Cartridge-Based Reactant Arrays for Cross-Contamination Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensing and analysis devices for chemical substances face challenges in improving efficiency, reducing cross-contamination, and ensuring safe handling of hazardous substances.

Innovation Solution

A cartridge-based system with a colorimetric sensor array and a device that includes a pump mechanism, allowing for single-use cartridges and reusable devices, with a closed-loop fluid pathway to enhance interaction with reactants and minimize contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cartridge-based system with single-use components is used, then cross-contamination is reduced and safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for integrated cartridges and pump mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-contamination preventionVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional modules: a disposable cartridge containing the sensor array and fluid pathway, and a reusable device housing the pump and electronics. This segmentation allows the cartridge to be discarded after single use, preventing cross-contamination while keeping the expensive pump mechanism reusable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cartridge is designed as a disposable, single-use component that is discarded after one analysis. This eliminates the need for cleaning and sterilization between uses, ensuring complete prevention of cross-contamination while the expensive pump mechanism can be reused.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If a closed-loop fluid pathway is implemented, then reactant interaction is maximized and analysis efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional pumping and flow control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis efficiencyVSAvoidpump mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closed-loop fluid pathway continuously circulates the sample fluid through the sensor array multiple times, maximizing the interaction between reactants and analytes. This continuous circulation improves detection sensitivity and analysis efficiency compared to single-pass systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The pump mechanism serves multiple functions: it drives fluid through the closed-loop pathway, controls flow rate for optimal reaction conditions, and enables repeated analysis of the same sample. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing enhanced analytical capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If hazardous substances are handled with manual sampling methods, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but human exposure risk and safety hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehuman exposure riskVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sealed cartridge acts as an intermediary between the hazardous sample and the user. The sample is contained within the cartridge's closed fluid pathway, allowing analysis to be performed without direct human exposure to hazardous substances. The cartridge can be safely inserted and removed from the device housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The hazardous sample handling functions are extracted from the main device and isolated within the disposable cartridge. This extraction separates the contamination risk from the reusable device components and eliminates the need for users to manually handle hazardous samples during the analysis process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The system enables efficient, safe, and accurate analysis of chemical substances by maximizing reactant interaction while preventing cross-contamination and reducing human exposure.

Implementation Method 1

a pump mechanism, allowing for single-use cartridges and reusable devices, with a closed-loop fluid pathway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 2

a colorimetric sensor array when the cartridge is received in the device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectColorimetric detection: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentUS20250296079A1Devices, methods, and systems for measuring and recording a reactant array

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 SENSILL INC

AI summary

Devices, systems, and methods include a system for analyzing reactant arrays (e.g., reactant arrays of colorimetric sensor arrays). The system may include a cartridge including a reactant array and a device for analyzing the reactant array when the cartridge is received by or in the device. The cartridge may include input port, an output port, and a component between the input port and the output port. The device may be configured to engage the pump component to pump fluid through a pathway in fluid communication with the input port, the output port, and the reactant array. The reactant array may include one or more reactants (e.g., analyte sensitive material).