Pathogen detection by simultaneous size/fluorescence measurement

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting pathogens and particles in a fluid in which particle size and intrinsic fluorescence of a simple particle is determined.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 805,962 filed Jun. 27, 2006.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to a system and method for detecting airborne or waterborne particles, and more particularly to a system and method for detecting airborne or waterborne particles and classifying the detected particles. The invention has particular utility in detecting and classifying allergens and biological warfare agents and will be described in connection with such utility, although other utilities are contemplated.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]An urban terrorist attack involving release of biological warfare agents such as bacillus anthracis (anthrax) is presently a realistic concern. Weaponized anthrax spores are extremely dangerous because they can gain passage into the human lungs. A lethal inhalation dose of anthrax spores for humans, LD50 (lethal dose sufficient to kill 5...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]For the purpose of detection of microbes in air or water, it is of importance to devise an effective system to measure both particle size and fluorescence generated intrinsically by the microbes. The present invention provides a sensor system which is capable of simultaneously measuring particle size and detecting the presence of intrinsic fluorescence from metabolites and other bio-molecules, on a particle-by-particle basis. The advantages of this detection scheme over the prior art are several. For one it provides a deterministic particle measurement methodology for characterizing particles rather than relying on statistical models employed in prior art for particle characterization. The deterministic measurement methodology enables more definitive assignment of particle characters than the prior art and less reliance on statistical models. It also reduces the possibility of false positives in microbial detection, for example, pollen (larger sizes than microbes) and smoke particles (smaller sizes than microbes) can be excluded from detection. And, it allows detailed analyses of data collected on each individual particle for characterizing the particle, such as intensity of fluorescence signal from a particle as a function of its cross-sectional area or volume, for the purpose of determining the biological status of the particles.

Problems solved by technology

Weaponized anthrax spores are extremely dangerous because they can gain passage into the human lungs.

This is capable of detecting an aerosol concentration of five particles per liter of air, but involves expensive and delicate instruments.

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