Capsule with Filter and Nanofluidic Biosensors for Whole Blood Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current point-of-care medical diagnostic tests for biomolecules are cumbersome, require pre-treatment of fluid samples, and lack sensitivity and reliability, especially when dealing with whole blood or large components, and existing methods are either expensive or not suitable for high-throughput testing.
Innovation Solution
A capsule system integrating a filter, fluid connecting element, and nanofluidic biosensors that allows direct use of whole blood or fluid samples without pre-treatment, using a combination of porous materials and an identification module for robust user manipulation and efficient biomolecule detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pre-treatment steps such as centrifugation are performed on whole blood samples, then measurement accuracy is improved, but processing time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the problematic large components (cells, platelets, proteins) from the whole blood sample using a filter element, allowing the filtrate to be directly applied to the biosensor without requiring centrifugation or other pre-treatment steps. This extraction approach maintains measurement accuracy while eliminating time-consuming preparation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element acts as an intermediary component between the whole blood sample and the biosensor. It selectively removes interfering large components while allowing smaller biomolecules to pass through, enabling direct measurement without pre-treatment. The fluid connecting element serves as another intermediary to transfer the filtered sample to the sensor.
2Reliability
If pre-treatment steps are performed on fluid samples, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the filtering function and the sensing function into a single integrated capsule system. The filter element, fluid connecting element, and biosensor are combined in one disposable unit, eliminating the need for separate pre-treatment equipment and procedures. This integration maintains detection reliability while significantly reducing device complexity and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule system performs multiple functions in a single device: filtration of large components, fluid transfer, and biomolecule detection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pre-treatment steps and equipment, reducing operational complexity while maintaining reliable detection.
3Measurement precision
If labeled techniques are used for biomolecule detection, then sensitivity is improved, but cost and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a disposable capsule system that eliminates the need for expensive labeled reagents and complex washing steps required by traditional ELISA and other labeled techniques. Each capsule is pre-loaded with the necessary components and can be used immediately, enabling rapid high-throughput testing while maintaining sensitivity through the nanofluidic biosensor technology.
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
Enables rapid, quantitative, and reliable detection of biomolecules with improved usability, allowing direct assessment of whole blood samples and enhancing the identification of biomolecules without the need for centrifugation or extensive sample preparation, while maintaining sensitivity and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a filter (150) placed on the fluid connecting element (140) in order that the small molecules from the fluid sample pass through the filter (150)
Implementation Method 2
said system furthermore comprising a reader unit for optical excitation and detection
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~2
Figure 3~4b
AI summary
A capsule (100) comprising a housing (110) in which are disposed nanofluidic biosensors (120), a fluid connecting element (140), a filter (150) and a cover (160) is described. The capsule (100) allows the analysis of a fluid sample (300) that would be deposited in the capsule system (100) by a pipette (400). The fluid sample (300) is filtered when passing through a filter (150), then transferred by a fluid connecting element (140) to the inlets of one or several nanofluidic biosensors (120). The capsule system (100) is disposed on an external support (200), and finally an optical or an electrical measurement unit (500) is used to measure the molecular interactions in the nanofluidic biosensors.