Blood Pathogen Neutralization via Targeted UV Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for bacteremia, such as the use of antibiotics, are often ineffective in reducing the count of pathogenic cells in the bloodstream, leading to severe infections like sepsis.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that images the blood to identify and locate pathogen cells, followed by the application of ultraviolet light to neutralize these cells, reducing their count over time while minimizing exposure to nearby blood cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antibiotics are used to treat bacteremia, then pathogenic bacteria in the bloodstream should be killed, but the treatment is not successful for many patients with bloodstream bacterial infection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an imaging system as an intermediary to detect and locate pathogenic cells in the bloodstream, enabling targeted delivery of therapeutic energy (ultraviolet light) to specific pathogen locations while avoiding non-specific antibiotic exposure that fails to eliminate all pathogens
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical mechanism of antibiotics with a physical mechanism (ultraviolet light energy) that can be precisely targeted and controlled, substituting non-selective chemical action with selective physical energy delivery to pathogen cells
2Reliability
If ultraviolet light energy is applied to neutralize pathogen cells, then pathogen cells are destroyed, but nearby blood cells may be exposed to harmful radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ultraviolet light energy locally and selectively to specific locations where pathogen cells are detected, rather than exposing the entire bloodstream to UV radiation. The imaging system identifies precise coordinates of pathogenic cells, and the therapeutic energy is delivered only to those localized areas, preserving the integrity of surrounding healthy blood cells
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs real-time imaging feedback to guide and control the delivery of ultraviolet light energy. The imaging system continuously monitors blood flow and pathogen locations, providing feedback that adjusts the timing and positioning of energy delivery to ensure pathogen destruction while minimizing exposure to healthy cells
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
The apparatus effectively decreases the number of viable pathogen cells in the blood, potentially reducing the harmful effects of infections like sepsis, by specifically targeting and neutralizing pathogenic cells with ultraviolet light.
Implementation Method 1
imaging a first quantity of blood to identify and locate pathogen cells in the blood
Implementation Method 2
imaging the blood to identify and locate pathogen cells
Implementation Method 3
application of ultraviolet light energy to the specific locations for the identified and located pathogen cells
Implementation Method 4
neutralized by the application of ultraviolet light energy to the specific locations for the identified and located pathogen cells
Data Source
AI summary
An operational unit for locating and neutralizing pathogen cells in blood includes a cassette which has a plurality of thin holding chambers that are filled with blood drawn from a patient. A light source illuminates the holding chambers and passes light to an underlying sensor array such that the cells in the blood selectively block the light to produce shadow images of the cells. A processor performs pattern recognition to locate the pathogen cells by use of an image library. After the pathogen cells are located, a source of ultraviolet light is activated and UV light is passed through selectively controlled shutters to illuminate only the limited areas that have the identified pathogen cells. Sufficient ultraviolet light energy is applied to destroy the identified cells. A pump refills the cassette holding chambers, returns the neutralized-pathogen blood to the patient, and the process is repeated.