Digital Molecular Assay for Mobile Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional biochemical assays are difficult to miniaturize for use on mobile electronic devices due to inherent analog measurements, leading to inaccurate results in field settings due to issues like inactive antibodies, contamination, and spatial inhomogeneity.
Innovation Solution
Digital molecular assays that use optical reporter molecules for particle-by-particle readout of analyte binding events, eliminating errors by counting individual binding events and discarding null features, suitable for mobile devices with image analysis capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional biochemical assays are miniaturized for use on mobile electronic devices, then portability and speed of diagnosis are improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to analog measurement limitations and systematic errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous analog signal into discrete digital units by counting individual binding events between analytes and reporters. Each binding event is detected as a separate fluorescent signal from individual reporters, transforming the measurement from a continuous analog value to a discrete count of binding events. This segmentation eliminates systematic errors inherent in analog measurements and enables accurate quantification on portable devices.
2Ease of operation
If conventional analog assays are performed in field settings, then accessibility and ease of operation are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inactive antibodies, contamination, and spatial inhomogeneity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/biochemical analog detection system with an optical detection system that counts individual fluorescent reporters. Instead of relying on bulk optical signals that are sensitive to contamination and inhomogeneity, the system detects and counts discrete fluorescent events from individual reporters bound to analytes. This substitution of detection mechanism eliminates sensitivity to many field-related errors while maintaining ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If digital molecular assays count individual binding events, then measurement precision is improved by eliminating systematic errors, but device complexity increases due to need for particle-by-particle readout capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical reporters that emit fluorescent signals as detectable copies or proxies for the binding events they represent. Each reporter molecule serves as a detectable copy of a binding event, allowing the system to count bindings indirectly through their fluorescent signatures. This copying approach simplifies the detection mechanism compared to direct physical counting methods while maintaining the precision benefits of digital measurement.
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
Provides quick and accurate diagnostic results by reducing systematic errors, enabling point-of-care testing with high accuracy and reliability on mobile devices.
Implementation Method 1
optical reporter molecules that detect and report the binding of a single analyte molecule
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are systems, devices and methods for the rapid and accurate measurement of analytes by assay of binding events, by direct, digital measurement of individually resolved analyte/reporter binding events. The digital molecular assay systems, devices and methods disclosed herein are capable of particle-by-particle readout using optical reporter molecules that detect and report the binding of a single analyte molecule, and report each such binding in binary format. Such digital molecular assay systems, devices and methods are useful in a variety of applications, such as on mobile electronic devices for use in the field.