Aerosol Ionization for Breath Pathogen Detection by CDMS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for viral screening, such as qPCR and antibody-based tests, are slow, costly, and require significant time and resources, and existing mass spectrometry techniques struggle to accurately measure large biomolecules in aerosols, leaving a gap in detecting contagiousness from aerosol-borne pathogens.
Innovation Solution
Devices and methods for ionizing aerosol droplets using electrospray ionization, extractive electrospray ionization, plasma-based ionization, and UV photoionization to produce charged gas-phase analytes from large biomolecules, enabling analysis by charge detection mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If qPCR or antibody-based testing methods are used for viral screening, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to slow processing time and inability to perform high-throughput screening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/chemical processing methods (qPCR amplification, antibody binding assays) with a direct mass spectrometry-based detection system. The aerosol ionization source directly ionizes viral particles from breath samples, and the mass spectrometer measures their mass-to-charge ratio, eliminating the need for time-consuming amplification or binding reactions. This substitution enables real-time, high-throughput screening while maintaining detection precision.
2Productivity
If existing mass spectrometry techniques are used for aerosol analysis, then productivity is improved through faster analysis, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to accurately measure large biomolecules in aerosols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a specialized aerosol ionization source with specific local properties optimized for large biomolecule analysis. The ionization region is designed to handle aerosol droplets containing intact viral particles and large biomolecules, using controlled electrospray or atmospheric pressure ionization conditions that preserve molecular integrity. This localized optimization enables accurate mass measurement of large aerosol-borne biomolecules while maintaining high analysis speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters including aerosol droplet size distribution, ionization voltage, gas flow rates, and temperature conditions to enable accurate measurement of large biomolecules. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves both high-resolution mass spectrometry for large particles and rapid analysis throughput, resolving the contradiction between precision and productivity.
3Measurement precision
If traditional viral testing methods are used, then measurement precision is improved for specific virus identification, but loss of time increases due to 45-90 minute processing time for qPCR and 15-30 minutes for antibody tests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary aerosolization of the breath sample, which pre-processes the complex breath matrix into discrete aerosol droplets containing viral particles. This preliminary action simplifies subsequent detection by presenting viral particles in a standardized format to the mass spectrometer, enabling rapid identification without time-consuming sample preparation or amplification steps, thus reducing total testing time while maintaining precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enable fast, high-throughput screening of aerosol-borne pathogens by measuring viral load from a single breath, allowing real-time determination of contagiousness and differentiation between various pathogens, including viruses and bacteria.
Implementation Method 1
The ion source is configured to ionize the aerosol to produce charged gas-phase analytes
Implementation Method 2
plasma-based ionization, and ultraviolet (UV) photoionization of volatile and nonvolatile compounds
Implementation Method 3
ultraviolet (UV) photoionization of volatile and nonvolatile compounds
Implementation Method 4
charge detection mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry
Implementation Method 5
charge detection mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for ionizing an aerosol for analysis of particles in the aerosol. In one variant, the aerosol is intersecting with charged droplets formed by electrospray ionization (ESI) to ionize the aerosol. In another variant, the aerosol is passed through a plasma source to ionize the aerosol. In a further variant, the aerosol is passed through an ultraviolet (UV) ionizing source to ionize the aerosol. In all variants, the ionized aerosol is dried to yield charged, gas-phase analytes. The source of the aerosol can be a person's breath or a nebulizer. The aerosol can be dried in the inlet of a charge detection mass spectrometer (CDMS) or an inlet of an ion mobility instrument.