PORTABLE, LOW POWER INSTRUMENT FOR THE OPTOELECTRONIC DETECTION OF PATHOGENS USING ISOTHERMAL NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION PROTOCOLS

摘要

This invention relates to a portable, low power apparatus and method for detecting a pathogen of interest in a biological sample obtained from a patient. The apparatus includes a heated pathogen isothermal amplification and diagnostic cell for conducting a loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique. The heated pathogen isothermal amplification and diagnostic cell can include one or more chambers having a corresponding low power heating element connected thereto for heating a reaction mixture contained in the chamber to a desired temperature. Further, the apparatus can include an ultraviolet excitation source, an optical output filter, a photon sensing detector, and an electrical signal detection and amplification circuit to transmit and display output to a wireless device.

主权项

1. A portable, low power apparatus for detecting a pathogen of interest in a biological sample, comprising:
a heated pathogen isothermal amplification and diagnostic cell comprising one or more chambers structured to accommodate a reaction mixture and a heating element, the reaction mixture comprising the biological sample, a DNA primer, a reaction enzyme, and a DNA binding fluorescent dye, wherein the heating element heats the reaction mixture to a temperature sufficient to bind the pathogen of interest and DNA binding fluorescent dye to form a fluorescent dye/pathogenic DNA combination; an excitation source to excite the fluorescent dye/pathogenic DNA combination and to produce a fluorescence light output; an optical output filter operable to present the fluorescence light output in a predetermined bandwidth of wavelength; a photon sensing detector to capture the fluorescence light output and convert said fluorescent light output to an electrical signal; and an electrical signal detection and amplification circuit to transmit and display a measurement of the fluorescence light output to a wireless device.