Coupon Window Liquid Column for Colorimetric Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current colorimetric-based methods for monitoring phenylalanine (Phe) levels in blood, particularly for phenylketonuria (PKU) patients, are delayed and not suitable for immediate or at-home monitoring, leading to difficulties in maintaining optimal blood Phe levels due to the lag-time between sampling and result availability.
Innovation Solution
A coupon system with an absorbent body and a window that supports a liquid column using capillary action and surface tension, incorporating a reactant that diffuses to react with phenylpyruvic acid (PPA) or creatinine in urine, allowing for colorimetric analysis with enhanced sensitivity and uniformity, enabling at-home or point-of-care monitoring of PPA and CRE concentrations, which correlates with blood Phe levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional colorimetric test strips are used, then the testing process is simple and portable, but the sensitivity and measurement precision are insufficient for accurate Phe level monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional 2D test strip surface analysis to a 3D liquid column configuration within a transparent coupon. The liquid column provides an extended optical path length through the sample, significantly enhancing light absorption and colorimetric signal intensity. This dimensional change from surface-level testing to volumetric analysis directly improves measurement sensitivity while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention embeds a transparent coupon containing the liquid column within a housing structure that integrates the light source and detector. The coupon itself is nested within the optical path of the measurement device. This nested configuration allows the sensitive measurement chamber to be contained within a compact portable unit, improving precision without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Productivity
If conventional test methods with lag-time are used, then the testing procedure is established and reliable, but the response time and productivity are too slow for timely dietary management
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads the coupon with the exact volume of liquid required for analysis and positions the light source and detector to optimize the optical path before the actual measurement begins. The reactants are pre-prepared and stored in the coupon, ready for immediate reaction upon sample addition. This preliminary preparation eliminates setup time during actual testing, enabling rapid sequential measurements while maintaining accuracy through standardized pre-configured conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables continuous monitoring by rapidly regenerating the measurement system. After each measurement, the coupon can be quickly replaced or regenerated, allowing for frequent sequential measurements without significant downtime. The extended optical path enhances signal strength, enabling more rapid measurements and shorter integration times, thus maintaining continuous monitoring capability with high temporal resolution.
3Measurement precision
If extended optical path length is implemented, then the sensitivity is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin transparent coupon as the container for the liquid column. This thin-film structure is simple to manufacture using standard techniques such as molding or extrusion of transparent plastic or glass. The coupon's simplicity allows for mass production while maintaining the required optical transparency and structural integrity. The thin-walled design minimizes material usage and manufacturing complexity while still providing sufficient mechanical strength to contain the liquid column.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent coupon serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains the liquid column, provides the optical window for light transmission, defines the measurement chamber geometry, and interfaces with the housing structure. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly. The universal design of the coupon allows it to be produced using standard industrial techniques without requiring specialized or complex manufacturing processes.
4Measurement precision
If minimal structural barriers are used, then the colorimetric analysis sensitivity is enhanced, but the ability to contain and control the liquid sample is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes capillary action (a hydraulic principle) to automatically draw the liquid sample into the measurement chamber and maintain it in position. The wick or capillary structure creates negative pressure to draw liquid upward and hold it in the optical path without requiring mechanical pumps or complex valves. This passive hydraulic control provides sufficient sample containment and positioning while maintaining minimal structural barriers for optimal optical transmission and high colorimetric sensitivity.
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 system provides rapid, accurate, and cost-effective monitoring of PPA and CRE in urine, allowing for improved daily management of blood Phe levels, reducing the need for frequent clinical visits and enabling timely dietary adjustments for PKU patients.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid is maintained in the window by a combination of capillary action and liquid surface tension
Implementation Method 2
the liquid is maintained in the window by a combination of capillary action and liquid surface tension
Implementation Method 3
A reactant is in the absorbent body wherein the reactant, and/or reaction products caused by the reactant, are capable of diffusing into the window to react with an analyte in the test liquid
Implementation Method 4
A light source is provided which is capable of passing a light beam into the window wherein the light is attenuated by the color proportional to the analyte concentration to form attenuated light. A detector is provided which is capable of measuring an intensity of the attenuated light
Data Source
AI summary
A system for monitoring an analyte concentration in liquid is provided. The system includes a coupon comprising an absorbent body with a window through the absorbent body wherein the liquid is maintained in said window by capillary action and surface tension. A reactant is in the absorbent body wherein the reactant is capable of diffusing into the window to react with an analyte in the liquid, or the reactant is able to react with the analyte within the coupon itself, with color-indicating by-products of the reaction diffusing into the window, wherein the analyte is present in an analyte concentration, to form a reactant with a color wherein the color has an intensity which correlates to the analyte concentration. A light source is provided which is capable of passing light into the window wherein the light is attenuated by the color proportional to the analyte concentration to form attenuated light. A detector is provided which is capable measuring an intensity of the attenuated light. Alternatively, the color change can be read by eye and compared to a color chart relating the color to an analyte concentration.