System for detecting and removing biological analytes in fluids
A system is disclosed that comprises a detector module adapted to detect the presence of one or more biological analytes in a fluid. The module includes one or more pairs of microcantilever sensors, where each pair is comprised of a reference sensor and a detection sensor. The detection sensor cantilever is coated with a polymerized receptor that has an affinity with a biological analyte in the fluid. A capture manifold is also provided to receive the fluid downstream of the detector module and comprising the same polymerized receptor such that the biological analytes are removed from the fluid as it courses through the manifold.
1. A fluid cleaning system comprising:
a detector module for detecting the presence of one or more biological contaminants in a fluid, said detector module comprising:
a detector module housing having a fluid outlet;
one or more pairs of microcantilever sensors enclosed within said detector module housing, each said pair comprising a reference microcantilever sensor and a detection microcantilever sensor comprising a polymerized receptor, said polymerized receptor having an affinity with a biological contaminant of said one or more biological contaminants, said detection sensor configured to provide a detection signal in the presence of said one or more biological contaminants; and
a contaminant capture manifold enclosed within a contaminant capture housing having an inlet in fluid communication with, and downstream of said detector module outlet and comprising one or more stages, each said stage comprising a contaminant capture element each said contaminant capture element comprising one of a spiral ramp comprising said polymerized receptor, a cylindrical wall coated with said polymerized receptor, and a plurality of microbeads comprised of said polymerized receptor.
2. The fluid cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein said detector module further comprises a radio frequency module for communicating said detection signal generated by said detector module.
3. The fluid cleaning system of claim 2 , wherein said polymerized receptor has an affinity for at least one of Hormoconis resinae, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillum, Candida keroseneae, Acetobacter, Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli, Heliobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium, Salmonella enterica, Shigella sonnei , Adenovirus, Caliciviruses, Enterovirus , and Hepatitis A.
4. The fluid cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein said one or more biological contaminants is at least one of Hormoconis resinae, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillum, Candida keroseneae, Acetobacter, Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli, Heliobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium, Salmonella enterica, Shigella sonnei , Adenovirus, Caliciviruses, Enterovirus , and Hepatitis A.
5. The fluid cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein said fluid is one of fuel, and water.
6. The fluid cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein said fluid is fuel, and wherein one or more of said polymerized receptors have an affinity with at least one of Hormoconis resinae, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillum, Candida keroseneae , and Acetobacter.
7. The fluid cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a computer-based handheld device responsive to said detection signal.
8. The fluid cleaning system of claim 7 , wherein said fluid is one of water, and fuel.
9. The fluid cleaning system of claim 8 , wherein said polymerized receptor has an affinity for at least one of Hormoconis resinae, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillum, Candida keroseneae, Acetobacter, Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli, Heliobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium, Salmonella enterica, Shigella sonnei , Adenovirus, Caliciviruses, Enterovirus , and Hepatitis A.
10. The fluid cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein said one or more pairs of microcantilever sensors comprises one or more arrays comprised of a plurality of pairs of microcantilever sensors, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of said detection microcantilever sensors to detect one of said one or more biological contaminants.
11. The fluid cleaning system of claim 10 , wherein said polymerized receptor has an affinity for at least one of Hormoconis resinae, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillum, Candida keroseneae, Acetobacter, Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli, Heliobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium, Salmonella enterica, Shigella sonnei , Adenovirus, Caliciviruses, Enterovirus , and Hepatitis A.
12. The fluid cleaning system of claim 11 , wherein said contaminant capture manifold comprises a contaminant capture element for each of said one or more arrays, each said contaminate capture element comprising said polymerized receptor.
13. A system for removing biological contaminants from a fluid comprising:
one or more pairs of microelectromechanical sensors enclosed in a housing, each said pair comprised of one reference sensor and one detection sensor, said detection sensor comprising a receptor selected from a plurality of receptors, said receptor having an affinity for a biological contaminant in said fluid; and
one or more capture elements enclosed in a manifold corresponding to said one or more pairs of sensors, said manifold being in downstream fluid communication with said said housing, each said capture element comprising one of a spiral ramp comprising said receptor, a cylindrical wall coaled with said receptor, and a plurality of microbeads comprised of said receptor.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said receptor has an affinity with at least one of Hormoconis resinae, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillum, Candida keroseneae, Acetobacter, Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli, Heliobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium, Salmonella enterica, Shigella sonnei , Adenovirus, Caliciviruses, Enterovirus , and Hepatitis A.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said one or more capture elements are disposable cartridges.
16. A system for detecting biological analytes in fluid comprising:
a detector module comprised of:
an array of microelectromechanical sensors comprised of at least one reference sensor and at least one detection sensor, said at least one detection sensor having a receptor selected from a plurality of receptors, said receptor having an affinity for a biological analyte in said fluid and configured to generate a detection signal representing detection of said biological analyte; and
a computer-based microprocessor responsive to said detection signal that is configured with a radio frequency communications module responsive to said microprocessor for transmitting said detection signal; and
a remote computer-based communications device responsive to said radio frequency communications module.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said biological analyte is at least one of a bacterium, a virus, an enzyme and a protein.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein said detector module is disposed in one of a handheld probe and a fluid coupler.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein said biological analyte is at least one of a bacterium, a virus, an enzyme and a protein.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein said biological analyte is at least one of a bacterium and a virus, and wherein system further comprises one or more capture elements for removing said bacteria or said virus from said fluid, said one or more capture elements comprising said receptor.
21. The system of claim 16 , wherein said array is one or more arrays comprised of a plurality of pairs of microcantilever sensors, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of said detection microcantilever sensors to detect one of said one or more of said biological analytes.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein said one or more biological analytes comprises at least one of a bacteria, a virus, an enzyme and a protein.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein said detector module is disposed in one of a handheld probe and a fluid coupler.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein said biological analyte is at least one of a bacterium and a virus, and wherein system further comprises one or more capture elements for removing said biological analyte from said fluid, said one or more capture elements comprising said receptor.