High-Accuracy Statistical Detection and Discernment of Pathogens, Substances, and Biomarkers Using Binary Classifiers Operating on Processed Measurements from Groups of Less-Accurate Sensors

Abstract

This invention provides novel statistical processing approaches on measurements from diverse or varied sensors to collectively implement high-accuracy testing for detections and/or discernments of pathogens, substances, and/or biomarkers. For example, a group of inexpensive sensors can approach, match, or exceed the performance of existing high-accuracy methods. In an implementation, measurements are obtained from disposable optical and/or bioFET sensors arrayed on a substrate using printing techniques. In an example application, the invention operates together with or within a platform technology comprising a rich ability to flexibly perform, create, deploy, maintain, and update a range of panels, assay, array, and/or test sequences for a wide range of substances and pathogens using a wide range and large number of collocated highly-selective sensors and supplemental sensors (such as temperature, pH, selective ions, etc.). The invention addresses many problematic aspects of field testing for food safety, water safety, epidemic outbreaks, routine diagnosis, and disease monitoring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A statistical processing system for processing measurements from a group of sensors to collectively implement high-accuracy detections of pathogens, substances, and/or biomarkers, the system comprising:
 at least one measurement interface for receiving measurements from a first plurality of sensors;   at least one computational process for acting on a second plurality of measurements from the first plurality of sensors to produce at last first processed measurement data;   at least one classifier acting on the at last first processed measurement data, the classifying producing an outcome; and   at least one output interface for providing an output responsive to the second plurality of measurements,   wherein the statistical processing system is configured to provide high-accuracy statistical detection from the second plurality of less-accurate sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The statistical processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one output interface provides the outcome of the at least one classifier as an output. 
     
     
         3 . The statistical processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one classifier is comprised by the computational process. 
     
     
         4 . The statistical processing system of  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of classifiers, each providing an associated outcome, wherein each outcome is provided by the at least one output interface. 
     
     
         5 . The statistical processing system of  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of classifiers, each providing an associated outcome, wherein at least some of the outcomes are presented to at least one logical operation, the at least one logical operation providing a logical result. 
     
     
         6 . The statistical processing system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one output interface provides the logical result of the at least one logical operation as an output. 
     
     
         7 . The statistical processing system of  claim 1 , the system further configured to acquire measurement data from a removable medium apparatus for providing replaceable sensing function to an external base unit, the system further comprising a plurality of isolated selective sensors on the surface of a substrate, the isolated selective sensors each comprising at least one layer of a selective detection material, wherein each sensor is configured to provide a variation in a detectable signal responsive to a target in a fluid analyte provided to the sensor, and wherein the removable medium apparatus further comprises a readable medium attached to the substrate and an alignment arrangement for aligning the substrate into a receiving arrangement within the base unit. 
     
     
         8 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the isolated sensors each comprise at least one layer of a semiconducting material, wherein the semiconducting material and the selective detection material form at least a portion of each selective sensor, and wherein each selective sensor is configured to provide a variation in an electrical signal responsive to the target agent. 
     
     
         9 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the sensors respond to a different target. 
     
     
         10 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the selective sensors comprises a different selective detection material from each other, and wherein the different selective detection materials respond to the same target. 
     
     
         11 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the selective sensors are of the same type. 
     
     
         12 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the selective sensors are of different types. 
     
     
         13 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the removable medium apparatus comprises at least one electrical sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the removable medium apparatus comprises at least one optical sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the computational process is also presented with measurements from at least one temperature sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the computational process is also presented with measurements from at least one ion sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the target comprises a biomarker. 
     
     
         18 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the target comprises a chemical toxin. 
     
     
         19 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the selective sensor materials comprises an antibody. 
     
     
         20 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , further comprising a fluidic interface arranged for providing fluid transfer for the receiving arrangement within the base unit. 
     
     
         21 . The statistical processing system of  claim 7 , wherein the substrate is attached to a second substrate so that the resulting arrangement is configured to comprise a fluid channel.