METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTIONING AND MONITORING THE PRESENCE, DEVELOPMENT AND PROPAGATION OF INFECTIOUS AGENTS, IN PARTICULAR BACTERIA AND VIRUSES

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for detecting and monitoring the presence, development and propagation of at least one infectious agent such as a bacterium or a virus, which is remarkable in that it includes the following steps: Subdivide the considered geographic area into area cells; Determine and identify in each area cell the points of presence, passing through or frequentation by human and/or animal beings likely to be infected by the infectious agent or by human and/or animal beings likely to be hosts to the infectious agent; and Install at each identified point in each area cell an autonomous device for detection of the infectious agent present in the environment surrounding the device by analysis and identification. Also disclosed is a device for executing the process.

Claims

1. A method for detecting and monitoring the presence, development and propagation of at least one infectious agent the method comprising: Subdivide the considered geographic area into area cells, Determine and identify in each area cell the points of presence, passing through or frequentation by human and/or animal beings likely to be infected by the infectious agent or by human and/or animal beings likely to be hosts of said infectious agent, Install at each identified point in each area cell an autonomous detection device (D) for detection of the infectious agent present in the surrounding environment of the device (D) by analysis and identification.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said environment is air or water.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method applies to an infectious agent which is indifferently: alone, suspended in the air, adsorbed on airborne solid particles, adsorbed to airborne chemical molecules, present in chemical molecules emitted into the air by human and/or animal beings, present in airborne liquid particles.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analysis and identification of the infectious agent are carried out by one or more of the following methods: RT-PCR method, Method of searching for specific antibodies to each virus and/or bacterium, Metagenomic method (Immunoassay), i.e. a method of searching for specific nucleic acid of each virus and/or bacterium.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising it a step of aspiration of the environment surrounding the autonomous device (D) towards the interior of the device (D).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the aspiration of the environment surrounding the autonomous detection device (D) takes place at fixed time intervals.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the aspiration of the environment surrounding the autonomous detection device (D) takes place at varying time intervals and depending on the frequency of visit of each point of installation of the device (D).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is applied to analyzing the airborne microdroplets at the identified points, emitted by human and/or animal beings likely to be infected by the infectious agent or by human and/or animal beings likely to be hosts of said infectious agent.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is applied to at least one of the following infectious agents, and the device (D) for carrying out this method is equipped for the detection of at least one of the following infectious agents: Ebola virus. virus responsible for COVID-19. virus responsible for any epidemic and/or pandemic. bacteria responsible for any epidemic and/or pandemic.

10. A device (D) for implementing the method according to claim 1, comprising: Environment extracting means, Means and reagents for extracting the infectious agent or the genome of the infectious agent or specific substances and proteins of the infectious agent extracted from the environment, Means for transmission by wireless link or by wire link of the results of extraction of the infectious agent.

11. The device (D) according to claim 10, further comprising means for analyzing and identifying the infectious agent extracted.

12. The device (D) according to claim 10, further comprising means for recording and storing the results of analysis and identification of viruses and/or bacteria.

13. The device (D) according to claim 10, wherein the extraction of the air is carried out by suction of the air surrounding the autonomous detection device (D) using an air pump, which suction of air is followed by filtration of the air.

14. The device (D) according to claim 13, wherein the filtration of the air is carried out by at least one of the following means: filtration of the sucked air on an absorbent membrane, filtration of the sucked air on a membrane absorbing the microdroplets present in the air, filtration of the sucked air on a repellent membrane, filtration of the sucked air on a membrane repelling microdroplets suspended in the sucked air and followed by collection in liquid form of these microdroplets.

15. The device (D) according to claim 14, wherein the membrane is soluble in the reagent(s) used to isolate or purify the infectious agent(s) or their genome or characteristic substances or proteins.

16. The device (D) according to claim 14, wherein the extraction of the microdroplets by air suction is followed by condensation and subsequent collection of the condensates.

17. The device (D) according to claim 16, wherein the condensation is carried out by means of cryogenic cooling of the sucked air, implemented by an electrical cooling module.

18. The device (D) according to claim 10, further comprising a sensor for detecting the passage or presence of human or animal beings, the sensor being arranged to trigger the suction when the passage is detected.

19. The device (D) according to claim 10, further comprising one or more disinfection means selected from the following list: physical means of heat generation; physical means of UV generation chemical reagents for disinfecting, between each analysis, the circuit for aspiration and identification of the infectious agent.

20. The device (D) according to claim 10, further comprising reagents that neutralize the disinfecting reagents between each analysis.

21. The device (D) according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of independent cartridges for the extraction of infectious agent, which cartridges are mounted in parallel with isolation means for isolating each cartridge upstream and downstream and with a single cartridge or a limited number of cartridges that can operate simultaneously.

22. The device (D) according to claim 21, wherein all the cartridges are connected, upstream and ahead of the isolation means of each cartridge, to the outlet of a single pump for the aspiration of the microdroplets or aerosols likely to contain infectious agents.

23. The device (D) according to claim 21, wherein all the cartridges are connected, downstream and after the isolation means of each cartridge, to the inlet of a single pump for the aspiration of the microdroplets or aerosols containing bacteria and/or viruses.

24. The device (D) according to claim 10, further comprising several independent circuits connected in parallel and each comprising means for extracting an infectious agent and means for analyzing and identifying the infectious agent, which circuits are connected in parallel with means for isolating each circuit upstream and downstream.

25. The device (D) according to claim 10, wherein the device is supplied with electrical power via one or more of the following means of supply: public power grid, autonomous battery, solar panel, wind turbine.

26. The device (D) according to claim 10, wherein the device is installed at a height in relation to the ground between 0 m (on the ground) and 2.5 m (maximum human height).

27. The device (D) according to claim 10, further comprising geolocation means.

28. The device (D) according to claim 11, further comprising an enclosure containing all or part of the means for analyzing and identifying the infectious agent extracted and closed by walls in which orifices are arranged, which orifices allow inside passage by suction of the surrounding air.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0081] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of an autonomous device for the detection and identification of viruses and bacteria according to the invention;

[0082] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the device of FIG. 1 installed in nature;

[0083] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the device of FIG. 1 installed in an urban environment.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0084] As shown in FIG. 1, the device, in the form of an autonomous terminal for the detection and identification of viruses and/or bacteria, is denoted D as a whole. It consists of a cubic-shaped housing 100 with slots 101 on the sidewalls. This 100 housing is mounted at the end of a pole 110.

[0085] Various means of suction, detection, etc. . . . of viruses and/or bacteria in device D are arranged in the housing 100. The suction means draw air surrounding the device D (arrows F) and in particular the droplets G emitted by the person P. Once viruses or bacteria detected, the device D transmits the information.

[0086] FIG. 2 illustrates a situation where device D is installed in a forest environment and sucks droplets G′ (or aerosols) emitted by animals A regularly or once detected.

[0087] FIG. 3 illustrates a situation where device D is installed in an urban environment, i.e., here on a sidewalk 200 near roads 300. The device D draws air that surrounds its location and thus the droplets G emitted by persons P walking nearby, or those present on inert supports nearby.

[0088] It is understandable that the devices described above and represented above were intended for disclosure rather than limitation. Of course, various adjustments, modifications and improvements can be made to the above examples, without going beyond the scope of the invention.