Systems for allergen detection
Inventors
Jung, Edward K. Y. • Leuthardt, Eric C. • Levien, Royce A. • Lord, Robert W. • Malamud, Mark A. • Rinaldo, Jr., John D. • Wood, JR., Lowell L.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10001496-B2
Publication Date
2018-06-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to methods that may be used for the detection of allergens. In some embodiments, a system includes circuitry for processing one or more samples with one or more microfluidic chips configured for analysis of one or more allergen indicators; circuitry for detecting the one or more allergen indicators; and circuitry for comparing one or more detected concentration levels of the one or more allergen indicators to one or more concentration levels of the one or more allergen indicators that results in one or more allergic responses.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to allergen detection systems and devices that include a microfluidic chip operatively coupled with at least one electronic device. The electronic device includes circuitry configured for detecting a concentration level of an allergen indicator associated with one or more samples and for displaying the detected concentration level. The detection is calibrated to a specific individual based at least partially on the sensitivity of the specific individual to an allergen concentration level associated with the allergen indicator.
The disclosed architectures support allergen-indicator determination using chemical extraction, separation or assay modules, and analysis units that include polynucleotide analysis and polypeptide analysis. Example embodiments include chemical extraction, H-filters with immunodiffusion or immunoseparation and ferrofluid or magnetic operation, reagent mixing, and centrifugal separation to support analysis workflows for allergen indicators.
The microfluidic chip or module embodiments also support multiple analysis and detection modalities for allergen indicators, including hybridization-based polynucleotide analysis, polypeptide analysis using electrophoresis, chromatography, proteolytic degradation, microcantilevers, and immunological arrays, and detection techniques such as spectroscopy, electrochemical detection, fluorescence/FRET, enzyme assays, and immunoassays. Display options are described as passive or active and can provide presence/absence, identity, concentration, and individual calibration outputs.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are present. Across these independent claims, the core coverage is the microfluidic chip coupled to electronic circuitry or programmed instructions for individualized, sensitivity-calibrated detection and display of an allergen indicator concentration level.
Microfluidic chip coupled with electronic detection and display circuitry
A microfluidic chip operatively coupled with at least one electronic device, where the electronic device includes circuitry configured for detecting a concentration level of an allergen indicator associated with one or more samples and circuitry configured for displaying the detected concentration level relative to a scale.
Individual sensitivity calibrated allergen-indicator detection
Detecting the concentration level of an allergen indicator calibrated to a specific individual based at least partially on a sensitivity of the specific individual to an allergen concentration level associated with the allergen indicator.
Individual-sensitivity calibrated relative display scale
Displaying the detected concentration level of the allergen indicator relative to a scale that is calibrated with respect to the sensitivity of the specific individual based at least partly on the detecting the concentration level of the allergen indicator.
Non-transitory program instructions for individualized allergen-indicator detection and display
A device where a microfluidic chip is operatively coupled with at least one electronic device including non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing instructions that program the electronic device to detect a concentration level of an allergen indicator calibrated to a specific individual based at least partially on the sensitivity, and to display the detected concentration relative to a scale calibrated with respect to the sensitivity.
The independent claims cover individualized calibration of allergen-indicator concentration detection using a microfluidic chip and electronic circuitry or programmed instructions, and displaying the detected concentration relative to an individual-specific calibrated scale.
Stated Advantages
Calibrated detection of an allergen indicator concentration level to a specific individual based on the specific individual’s sensitivity.
Displaying the detected allergen indicator concentration level relative to an individual-specific scale calibrated with respect to the individual’s sensitivity.
Transmitting an unsafe-type indication to a remote location when the allergen indicator concentration meets or exceeds specified levels that trigger an allergic response for a particular individual.
Documented Applications
Allergen indicator associated with airborne allergen, produced by processing one or more samples using a microfluidic chip.
Detection and display of allergen indicator concentration levels for samples associated with airborne allergen and other sample types including food and environmental/autoallergen categories such as weeds, grasses, trees, mites, animals, molds, fungi, insects, rubbers, metals, chemicals, and autoallergens or human autoallergens.
Analysis of allergen indicators associated with one or more samples.
Alternative microfluidic-chip module architectures for allergen-indicator analysis, including polynucleotide analysis, polypeptide analysis, chemical extraction, H-filters with immunodiffusion or immunoseparation, reagent mixing, centrifugal separation, hybridization-based analysis, electrophoresis, chromatography, proteolytic degradation, microcantilevers, immunological arrays, spectroscopy, electrochemical detection, fluorescence/FRET, enzyme assays, and immunoassays.
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