Corner-fill Analyte Sensor for Biological Fluid Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional analyte sensors face difficulties in easy sample port location and contact, especially for users with visual and dexterity impairments, leading to potential sample depletion and erroneous testing results due to inefficient sample handling.
Innovation Solution
The development of corner-fill analyte sensors with sample chamber entrances positioned about the edges of the sensor, allowing for easy sample filling by contacting a corner of the sensor with the sample, reducing the distance between the sample chamber and the sensor edge, and utilizing capillary forces for sample entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sample port is located on the top, centered front end, or side of the sensor, then the sensor structure is conventional and easy to manufacture, but it becomes difficult for users to locate and contact the sample port with biological fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The sample port is repositioned from conventional locations (top, centered front end, or side) to an asymmetric corner location at the intersection of edges. This asymmetric positioning makes the sample port highly visible and easily locatable by users, particularly those with visual or dexterity impairments, while maintaining a simple manufacturing process that only requires modifying the sample port position rather than the overall sensor structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sample port is positioned at the corner of the sensor where two edges intersect, utilizing the two-dimensional edge intersection point. This corner positioning creates a distinct geometric feature that is easily distinguishable from other locations on the sensor surface, enabling users to quickly locate and contact the sample port without complex visual search or dexterity requirements.
2Productivity
If the sample chamber size is decreased to reduce sample volumes and test time, then testing efficiency improves, but the difficulty of locating and contacting the sample port increases
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the sample port at the corner where edges intersect, the design creates a highly distinguishable asymmetric feature. This allows the sample port to remain easily locatable even when the overall sensor size and sample chamber volume are reduced, because the corner position provides clear geometric cues that are independent of the sensor's total dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The corner position at the intersection of edges provides enhanced local geometric features (two edges meeting at a point) that make the sample port inherently more visible and accessible. This local quality enhancement at the sample port location compensates for the reduced overall sensor size, ensuring that users can easily locate and contact the sample port regardless of the smaller sample chamber dimensions.
3Quantity of substance
If users attempt to locate the sample port by smearing sample over sensor surfaces, then the sample may be distributed to the sample chamber, but the sensor becomes difficult to handle and sample volume is depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric corner positioning of the sample port creates a distinct target location that users can directly contact with the sample. This eliminates the need to smear sample across the entire sensor surface, as users can precisely apply sample to the corner location, thereby conserving sample volume and maintaining sensor handleability throughout the testing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The corner position acts as an intermediary target that guides sample application. By providing a specific geometric feature (edge intersection) as the sample application point, the design mediates between the user's sample application action and the sample chamber, enabling direct and accurate sample transfer without requiring smearing or distribution across the sensor surface.
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
Facilitates easy and accurate analyte concentration determination in small sample volumes, improving user accessibility and reducing test time and sample handling challenges, particularly beneficial for visually and dexterity-impaired users.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing capillary forces for sample entry
Data Source
AI summary
The subject invention provides devices and methods for the analysis of a body fluid. Embodiments include sensors that are sample-fillable by contacting a corner of the sensor to a sample.