HAND HELD BACTERIA
SENSOR
PRESENTED BY: MIKE BALLO
ADDITIONAL RESEARCHER: SHAWN STRONG
ADVISORS: MARCIA SILVA, TOM HANSEN, AND RUDI
STRICKLER
THE PROBLEM
The current standard waterborne bacteria detection rate is
slow and costly. For example, for E. coli detection, a
sample must be shipped to a lab, cultivated, then
analyzed. This process can take 24-48 hours according to
the EPA [1].
This provides a risk to the general population where bacteria
could’ve contaminated a product or public access area
before being detected.
THE SOLUTION
Develop a hand-held bacteria sensor that utilizes digital inline holographic
microscopy (DIHM) techniques to be able to detect and quantify the amount of
E.coli or other pathogens on site.
1.
2.
The handheld sensor, which is the housing for the electronics. This is where the user
introduces the water sample, which is pumped through a channel. A sensor takes
photos of the water sample then are sent to the server via wifi.
The server is an independent entity from the handheld sensor, and is the source of the
bacteria detection operations. The server receives the images, processes them, and
returns the result to the user.
THE FUNCTIONALITY
TESTING
Old, Incorrect, Non-linear
Relationship
Linear Relationship Developed
January 2017
POTENTIAL MARKETS
Public Beaches/Parks:
Health Departments:
Requires the sensor to be quick
Requires the sensor to be accurate (EPA regulation for
drinking water is 1 E coli particle/gallon).
Food Industry:
Requires the sensor to have multiple E. coli
processing possibilities
Developing Nations:
Requires the sensor to be inexpensive
REFERENCES
[1] Olstadt J, Schauer J J, Standridge J and Kluender S 2007 A comparison of ten USEPA approved total
coliform/E. coli tests Journal of Water and Health 5 267-82