Method for Preventing Infection by a Virus

• US 20160302739A1
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nohands, LLC, Seed Health, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nohands, LLC
• Inventors: Kovarik, Katherine Rose, Kovarik, Joseph E., Zarouri, Mourad
• Granted Patent: US 10,045,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0038 Devices for taking faeces samples; Faecal examination devices anal receptacles A61F5/451
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0418 Pen-shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0026 characterised by the transmission medium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15 Devices for taking samples of blood hypodermic syringes A61M5/178
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6897 Computer input devices, e.g. mice or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0003 : Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/075 : Adenoviridae
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2469/20 : Detection of antibodies in sample from host which are directed against antigens from microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/044 : Hyperlipemia or hypolipemia, e.g. dyslipidaemia, obesity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56983 : Viruses

Abstract

A method for preventing obesity related to infection by an adipogenic adenovirus includes obtaining a sample from a person, assaying the sample to determine whether the person has been previously infected with an adipogenic adenovirus, and if the person has not been previously infected, providing the person with at least one sensor positioned to detect when a person'"'"'s hand approaches a predetermined distance from the person'"'"'s face. By warning the person of undesired hand-to-face contacts, the person is able to reduce the incidence of obesity related infections. Other embodiments are directed to a kit for preventing obesity caused by infection with an adipogenic adenovirus, such kit including a container for assaying an agent indicating the presence of antibodies to Ad-36, and a sensor positioned on an item selected from the group consisting of one of a hat, a writing instrument, eye glasses, a belt, sunglasses, a bra, a shirt, and a tie.

Claims

1. A method for preventing infection by a virus, comprising:

obtaining a sample from a person;

assaying the sample to determine whether the person has been previously infected with a predetermined virus;

if said assaying step indicates that such person has not been previously infected with said virus, providing to the person at least one sensor positioned to detect when a person'"'"'s hand approaches a predetermined distance from the person'"'"'s face;

reducing the incidence of hand-to-face contacts by said person due to the person being warned by said at least one sensor of occasions when the person'"'"'s hands approach said person'"'"'s face, said at least one sensor providing a signal generating device operatively associated with said at least one sensor and with a semiconductor device programmed to select one of a plurality of predetermined distances of proximity so that a person'"'"'s hand triggers the signal generating device to warn the person that their hand is in the proximity of their face, said signal generating device communicating from the sensor to a recording device, via a transmitter, the occurrence of said person'"'"'s hand being in the proximity of their face, said recording device recording the occurrence to indicate the number of hand-to-face contacts by said person, thereby reducing the risk that infections by said virus will be acquired by said person.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor has one of an IR emitter, an IR receiver, a signal generating device, and a semiconductor device programmed to select a predetermined distance of proximity so that a person'"'"'s hand triggers the signal generating device to warn the person that their hand is in the proximity of their face.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of assaying the sample comprises the steps of:

screening the sample for the presence of antibodies specific to the predetermined virus; and

determining the presence of antibodies specific to the virus in the sample.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virus is selected from the group consisting of adenovirus type 5, adenovirus type 16, and adenovirus type 37.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the virus is selected from the group consisting of adenovirus type 5 and adenovirus type 16.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assaying comprises determining the presence of antibodies specific to one or more peptides related to the virus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said assaying step is performed by using a method selected from the group consisting of serum neutralization assay and ELISA.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of a biological sample, body fluid, a tissue sample, an organ sample, feces, blood, saliva, and any combination thereof.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein either immunoanalytical or nucleic-acid based techniques are employed to detect the presence of a virus.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor produces a signal consisting of an electric shock.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor produces a signal selected from the group consisting of a sound, light, vibration and an electric shock.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising transmitting data from said at least one sensor to a remote area and determining whether behaviors of individuals who had used said at least one sensor are modified due to using said at least one sensor for a predetermined time period.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recording device comprises a cell phone.

14. A kit for preventing obesity related to infection by a virus, comprising:

a container for assaying an agent indicating the presence of antibodies to a predetermined virus, said agent present in a person'"'"'s saliva;

at least one sensor positioned near a person'"'"'s face;

a signal generating device that employs a signal operatively associated with said at least one sensor;

a semiconductor device programmed to select one of a plurality of predetermined distances of proximity so that a person'"'"'s hand triggers the signal generating device to warn a person that their hand is in the proximity of their face; and

a transmitter for communicating from the sensor to a recording device the occurrence of said signal, said recording device recording the occurrence of said signal to indicate the number of hand-to-face contacts by said person, thereby reducing the risk that said virus related infections will be acquired by said person.

15. The kit as set forth in claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor is focused to achieve directional sensing.

16. The kit as set forth in claim 14, wherein said at least one sensor includes two spaced sensors.

17. The kid as set forth in claim 14, whereby said semiconductor device is adapted to monitor movement of a hand of a person within at least 12 inches from the face of the person.

18. The kit as set forth in claim 14, wherein said antibody binding agent detects the presence of an antibody to said virus in a test sample from the person, and wherein the kit comprises a receptacle for containing a sample from the person;

and instructions for using the binding agent to detect the presence of the antibody to the virus in the sample.

19. The kit as set forth in claim 14, wherein said signal generating device is adjustable with respect to one or more of the following:

duration of signal and intensity of signal.

20. A method for preventing infection by a virus, comprising:

obtaining a sample from a person;

assaying the sample to determine whether the person has been previously infected with a predetermined virus;

if said assaying step indicates that such person has not been previously infected with said predetermined virus, providing to the person at least one sensor positioned to detect when a person'"'"'s hand approaches a predetermined distance from the person'"'"'s face;

reducing the incidence of hand-to-face contacts by providing a signal generating device operatively associated with said at least one sensor and with a semiconductor device programmed to select one of a plurality of predetermined distances of proximity so that a person'"'"'s hand triggers the signal generating device to warn the person that their hand is in the proximity of their face, said signal generating device communicating to a recording device, via a transmitter, an occurrence of the person that their hand is in the proximity of their face, and recording the occurrence to indicate the number of hand-to-face contacts by said person, thereby reducing the risk that virus related infections will be acquired by said person.