Devices, systems and methods for detecting viable infectious agents in a fluid sample using an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor sensor
Inventors
KNOPFMACHER, Oren S. • Herget, Meike • Laufer, Michael D. • Estabrook, August
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10254245-B2
Publication Date
2019-04-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
Various devices, systems and methods for detecting a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective are described herein. A method comprises introducing a fluid sample to a first surface and a second surface; exposing the first surface to a first solution; exposing, the second surface to a second solution, wherein the second surface comprises an anti-infective; sampling the first solution after exposing the first solution to the first surface; sampling the second solution after exposing the second solution to the second surface; monitoring a first electrical characteristic of a first electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor exposed to the first solution sampled; monitoring a second electrical characteristic of a second EIS sensor exposed to the second solution sampled; and comparing the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic to assess the susceptibility of the infectious agent to the anti-infective.
Core Innovation
The document describes an in vitro method for detecting a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective. A fluid sample is introduced to a first surface and a second surface, and the infectious agent is exposed to a first solution at the first surface and to a second solution at the second surface, where at least one of the second surface and the second solution comprises an anti-infective. After exposure, the first solution and the second solution are sampled from the respective surfaces.
The method further includes monitoring a first electrical characteristic of a first electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor exposed to the first sampled solution and monitoring a second electrical characteristic of a second EIS sensor exposed to the second sampled solution. The first and second electrical characteristics are compared to assess the susceptibility of the infectious agent to the anti-infective. In some embodiments, the comparing includes assessing a difference between the first and second electrical characteristics.
The comparison can be tied to differences in solution characteristics between the first solution and the second solution. Documented solution characteristics include molecular count, concentration of an ion, and solution temperature. The document also describes implementation details for the first and second surfaces, including non-clogging filters and sequentially smaller pore sizes, and housing the EIS sensors in a protective chamber that is electrically isolated, temperature controlled, and/or light controlled.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are directed to methods that expose an infectious agent retained on separate first and second surfaces to first and second solutions, sample the solutions, measure two EIS electrical characteristics, and compare them to assess susceptibility. One independent claim further specifies the susceptibility-relevant difference in solution characteristics.
Dual-surface exposure with anti-infective-containing second solution and EIS comparison
introducing a fluid sample to a first surface and a second surface; exposing the first surface comprising the infectious agent to a first solution; exposing the second surface comprising the infectious agent to a second solution, wherein at least one of the second surface and the second solution comprises an anti-infective; sampling the first solution after exposing the first solution to the first surface; sampling the second solution after exposing the second solution to the second surface; monitoring a first electrical characteristic of a first electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor exposed to the first solution sampled; monitoring a second electrical characteristic of a second EIS sensor exposed to the second solution sampled; and comparing the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic to assess the susceptibility of the infectious agent to the anti-infective.
Solution-characteristic difference defining the basis of susceptibility assessment
the difference in the solution characteristic of the first solution and the second solution is a difference in at least one of a molecular count, a concentration of an ion, and a solution temperature.
Dual-surface exposure with sampling-from-surfaces and EIS comparison
introducing a fluid sample to a first surface and a second surface; exposing the first surface comprising the infectious agent to a first solution; exposing the second surface comprising the infectious agent to a second solution, wherein at least one of the second surface and the second solution comprises an anti-infective; sampling the first solution from the first surface after exposing the first surface to the first solution; sampling the second solution from the second surface after exposing the second surface to the second solution; monitoring a first electrical characteristic of an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor exposed to the first solution sampled; monitoring a second electrical characteristic of the EIS sensor exposed to the second solution sampled; and comparing the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic to assess the susceptibility of the infectious agent to the anti-infective.
The independent claims require exposing an infectious agent on separate first and second surfaces to first and second solutions, sampling the exposed solutions, measuring EIS electrical characteristics for each sampled solution, and comparing those electrical characteristics to assess susceptibility. One independent claim further characterizes the difference as molecular count, ion concentration, or solution temperature.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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