Patent ID: 8470525
Filing Date: 2013-06-25
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting, classifying, and identifying a target analyte in air comprising the steps of: providing an air flow mechanism for continuously or intermittently delivering an air sample optionally containing a target analyte to a reaction zone wherein the reaction zone has a first end and a second end and a middle section disposed between said first end and said second end, wherein said reaction zone has at least one opening for receiving said air sample; providing a collection matrix having a surface within or in juxtaposition to said reaction zone; establishing a direction of air flow of said air sample from said opening of said reaction zone towards said surface of said collection matrix; introducing through said opening of said reaction zone either continuously or intermittently at least one freely mobile enzyme, and at least one freely mobile substrate to said air sample, wherein said freely mobile enzyme, and said freely mobile substrate are in a nebulized, aerosolized, gaseous, or aqueous form; providing for the entrainment of said freely mobile enzyme, and said freely mobile substrate with said air sample in said reaction zone for producing a biocatalytic chemical reaction of said air sample, said enzyme, said substrate, and optionally said target analyte, for forming a biocatalytic reaction product of a plurality of freely mobile biocatalytic optical reporters, without effecting adsorbtion of said enzyme onto a surface of said air sample or said optional target analyte; directing the air flow within said reaction zone with said plurality of said biocatalytic optical reporters in the direction of said surface of said collection matrix for contacting said surface of said collection matrix with at least one of said plurality of said biocatalytic optical reporters; providing at least one wave excitation source for providing at least one discrete wavelength of light; directing at least one of said discrete wavelength of light to said surface of said collection matrix having at least one of said plurality of said biocatalytic optical reporters; providing one or more detectors for reading (i) a signal of reflected, absorbed light or a light response from said one or more optical reporters located on said surface of said collection matrix, or (ii) an absence or suppression of a signal of reflected, absorbed light or absence or suppression of a light response from said one or more optical reporters located on said surface of said collection matrix; detecting (i) an increase or a decrease of the presence of said signal, or (ii) an absence of said signal; and providing at least one of a product rinse in an aerosol, nebulized or gaseous form to said surface of said collection matrix for removing said air sample, said enzyme, said substrate, said optional target analyte if any, and said biocatalytic optical reporters from said reaction zone and said collection matrix, and forming a spent product rinse comprising said air sample, said enzyme, said substrate, said optional target analyte if any, and said biocatalytic optical reporters for effecting regeneration of said collection matrix for reuse; evacuating said spent product rinse from said reaction zone and said collection matrix via at least one of said openings in said reaction zone for completing one cycle of detection; and optionally repeating one or more cycles of the above steps.