System and method for the analysis of bodily fluids

Abstract

A system for the rapid characterization of multi-analyte fluids, in one embodiment, includes a light source, a sensor array, and a detector. The sensor array is formed from a supporting member into which a plurality of cavities may be formed. A series of chemically sensitive particles are, in one embodiment positioned within the cavities. The particles may be configured to produce a signal when a receptor coupled to the particle interacts with the analyte. Using pattern recognition techniques, the analytes within a multi-analyte fluid may be characterized.

1 - 394 . (canceled)  
     
     
         395 . A system for detecting a nucleic acid analyte in a fluid comprising: 
 a light source;    a sensor array, the sensor array comprising a supporting member comprising at least one cavity formed within the supporting member;    a particle, the particle positioned within the cavity, wherein the particle is configured to produce a signal when the particle interacts with the nucleic acid analyte during use;    a detector, the detector being configured to detect the signal produced by the interaction of the nucleic acid analyte with the particle during use;    wherein the light source and detector are positioned such that light passes from the light source, to the particle, and onto the detector during use.    
     
     
         396 - 459 . (canceled)  
     
     
         460 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises a DNA oligomer coupled to a polymeric support, and wherein the nucleic acid analyte comprises DNA, and wherein the DNA oligomer has a sequence that is complementary to a DNA sequence of the nucleic acid analyte.  
     
     
         461 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises an RNA oligomer coupled to a polymeric support, and wherein the nucleic acid analyte comprises DNA, and wherein the RNA oligomer has a sequence that is complementary to a DNA sequence of the nucleic acid analyte.  
     
     
         462 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises a DNA oligomer coupled to a polymeric support, and wherein the nucleic acid analyte comprises RNA, and wherein the DNA oligomer has a sequence that is complementary to an RNA sequence of the nucleic acid analyte.  
     
     
         463 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises a RNA oligomer coupled to a polymeric support, and wherein the nucleic acid analyte comprises RNA, and wherein the RNA oligomer has a sequence that is complementary to an RNA sequence of the nucleic acid analyte.  
     
     
         464 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises a DNA-binding molecule coupled to a polymeric support.  
     
     
         465 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises a protein coupled to a polymeric support.  
     
     
         466 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises an enzyme coupled to a polymeric support.  
     
     
         467 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises a DNA or RNA oligomer coupled to a polymeric support, the DNA or RNA oligomer having a sequence that is complementary to the sequence of the nucleic acid analyte, wherein the DNA or RNA oligomer and the nucleic acid analyte form a matched or a mismatched duplex.  
     
     
         468 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein a label is coupled to the analyte and to the particle.  
     
     
         469 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises a nucleic acid intercalator coupled to a polymeric resin.  
     
     
         470 . The system of  claim 469 , wherein the intercalator is hydroxylamine, potassium permanganate, tetraethyl ammonium acetate, osmium tetroxide, ethidium bromide, POTO, or Texas Red.  
     
     
         471 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises a receptor molecule coupled to a polymeric resin.  
     
     
         472 . The system of  claim 471 , wherein the polymeric resin comprises polystyrene-polyethylene glycol-divinyl benzene.  
     
     
         473 . The system of  claim 471 , wherein the particles further comprises a first indicator and a second indicator, the first and second indicators being coupled to the receptor, wherein the interaction of the receptor with the analyte causes the first and second indicators to interact such that the signal is produced.  
     
     
         474 . The system of  claim 471 , wherein the particles further comprises an indicator, wherein the indicator is associated with the receptor such that in the presence of the analyte the indicator is displaced from the receptor to produce the signal.  
     
     
         475 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of particles positioned within a plurality of cavities, and wherein the system is configured to substantially simultaneously detect a plurality of analytes in the fluid.  
     
     
         476 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of particles positioned within the cavity.  
     
     
         477 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         478 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the light source comprises a red light source, a green light source and a blue light source.  
     
     
         479 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the detector is configured to detect independently the absorbance of red light by the particle, and wherein the detector is configured to detect the absorbance of green light by the particle, and wherein the detector is configured to detect the absorbance of blue light by the particle.  
     
     
         480 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the light source comprises a white light source.  
     
     
         481 . The system of  claim 395 , further comprising a cover layer, wherein the cover layer is removable.  
     
     
         482 . The system of  claim 395 , further comprising a cover layer positioned at a fixed distance above the supporting member at a height to substantially inhibit dislodgement of a particle in a cavity during use.  
     
     
         483 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the cavity is configured to allow fluid to pass through the supporting member during use.  
     
     
         484 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the cavity is configured to allow fluid to pass through the supporting member during use, and wherein a width of a bottom portion of the cavity is substantially less than a width of a top portion of the cavity, and wherein the width of the bottom portion of the cavity is substantially less than a width of the particle.  
     
     
         485 . The system of  claim 395 , further comprising channels in the supporting member, wherein the channels are configured to allow the fluid to flow through the channels into and away from the cavity.  
     
     
         486 . The system of  claim 395 , further comprises a cover layer positioned over the cavity, wherein the cover layer is configured to inhibit dislodgment of the particle during use, and wherein the cover layer is positioned such that a channel is formed between an upper surface of the supporting member and the cover layer such that the fluid passes through the channel during use.  
     
     
         487 . The system of  claim 395 , further comprising a sensing cavity formed on a bottom surface of the sensor array.  
     
     
         488 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the supporting member comprises a plastic material.  
     
     
         489 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the supporting member comprises a silicon wafer.  
     
     
         490 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the supporting member comprises a dry film photoresist material.  
     
     
         491 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the supporting member comprises a plurality of layers of a dry film photoresist material.  
     
     
         492 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein an inner surface of the cavity is coated with a reflective material.  
     
     
         493 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the detector comprises a charge-coupled device.  
     
     
         494 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the detector comprises a semiconductor based photodetector, and wherein the detector is coupled to the sensor array.  
     
     
         495 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the detector comprises an ultraviolet detector.  
     
     
         496 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the detector comprises a fluorescence detector.  
     
     
         497 . The system of  claim 395 , further comprising a fluid delivery system coupled to the supporting member.  
     
     
         498 . The system of  claim 395 , further comprising a fluid delivery system coupled to the supporting member, wherein the fluid delivery system is configured to introduce samples into the sensor array.  
     
     
         499 . The system of  claim 395  further comprising: 
 a fluid delivery system coupled to the supporting member; and    a filter coupled to the fluid delivery system.    
     
     
         500 . The system of  claim 395 , further comprising a filter, wherein the system is configured such that the fluid passes through a filter prior to passing over the sensor array.  
     
     
         501 . The system of  claim 395 , further comprising a reagent reservoir, wherein the system is configured such that fluid passes through a reagent reservoir prior to passing over the sensor array.  
     
     
         502 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle ranges from about 0.05 microns to about 500 microns.  
     
     
         503 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein a volume of the particle changes when contacted with the fluid.  
     
     
         504 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the signal is a spectroscopic change, and wherein the detector is configured to measure the intensity of the spectroscopic change.  
     
     
         505 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the sensor array further comprises a vacuum chamber coupled to a conduit and the sensor array, and wherein the chamber is configured to provide a pulling force on the fluid in the sensor array.  
     
     
         506 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the fluid is blood.  
     
     
         507 . The system of  claim 395 , wherein the particle comprises a polymeric resin, a biopolymer coupled to the polymeric resin, and wherein the biopolymer undergoes a chemical reaction in the presence of the analyte to produce a signal.