The Microbe ID System
(MID) imitates the human sense of smell. “Smells” are simply chemical
compounds that are carried in the air. Air enters the nasal’s mucus-lined
cavity where they interact with nerve receptors producing electrical signals
that travel to the brain. The Microbe ID is able to draw samples of air
through a system of sensors. For example, a chemical in a patient’s breath
might combine with sensor 1, another with sensor 45, and none with sensor
83, creating a “smell pattern.” The MID System CPU will read and compare
this pattern with the previously established smell patterns produced
by
pure microbe cultures.
The Microbe ID System will
eventually expand beyond the doctor’s office as a diagnostic tool and into the
home. The results of the home MID System’s diagnosis would be sent to the
doctor’s office for evaluation, to determine if a medical visit was needed
or if treatment could be prescribed over the phone. The MID’s ability to
associate a specific diagnosis with an appropriate medication would
significantly obstruct the further expansion of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria.