RF rapid diagnostics of infection and contamination
Inventors
Keller, III, Walter J • Uplinger, II, James Robert • Makarenko, Vladimir
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12379329-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
A rapid virus and pathogen detector using RF and Dielectric Spectroscopy. The targeted virus or pathogen is identified by active illumination by RF energy and analysis of the response RF signal.
Core Innovation
A sample is received in a sample holder included in a measurement chamber comprising a tapered chamber with a tapered septum. The sample is illuminated with radio frequency (RF) radiation, and a response RF signal is received from the sample. The measurement chamber and tapered septum support RF interrogation of the sample to produce an analyzable response signal.
The response RF signal is processed through an RF receiver chain that includes amplifying with a low noise amplifier (LNA), tuning, filtering, converting with an analog to digital converter (ADC) from analog form to digital form, and transforming the response RF signal from a time domain to a frequency domain. The resulting response RF signal is broken down into components by sequentially applying a singular spectrum analysis (SSA).
Selected components are analyzed using unsupervised Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN). A digital spectrum signature of the response RF signal is then compared against a target virus spectrum signature or against a target pathogen spectrum signature to support detection through the RF dielectric/rotational response characteristics. A breath-based receiving arrangement is also described, in which a breath sample is exhaled into a breath collection apparatus, pulled through a pin aperture through one wall of the measurement chamber under a vacuum condition in fluid communication, and exhausted with a vacuum through an aperture through another wall.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent methods that share a common core workflow: RF illumination and response signal processing to generate a digital spectrum signature, followed by SSA component decomposition and unsupervised DBSCAN analysis before comparison against target virus/pathogen spectrum signatures. The inventive features vary primarily in the chamber structure, receiver-processing chain, and breath-sampling arrangement details.
Tapered measurement chamber with tapered septum
Receiving a sample in a sample holder included in a measurement chamber comprising a tapered chamber with a tapered septum.
RF illumination and response RF signal acquisition
Illuminating the sample with a radio frequency (RF) radiation and receiving a response RF signal from the sample.
LNA-based receive chain with tuning, filtering, ADC, and time-to-frequency transformation
Amplifying the response RF signal with a low noise amplifier (LNA), tuning and filtering the response RF signal, converting it with analog to digital converter (ADC) from analog form to digital form, and transforming the response RF signal from a time domain to a frequency domain.
Sequential SSA component decomposition and unsupervised DBSCAN analysis
Breaking down the response RF signal into components by sequentially applying a singular spectrum analysis (SSA) and analyzing selected components with unsupervised Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN).
Digital spectrum signature comparison to target virus/pathogen spectrum signatures
Comparing a digital spectrum signature of the response RF signal against a target virus spectrum signature or against a target pathogen spectrum signature.
Breath sampling with pin aperture under vacuum through a measurement chamber
Exhaling a breath sample into a breath collection apparatus, pulling the breath sample through a pin aperture through one wall of a measurement chamber under a vacuum condition, and exhausting the sample with a vacuum through an aperture through another wall of the measurement chamber.
Transmitting and receiving antennas for RF radiation and response RF signal
Transmitting RF radiation toward the sample with a transmitting antenna and receiving a response RF signal from the sample with a receiving antenna.
Signal analysis using LNA-connected RF receiver and ADC
Analyzing the response RF signal with a signal analysis unit connected to the receiving antenna through a low noise amplifier (LNA), an RF receiver, and analog to digital converter (ADC), and comparing a spectrum signature of the response RF signal against a virus spectrum signature or against a pathogen spectrum signature.
Across the independent claims, the main claim coverage centers on producing a digital spectrum signature from an RF response signal using an RF illumination and receive-processing chain, with SSA decomposition followed by unsupervised DBSCAN clustering of selected components, and then comparing the signature to target virus and/or target pathogen spectrum signatures. The additional specificity in the breath-based independent method is the pin-aperture vacuum flow path through the tapered measurement chamber.
Stated Advantages
Improved sensitivity.
Reduced false negatives.
Point-of-care (POC) capability via handheld/compact embodiments.
Documented Applications
Detecting target viruses/pathogens/peptides using an RF and dielectric/rotational spectroscopy diagnostic system without antibody/genetic/protein reliance.
Breath-based sample detection by exhaling a breath sample into a breath collection apparatus and analyzing the resulting RF response signal.
Surface standoff sampling using an evacuated chamber [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Swab-based sampling using microfluidics [procedural detail omitted for safety].
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