Dielectric Microsensor for Hemostatic Dysfunction Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for rapidly assessing hemostatic dysfunction and trauma-induced coagulopathy in pre-hospital and remote settings are hindered by the need for time-consuming in-hospital tests, making it challenging to provide timely hemorrhage control and transfusion protocols, especially in civilian and military trauma scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A dielectric microsensor system that includes a microfluidic chamber with capacitive sensing structures and bioactive agents, allowing for the analysis of blood samples using dielectric spectroscopy to assess hemostatic dysfunction by measuring dielectric permittivity changes over time, enabling rapid characterization of coagulation status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If in-hospital tests (PT, aggregometry, TEG, ROTEM) are used to assess hemostatic dysfunction, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate hemostatic assessment functions (coagulation monitoring, platelet function analysis, clot viscoelasticity measurement) into a single integrated dielectric sensor system. The capacitive sensor simultaneously measures multiple parameters including clot formation kinetics, platelet aggregation, and fibrinogen concentration through dielectric property changes, eliminating the need for separate TEG, ROTEM, and aggregometry instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical measurement systems (TEG needle insertion, ROTEM cup rotation, aggregometry electrode contact) with a non-contact dielectric sensing approach. The capacitive sensor measures hemostatic parameters through changes in dielectric permittivity and conductivity of the blood sample without mechanical interaction, enabling rapid measurement without the time-consuming setup and operation of traditional mechanical instruments.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate instruments/tests are used for hematologic and coagulation profiling, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric sensor is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple hemostatic assessment functions through a single device. By monitoring dielectric properties across different frequencies and time points, the sensor can assess coagulation factor activity, platelet function, fibrinogen levels, and clot stability simultaneously, replacing the need for multiple specialized instruments (PT analyzer, aggregometer, TEG device, ROTEM device).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of separate coagulation profiling instruments into a single integrated system. The dielectric sensor combines coagulation monitoring, platelet function analysis, and viscoelasticity measurement capabilities into one device that uses electrical field interactions to detect all these parameters through changes in the blood sample's dielectric properties.
3Loss of time
If rapid assessment is implemented in pre-hospital settings, then loss of time is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with a simplified dielectric sensing approach that can be rapidly deployed in pre-hospital settings. The capacitive sensor measures hemostatic parameters through electrical field interactions with the blood sample, eliminating the need for complex mechanical operations, extensive calibration procedures, and specialized laboratory environments, thereby enabling accurate rapid assessment in field conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in dielectric parameters (permittivity, conductivity, impedance) of the blood sample as it undergoes coagulation. By monitoring these electrical property changes over time at multiple frequencies, the system can rapidly assess hemostatic status with high precision, transforming the physical-chemical changes during coagulation into easily measurable electrical signals that can be processed quickly even in resource-limited pre-hospital environments.
Data Source
AI summary
As one example, an apparatus includes a dielectric microsensor comprising a microfluidic chamber that includes a capacitive sensing structure, the microfluidic chamber including a fluid input port to receive a volume of a blood sample. A bioactive agent is disposed within the chamber to interact with the volume of the blood sample received in the microfluidic chamber. A transmitter provides an input radio frequency (RF) signal to an RF input of the dielectric microsensor. A receiver receives an output RF signal from an RF output of the dielectric microsensor. A computing device that computes dielectric permittivity values of the sample that vary over a time interval based on the output RF signal, the computing device to provide an assessment of hemostatic dysfunction and associated coagulopathy based on the dielectric permittivity values.