Systems and methods for transmitting pathogen related information and responding

• US 20080183396A1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inflammatix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC A Limited Liability Corporation of The State of Delaware
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Leuthardt, Eric C., Rinaldo, John D., Wood, Lowell L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5302 Apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54326 Magnetic particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/569 for microorganisms, e.g. protozoa, bacteria, viruses
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems that may be used for detection of one or more pathogens and determining one or more agents in response to pathogen detection.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips;

accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained; and

transmitting one or more signals that include information associated with the identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips and the accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips comprises:

analyzing one or more pathogen indicators with one or more analysis units that are configured to operably associate with the one or more microfluidic chips.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained comprises:

accepting input associated with one or more parameters related to the individual.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting one or more signals that include information associated with the identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips and the accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals that include information associated with an identity of the one or more pathogens.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting one or more signals that include information associated with the identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips and the accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals through use of a secure connection.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more signals that include information associated with one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of at least one of the one or more pathogens.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving one or more signals that include information associated with one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

receiving the one or more signals that include information associated with contraindicators of the one or more agents.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving one or more signals that include information associated with one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

receiving the one or more signals that include information associated with side-effects of the one or more agents.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

displaying the information in graphical form.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

displaying the information in audio form.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

displaying the information in typographical form.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

displaying the information in Braille.

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24. A system comprising:

a signal-bearing medium bearing;

one or more instructions for identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips;

one or more instructions for accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained; and

one or more instructions for transmitting one or more signals that include information associated with the identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips and the accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving one or more signals that include information associated with one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of at least one of the one or more pathogens.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

one or more instructions for displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of at least one of the one or more pathogens.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a computer-readable medium.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a recordable medium.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a communications medium.

30. A system comprising:

means for identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips;

means for accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained; and

means for transmitting one or more signals responsive to the means for identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips and the means for accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

means for receiving the one or more signals that include information associated with one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of at least one of the one or more pathogens.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for displaying the information associated with the means for receiving the one or more signals that include information associated with one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of at least one of the one or more pathogens.

33. A system comprising:

circuitry for identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips;

circuitry for accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained; and

circuitry for transmitting one or more signals that include information associated with the identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips and the accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the circuitry for identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips comprises:

circuitry for analyzing one or more pathogen indicators with one or more analysis units that are configured to operably associate with the one or more microfluidic chips.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the circuitry for accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained comprises:

circuitry for accepting input associated with one or more parameters related to the individual.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the circuitry for transmitting one or more signals that include information associated with the identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips and the accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained comprises:

circuitry for transmitting the one or more signals that include information associated with an identity of the one or more pathogens.

42. The system of claim 33, wherein the circuitry for transmitting one or more signals that include information associated with the identifying one or more pathogens present within one or more samples obtained from an individual through use of one or more microfluidic chips and the accepting input associated with the individual from whom the one or more samples were obtained comprises:

circuitry for transmitting one or more signals through use of a secure connection.

43. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving one or more signals that include information associated with one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of at least one of the one or more pathogens.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals that include information associated with one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals through use of a secure connection.

49. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

circuitry for displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry for displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

circuitry for displaying the information in graphical form.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry for displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

circuitry for displaying the information in audio form.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry for displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

circuitry for displaying the information in typographical form.

55. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry for displaying the information associated with the one or more agents that can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of the at least one of the one or more pathogens comprises:

circuitry for displaying the information in Braille.

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