Colorimetric Breast Milk Test Strips for Macronutrient Quantification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for breast milk analysis, such as infrared and near-infrared analyzers, fail to provide accurate measurements of macronutrient concentrations, resulting in significant errors in fat, protein, and carbohydrate quantification, which is critical for ensuring adequate nutrition for premature infants.
Innovation Solution
The development of colorimetric breast milk analysis using test strips with enzyme-based reagent pads that change color in response to macronutrient concentrations, allowing for precise quantification of protein, fat, and lactose through smartphone-based image analysis, utilizing modified assays like the BCA assay and enzymatic reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If infrared or near-infrared analyzers are used for breast milk analysis, then the analysis can be performed, but the measurement accuracy of macronutrient concentrations is poor with significant errors in fat, protein, and carbohydrate quantification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces infrared/near-infrared optical analysis systems with a colorimetric chemical reaction-based system. Test strips contain enzyme-based reagent pads that undergo specific chemical reactions with macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) in breast milk, producing visible color changes that can be accurately measured. This substitution of the analytical mechanism eliminates the measurement errors associated with infrared technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes colorimetric reactions where reagent pads change color in response to macronutrient concentrations. Different enzymes and chromogens are employed to produce distinct color changes proportional to the concentration of target analytes. This color-based measurement approach provides superior accuracy compared to infrared methods, as the color intensity can be precisely quantified and correlated to known concentration standards.
2Measurement precision
If traditional laboratory methods are used for breast milk macronutrient analysis, then accurate measurements can be obtained, but the analysis time is lengthy and cannot provide rapid results for clinical decision-making
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex macronutrient analysis into separate, parallel reactions on different reagent pads within a single test strip. Each pad is dedicated to detecting a specific macronutrient (protein, fat, or carbohydrate) through its own enzyme-chromogen system. This segmentation allows all three macronutrients to be analyzed simultaneously in one test, providing rapid results without the sequential processing time of traditional laboratory methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The test strip system is designed to perform the entire analysis process autonomously without requiring complex laboratory equipment or extensive technician intervention. The reagent pads automatically react with the breast milk sample upon contact, generating color changes that can be read directly by a smartphone camera. This self-contained system eliminates the time-consuming steps of sample preparation, instrument calibration, and manual data processing associated with traditional methods.
3Ease of operation
If breast milk is used without fortification for premature infants, then the simplicity is maintained, but the macronutrient variability among mothers results in insufficient nutrition for preterm neonates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the actual macronutrient composition of each mother's breast milk is measured using the colorimetric test strip. This measured data provides feedback to clinicians, enabling them to determine the precise fortification requirements for each infant. The feedback loop ensures that fortification is neither excessive nor insufficient, optimizing nutritional intake while maintaining the benefits of breast milk feeding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of fortification parameters based on measured macronutrient concentrations. Rather than using fixed fortification protocols, the system allows clinicians to modify the type and amount of fortifier added to breast milk based on the specific parameter measurements (protein, fat, carbohydrate levels) obtained from the test strip analysis. This ensures that each infant receives the precise nutritional supplementation needed to reach target intake levels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides accurate and rapid quantification of breast milk macronutrients, reducing errors and ensuring that premature infants receive necessary nutrients, thereby improving growth outcomes and reducing morbidity and mortality.
Implementation Method 1
colorimetric breast milk (BM) analyses using test strips or paper-based assays
Implementation Method 2
exposing the protein reagent pad to the breast milk produces a color change from green to purple, where an intensity of the purple is proportional to the protein concentration in the breast milk
Data Source
AI summary
Color-based (colorimetric) breast milk analyses using test strips (paper-based assays) read with the smartphone camera to quantify the concentration in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a color-based strip for testing breast milk is provided, the strip including: a first portion including a protein reagent pad where exposing the protein reagent pad to breast milk results in a first enzymatic reaction for measurement of total protein concentration in the breast milk, a second portion including a fat regent pad where exposing the fat reagent pad to breast milk results in a second enzymatic reaction for measurement of fat concentration in the breast milk, and a third portion comprising a lactose reagent pad where exposing the lactose reagent pad to breast milk results in a third enzymatic reaction for measurement of lactose concentration in the breast milk.