Super fast tuberculosis diagnosis and sensitivity testing method
US5922282A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2333/35
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Very rapid diagnosis and sensitivity testing can significantly stem the growing Tuberculosis epidemic in the United States, caused by susceptible AIDs patients and the occurrence of antibiotic resistant mycobacilli. Thus I have invented an automated computerized microscope, the ATBD unit, and slide module to diagnose and test patient's sputum by examining individual living mycobacteria from the patient sample with no culturing required. The diagnosis and sensitivity testing is accomplished in minutes or hours, instead of the current weeks to months. The system inserts a plasmid, specific for M. tuberculosis, carrying the luciferase gene into the mycobacteria by improved electroporesis on the slide. Luminescence indicates tuberculosis. Then the mycobacteria are bathed in antibiotics, and if the luminescence is not turned off, the patient's bacteria are resistant. A phage carrying the luciferase gene can also be used to infect the M.TB. Finally, the invention can be applied to any mycobacteriological infection to do diagnosis sensitivity testing even when the species is not known.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.