Portable device and system for rapid detection of a bacterial cell in fluid samples
Inventors
SOHRABI, Amirreza • SHAIBANI, Parmiss Mojir
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12517086-B2
Publication Date
2026-01-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for rapid analysis of a fluid sample for detection of at least one viable microbial organism therein. The system comprises a cartridge that is demountably engageable with a reader component. The cartridge has a first well receiving a fluid sample, with a second well and third well imbedded under portions of the first well. The second well has a sensor configured to send a reference signal to the reader component, while the third well has a sensor configured to send a sample signal to the reader component. When in use, the cartridge is engaged with the reader component and a fluid sample is placed into the first well. The reader component controllably illuminates the third well and comprises a detector that detects differences in photocurrent and/or spectra between the reference signal and the sample signal from the illuminated third well.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system for rapid analysis of a fluid sample for detection of at least one viable microbial organism therein. A reader component includes a housing with an illumination supply and circuitry for controlling the illumination supply, and includes a potentiostat and detector. The reader component detects differences in photocurrent outputs between a reference source and a sample source, and is configured for electronic communication with a microprocessor for modulation of circuitry for controlling the illumination supply and for modulation of the potentiostat.
The system further includes at least one cartridge with a casing having a tab extending outward from a side surface, configured for demountable engagement with one or more receptacles. The cartridge includes a first well for receiving the fluid sample, and second and third wells embedded in the casing beneath portions of the first well. The second well includes a screen printed electrode housing with a counter electrode and a reference electrode having terminal ends exposed at the tab, and the third well includes a light-addressable potentiometric sensor with a working electrode terminal end exposed at the tab and an upper surface having a layer of functionalized pH-sensitive hydrogel nanofibers.
The cartridge casing bottom surface includes a bore extending upward to about a bottom surface of the third well, configured for communication with the port of the reader component. The screen printed electrode communicates a reference signal to the detector and the light-addressable potentiometric sensor communicates a sample signal to the detector. The document describes functionalized pH-sensitive hydrogel nanofibers on NF-LAPS sensing wells to modulate a photocurrent response for bacterial viability detection.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 covers a portable rapid analysis system that compares reference and sample photocurrent outputs using a potentiostat and detector, in which reader-controlled illumination and microprocessor modulation drive measurements on a disposable cartridge containing wells with screen-printed reference/counter electrodes and a light-addressable potentiometric sensor with functionalized pH-sensitive hydrogel nanofibers. The independent claim includes inventive features spanning the reader component, cartridge format and engagement, and signal communication paths to the detector.
Rapid analysis system with reader photodetector comparison
A reader component comprising a housing with an illumination supply in communication with a port, circuitry for controlling the illumination supply, a potentiostat, circuitry interconnecting the potentiostat with one or more receptacles, and a detector configured for detecting one or more differences in photocurrent outputs between a reference source and a sample source, with electronic communication with a microprocessor for modulation of circuitry controlling the illumination supply and modulation of the potentiostat.
Disposable cartridge with demountable engagement and separated sensing wells
At least one cartridge comprising a casing with a tab extending outward from a side surface, configured for demountable engagement with the one or more receptacles; a first well for receiving a fluid sample; a second well with a screen printed electrode housing including a counter electrode and a reference electrode with terminal ends exposed at the tab; and a third well with a light-addressable potentiometric sensor including a layer of functionalized pH-sensitive hydrogel nanofibers, with a working electrode terminal end exposed at the tab.
Bore-to-port communication and reference/sample signal routing
A bottom surface of the casing has a bore extending upward to about a bottom surface of the third well configured for communication with the port; wherein the screen printed electrode is configured to communicate a reference signal to the detector and the light-addressable potentiometric sensor is configured to communicate a sample signal to the detector.
The claims cover a rapid viable-microbial detection architecture in which a reader component controls illumination and potentiostat operation via a microprocessor, and a detector measures photocurrent output differences between reference and sample. The disposable cartridge provides demountable engagement and signal routing through a bore-to-port pathway, using screen-printed counter/reference electrodes and an NF-LAPS sensor bearing functionalized pH-sensitive hydrogel nanofibers.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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