Aerosol Sample Collection Device for Non-Invasive Pathogen Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sample collection and testing methods for viruses or pathogens are costly, require laboratory processing, and are uncomfortable for users, often leading to contamination and limited accessibility, especially for laypeople, as they involve nasopharyngeal or nasal swabs and multiple steps.
Innovation Solution
An integrated sample collection and testing device that allows for aerosol sampling and testing in a single unit, eliminating the need for nasopharyngeal swabs and reducing contamination risks, enabling rapid, efficient, and cost-effective testing by laypeople without prior training.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If nasopharyngeal or nasal swabs are used for sample collection, then sample collection accuracy is improved, but user comfort deteriorates and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inserting a swab into the nasal passage (invasive method), the patent inverts the approach by having the user exhale aerosol into a collection device (non-invasive method). This reverses the sampling direction from internal tissue contact to external breath capture, eliminating discomfort while maintaining diagnostic capability through detection of viral particles in respiratory aerosol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical swabbing action (physical contact with nasal mucosa) with an aerosol capture mechanism. The collection device uses airflow dynamics and filtration media to trap viral particles from exhaled breath, substituting a gentle pneumatic system for the harsh mechanical insertion of swabs.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate devices and steps are used for sample collection and testing, then sample collection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sample collection device with the testing device into a single integrated unit. The collection device includes the aerosol capture chamber, filtration media, and testing components all in one structure, eliminating the need for separate swab collection, sample transfer, and testing steps. This consolidation maintains diagnostic accuracy while dramatically simplifying the user workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple functions within a single unit: aerosol collection, sample concentration, and pathogen detection. The device is designed to handle the entire diagnostic workflow from sample acquisition to result generation, making it universally applicable for at-home testing without requiring additional equipment or steps.
3Measurement precision
If multiple transfer steps are used for sample processing, then testing accuracy is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining sample collection and testing into a single integrated device, the patent eliminates the intermediate transfer steps where contamination typically occurs. The sample remains contained within the sealed collection device throughout the testing process, with the testing components directly accessing the collected aerosol sample without requiring external handling or transfer to separate containers.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to sample collection devices and sample collection and testing devices. The devices described herein includes a housing defining a fluid channel from a first portion to a second portion. The devices further include a porous sample collection media disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the fluid channel. The devices further include a fluid inlet port disposed in fluid communication with the porous sample collection media. The fluid inlet port is configured to direct a test fluid onto the porous sample collection media. The sample collection device further includes an assay configured to receive a fluid that was incident on the porous sample collection media (and eluent) and test that eluent for the presence (or absence) of a pathogen or virus.