Apparatus and Methods for Using Biological Material to Discriminate an Agent

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for using biological material to discriminate an agent. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of providing at least one cell, exposing at least one cell to an agent, measuring the response of the cell to the agent in terms of a physical quantity related to at least one of the cellular physiological activities of the cell, and identifying the agent from the measured response. The method further includes the step of quantifying the agent from the measured response.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for using biological material to discriminate an agent, comprising:
 a. means for constructing a matrix of biological signatures having a plurality of elements, wherein each element represents a biological signature of one of a plurality of cells in response to an agent, each biological signature being one of a plurality of measurable quantities, and wherein the matrix has a dimension of N×M, N being the total number of the plurality of cells and M being the total number of the plurality of measurable quantities;   b. means for exposing at least one of the plurality of cells to an agent;   c. means for measuring the measurable quantities of the at least one of the plurality of cells responsive to the agent;   d. means for comparing the measured measurable quantities of the at least one of the plurality of cells responsive to the agent with the corresponding biological signatures of the matrix of biological signatures; and   e. means for identifying the agent from the comparison.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the exposing means comprises a chamber for receiving the at least one of the plurality of cells. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the measuring means comprises a sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the comparing means comprises a controller. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising means for calibrating the matrix of biological signatures from a plurality of chemical agents. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising means for storing the measured measurable quantities. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the storing means comprises a memory device. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising means for quantifying an agent from the comparison. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the agent comprises a chemical agent. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the agent comprises a biological agent. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus for using biological material to discriminate an agent, comprising:
 a. means for providing at least one cell;   b. means for exposing at least one cell to an agent;   c. means for measuring the response of the cell to the agent in terms of a physical quantity related to at least one of the cellular physiological activities of the cell; and   d. means for identifying the agent from the measured response.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the exposing means comprises a chamber for receiving the at least one cell. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the measuring means comprises a sensor. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the identifying means comprises a controller. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising means for quantifying the agent from the measured response. 
     
     
         33 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus for using biological material to discriminate an agent, comprising:
 a. means for providing at least one cell;   b. means for exposing at least one cell to an agent;   c. means for measuring the response of the cell to the agent, where the response of the cell to the agent is characterized by a reaction time, at a time period shorter than the reaction time; and   d. means for identifying the agent from the measured response.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the exposing means comprises a chamber for receiving the at least one cell. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the measuring means comprises a sensor. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the identifying means comprises a controller. 
     
     
         41 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus for using biological material to discriminate an agent, comprising:
 a. means for providing a plurality of cells in a conditioned environment, each cell having multiple metabolic pathways for metabolic events;   b. means for simultaneously monitoring of multiple metabolic pathways for each of the plurality of cells, wherein each metabolic pathway may be disturbed in the presence of an agent;   c. means for detecting the changes of metabolic events for each of the plurality of cells at a time when an agent invades the conditioned environment; and   d. means for identifying the agent from the detected changes of metabolic events for each of the plurality of cells within seconds from the time when the agent invades the conditioned environment.   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the providing means comprises at least one chamber for receiving the plurality of cells in the conditioned environment. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the monitoring means comprises a sensor. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the identifying means comprises a controller. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising means for quantifying the agent from the measured response. 
     
     
         52 . An apparatus for using biological material to discriminate an agent, comprising:
 a. a plurality of cells, each cell having multiple metabolic pathways for metabolic events;   b. a structure for receiving the plurality of cells, the structure having a plurality of sensing volumes, each sensing volume being in a conditioned environment capable of receiving at least one cell;   c. an array of sensors positioned underneath the structure for simultaneously monitoring of multiple metabolic pathways for each of the plurality of cells, wherein each metabolic pathway may be disturbed in the presence of an agent; and   d. a controller coupled to each sensor of the array of the sensors, wherein when an agent invades the conditioned environment, the array of the sensors detects the changes of metabolic events for at least one of the cells and generates at least one signal in response, and wherein the controller receives the signal from the array of the sensors and identifies the agent from the signal.   
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the controller further quantifies the agent from the signal. 
     
     
         54 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . An apparatus for using biological material to discriminate an agent, comprising:
 a. means for providing a plurality of cells in a conditioned environment, each cell having multiple intracellular and extracellular signalling pathways for intracellular and extracellular signalling events;   b. means for simultaneously monitoring of multiple intracellular and extracellular signalling pathways for each of the plurality of cells, wherein each intracellular and extracellular signalling pathway may be disturbed in the presence of an agent;   c. means for detecting the changes of intracellular and extracellular signalling events for each of the plurality of cells at a time when an agent invades the conditioned environment; and   d. means for identifying the agent from the detected changes of intracellular and extracellular signalling events for each of the plurality of cells within seconds from the time when the agent invades the conditioned environment.   
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the providing means comprises at least one chamber for receiving the plurality of cells in the conditioned environment. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the monitoring means comprises a sensor. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the identifying means comprises a controller. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , further comprising means for quantifying the agent from the measured response. 
     
     
         62 . An apparatus for using biological material to discriminate an agent, comprising:
 a. a plurality of cells, each cell having multiple intracellular and extracellular signalling pathways for intracellular and extracellular signalling events;   b. a structure for receiving the plurality of cells, the structure having a plurality of sensing volumes, each sensing volume being in a conditioned environment capable of receiving at least one cell;   c. an array of sensors positioned underneath the structure for simultaneously monitoring of multiple intracellular and extracellular signalling pathways for each of the plurality of cells, wherein each intracellular and extracellular signalling pathway may be disturbed in the presence of an agent; and   d. a controller coupled to each sensor of the array of the sensors, wherein when an agent invades the conditioned environment, the array of the sensors detects the changes of intracellular and extracellular signalling events for at least one of the cells and generates at least one signal in response, and wherein the controller receives the signal from the array of the sensors and identifies the agent from the signal.   
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , further comprising means for quantifying the agent from the measured response.