Diagnostic Platform With Sliding Panel For LAMP Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional diagnostic devices for infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, face challenges in resource-limited settings due to high costs, reliance on skilled professionals, and sophisticated infrastructure, leading to inaccurate results and complex clinical complications, especially with low virus loads and limited sensitivity of traditional lateral flow assays.
Innovation Solution
A portable, low-cost medical diagnostic device integrating loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and electrochemical sensors, capable of sample preparation, nucleic acid amplification, and visual readouts, which is easy to operate and suitable for home-based or remote-area testing, providing high sensitivity and accuracy with a user-friendly interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional diagnostic devices are used, then detection capability is provided, but high cost and reliance on skilled professionals increase device complexity and operation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic device is divided into separate functional modules: sample preparation chamber, nucleic acid amplification chamber, and detection chamber. Each module performs a specific function independently, allowing the system to be simplified while maintaining detection capability. The sliding panel mechanism segments the sample processing into discrete steps that can be performed with minimal infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates automated heating elements that automatically cycle between chambers without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates temperature and sample movement through programmed sequences, eliminating the need for skilled operators and reducing infrastructure requirements while maintaining reliable detection.
2Ease of operation
If traditional lateral flow assays are used, then simplicity is maintained, but sensitivity and accuracy are insufficient especially with low virus loads
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the simplicity of lateral flow assays with the sensitivity of nucleic acid amplification by combining both technologies in a single integrated platform. The sample preparation and amplification chambers work together with the detection chamber to provide both ease of operation and high sensitivity, achieving detection limits of 1,000 copies/mL while maintaining user-friendly operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the detection parameter from direct antigen detection to nucleic acid amplification followed by detection. By amplifying the target nucleic acid sequence before detection, the system achieves much higher sensitivity while maintaining the simplicity of the overall workflow through automated processing and visual readout.
3Measurement precision
If PCR-based techniques are used, then detection accuracy is improved through amplification, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts and simplifies the essential function of PCR amplification by using a dedicated heating element that cycles between chambers to perform amplification without requiring complex PCR instrumentation. The amplification chamber is separated from other functions, allowing the complex amplification process to be performed in a simplified, isolated environment that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining accuracy.
4Reliability
If skilled professionals operate diagnostic devices, then accurate results are achieved, but operational complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs all processing steps automatically through programmed sequences: the heating element automatically cycles between chambers, samples are automatically moved through the sliding panel mechanism, and results are automatically read and displayed. This self-service operation eliminates the need for skilled professionals while maintaining reliable and accurate diagnostic results.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates feedback mechanisms where the heating element monitors and adjusts temperature based on programmed parameters, and the detection system provides feedback signals that indicate when processing is complete and results are ready for reading. This automated feedback control ensures accurate results without requiring operator skill or intervention.
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 device enables rapid, accurate, and sensitive detection of infectious diseases with a limit of detection up to 1,000 copies/mL and accuracy up to 98%, suitable for various pathogens and sample sources, reducing the need for expensive instruments and skilled operators, and facilitating timely isolation and contact tracing.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element configured to heat the sample at target temperatures and/or using cycled heating in order to amplify the quantity of the biological substance within the sample chamber
Implementation Method 2
an electrochemical sensor configured to detect a concentration of the biological substance, such as DNA, within the biological sample in the sample chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and techniques are configured to detect disease from a biological sample. In one example, a diagnostic system includes a first housing portion defining an injection port, a first chamber configured to contain a first solution, a second chamber configured to contain a second solution, and a second housing portion defining at least one waste chamber configured to receive fluid from at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber. The system also includes a sliding panel comprising a sample chamber configured to contain a biological sample, wherein the sliding panel is positioned between the first housing portion and the second housing portion and configured to move the sample chamber to different positions corresponding to at least the first chamber and the second chamber of the first housing portion.