Apparatus for disease detection

Abstract

Among others, the present invention provides apparatus for detecting a disease, comprising a system delivery biological subject and a probing and detecting device, wherein the probing and detecting device includes a first micro-device and a first substrate supporting the first micro-device, the first micro-device contacts a biologic material to be detected and is capable of measuring at the microscopic level an electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, thermal, optical, acoustical, biological, chemical, physical, or mechanical property of the biologic material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for interacting with a biological subject, comprising a micro-device for sending a signal to the biological subject and optionally receiving a response to the signal from the biological subject. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the interaction with the biological subject is probing, detecting, communicating with, treating, or modifying with an electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, thermal, optical, acoustical, biological, chemical, electro-mechanical, electro-chemical, electro-chemical-mechanical, bio-chemical, bio-physical, bio-physical-chemical, physical-chemical, bio-mechanical, bio-electro-mechanical, bio-electro-chemical, bio-electro-chemical-mechanical, physical, or mechanical signal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises multiple surfaces coated with one or more elements, and a control system for releasing the one or more elements. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the control system causes release of the elements from the device surface via thermal energy, optical energy, acoustic energy, electrical energy, electro-magnetic energy, magnetic energy, radiation energy, chemical energy, or mechanical energy in a controlled manner. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the energy is in the pulsed form at a desired frequency. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a first component for storing or releasing one or more elements onto the surface of the cell or into the cell; and a second component for controlling the release of the one or more elements. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second unit is a circuitry for controlling the release of the elements. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the element is a biological component, a chemical compound, a bio-physical component, a bio-chemical component, Ca, C, Cl, Co, Cu, H, I, Fe, Mg, Mn, N, O, P, F, K, Na, S, Zn, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is in the form of one or more released elements and is optionally carried in a liquid solution, gas, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is either pulsed or constant, or at a frequency ranging from about 1×10 −4  Hz to about 100 MHz. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises the oscillation of a biological component, a chemical compound, a bio-physical component, a bio-chemical component, Ca, C, Cl, Co, Cu, H, I, Fe, Mg, Mn, N, O, P, F, K, Na, S, Zn, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the signal comprises the oscillation of Ca, C, Cl, Co, Cu, H, I, Fe, Mg, Mn, N, O, P, F, K, Na, S, Zn, or a combination thereof at an oscillation frequency ranging from about 1×10 −4  Hz to about 100 Hz; or comprises the oscillation of Ca, C, Cl, Co, Cu, H, I, Fe, Mg, Mn, N, O, P, F, K, Na, S, Zn, or a combination thereof at an oscillation concentration ranging from about 1.0 nmol/L to about 10.0 mmol/L. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the response from the biological subject comprises a chemical compound, a biological component, a bio-chemical component, an element, an action potential, a resting potential, a change in resting potential, a change in action potential, a change in ion gradient, a change in ion concentration, a change in local ion concentration, a change in chemical component concentration, a change in biological component, a change in bio-chemical component, a change in an element, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the response from the biological subject is at an oscillating frequency. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device is coated with a biologically compatible film. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises components for generating a signal to be sent to the biological subject, receiving a response to the signal from the biological subject, analyzing the response, processing the response, and interfacing between the device and the biological subject. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signal to be sent to the biological subject is in the form of oscillating element, ion, compound, chemical compound, bio-chemical component, or biological component density outside or inside cell membrane, and a response to the signal from the cell is in the form of oscillating element, a compound, or a biological component density outside or inside cell membrane, a bio-chemical component, an element, an action potential, a resting potential, a change in resting potential, a change in action potential, a change in ion gradient, a change in ion concentration, a change in local ion concentration, a change in chemical component concentration, a change in biological component, a change in bio-chemical component, a change in an element, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is able to move the biological subject and optionally comprises a flexible supporting structure to extend or contract the probe to move the biological subject. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe in the apparatus is connected to the controlling circuit. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the biological subject is a DNA, telomere of DNA, RNA, cell, substructure, virus, chromosome, or protein. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a unit for delivering the biological subject, a pre-processing unit, a channel, a detection unit, a data storage unit, a data analysis unit, a central control unit, a biological sample recirculation unit, and a waste disposal unit. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is integrated on a single device or assembled on a board.