contaminants from ambient air;

a preparation area wherein collected biological air contaminants are prepared for target identification;

a target identification area wherein said biological air contaminants are matched with biological target models;

a detector counting matches of said air contaminates with said biological target models.

2. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 1 wherein said target identification models are DNA or RNA probes.

3. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 1 further comprising a means for removing said air contaminants from said filter.

4. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 3 wherein said means for removing air contaminants from said filter is a pump.

5. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 1 wherein said target identification area is a micro-laboratory.

6. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 5 wherein said micro-laboratory is a laboratory-on-a-chip.

7. An ambient air bio-sensor comprising:

an air contaminant collection filter collecting biological contaminants from ambient air;

a liquid injection device for removing bio-contaminants from said filter and placing them in liquid phase;

a liquid phase preparation area wherein collected biological air contaminants are prepared for target identification by cleaving molecules of said biological air contaminants into single strand DNA or RNA;

marker molecules attached to said single strand DNA or RNA, said marker molecules detectable with a detector;

a plurality of micro-channels each containing a target DNA or RNA sequence;

a means for moving said single strand DNA or RNA through said micro-channels for binding;

a means for flushing said micro-channels of unbound material;

a detector identifying remaining marker molecules.

8. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of valves for choosing certain of said micro-channels for a particular test.

9. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 7 further comprising a pump causing ambient air to pass through said filter.

10. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 7 wherein said detector is a photo-multiplier.

11. The ambient air bio-sensor of claim 7 wherein said marker molecules are a fluorophore.

12. An ambient air bio-contaminant reporting system comprising:

at least one ambient air micro-sensor reporting a quantitative figure relating to presence of at least one airborne bio-contaminant;

a communications network for reporting said quantitative figure to at least one second station;

software at said second station for storing, tabulating or reporting said quantitative figure.

13. The ambient air bio-contaminant reporting system of claim 12 wherein said network is the internet.

14. The ambient air bio-contaminant reporting system of claim 12 further comprising a gas sensor.

15. The ambient air bio-contaminant reporting system of claim 12 further comprising a temperature sensor.

16. The ambient air bio-contaminant reporting system of claim 12 further comprising a humidity sensor.

17. The ambient air bio-contaminant reporting system of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of ambient air micro-sensors.

18. The ambient air bio-contaminant reporting system of claim 12 further comprising a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.

19. The ambient air bio-contaminant reporting system of claim 12 further comprising a gas sensor, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.