Carrier Particle Entrapment for In-Vitro Diagnostic QC Materials
Solution Overview
Problem
In in-vitro diagnostic systems, QC substances in the same solution can interfere with each other or with different detectors, affecting their performance and lifetime, leading to increased costs and downtime due to frequent replacements of detector cartridges.
Innovation Solution
The use of carrier particles, such as silica or polymeric particles, to entrap interfering QC substances, preventing them from interacting with other substances or detectors, thereby isolating the interfering substances and maintaining detector performance and longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple QC substances are combined into a single QC material, then the number of QC procedures is reduced, but interference between QC substances occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the QC material into separate compartments or chambers, each containing specific QC substances. This segmentation prevents interference between different QC substances while allowing them to be handled as a single integrated QC material, thus maintaining reduced procedure count while eliminating harmful interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance or matrix that physically separates QC substances from each other and from detector surfaces. This intermediary prevents direct contact and interference between QC substances while maintaining their functional integrity for calibration and quality control purposes.
2Device complexity
If QC substances are present in the same solution, then the number of calibration solutions is reduced, but detector performance and lifetime are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the QC material into separate physical compartments or uses separate carrier particles for different QC substances. This ensures that each detector receives only the specific QC substance it needs, preventing degradation from unwanted substance interactions while maintaining simplified QC material management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different QC substances to different detectors or to different regions of the same detector system. Each detector receives the specific QC substance appropriate for its function, preventing harmful effects on detector performance and extending lifetime while maintaining overall system simplicity.
3Reliability
If interfering QC substances are not isolated, then detector cartridges must be replaced frequently, but this increases costs and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes interfering QC substances from the detection environment by using selective carrier particles or compartmentalization. Only the necessary QC substances are present in the detection path, preventing degradation of detector cartridges and extending their operational life, thereby reducing replacement frequency and associated downtime.
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 approach allows for the same QC material to be used across multiple detectors, reducing interference and extending the lifespan of detectors, while minimizing scattering effects and maintaining accurate diagnostic performance.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one first QC substance is entrapped by carrier particles that prevent the at least one first QC substance to interfere with the at least one second QC substance or with the performance and/or lifetime of the at least one detector
Data Source
AI summary
A Quality Control (QC) material for performing a QC procedure with respect to at least one detector is introduced. The QC material comprises at least one first QC substance and at least one second QC substance, wherein the first QC substance is interferable with the second QC substance or with the performance and/or lifetime of the detector and wherein the first QC substance is entrapped by carrier particles that prevent the first QC substance to interfere with the second QC substance or with the performance and/or lifetime of the detector. An in-vitro diagnostic system comprising a first detector and a second detector and the QC material is also introduced. An in-vitro diagnostic method comprising performing a QC procedure with respect to a first detector and/or to a second detector comprising providing the QC material is also introduced, as well as a method of manufacturing the QC material.