Digital Units for Portable Analyte Quantification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing analytes, such as nucleic acids and proteins, in samples are limited in their ability to provide portable and efficient diagnostics, especially in remote or resource-poor settings, as they often require complex equipment and cannot effectively quantify or identify analytes at the point of care.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing digital units along a fluid path within a sample analysis system, where each unit can capture analytes, generate a signal based on analyte binding, and determine analyte concentration or identity, allowing for isolation and signal generation to identify and quantify analytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex equipment is used for analyzing analytes, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the sample analysis into multiple discrete digital units (e.g., wells, chambers, or beads) that can independently capture and process analytes. Each digital unit acts as an independent measurement element, allowing parallel processing while maintaining simplicity of individual components. This segmentation enables accurate quantification through counting positive digital units without requiring complex continuous measurement equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical or continuous analytical systems with a digital counting approach. Instead of using sophisticated equipment to continuously measure analyte concentration, the system uses discrete digital units that either show a positive signal or do not, converting a continuous measurement problem into a discrete counting problem that can be solved with simpler detection equipment.
2Measurement precision
If complex equipment is used for analyzing analytes, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The digital units are designed to autonomously capture analytes and generate positive or negative signals without requiring complex operational interventions. The system automatically processes samples through the digital units, and results are obtained by simply counting positive signals, eliminating the need for skilled operators to manage complex equipment at the point of care.
3Reliability
If digital units with threshold >1 are used, then reliability of positive signal is improved, but measurement precision for low concentration analytes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of the threshold parameter based on the expected analyte concentration and application requirements. For low-concentration samples, the threshold can be set to 1 to maximize detection sensitivity, while for high-concentration samples or applications requiring higher confidence, the threshold can be increased to reduce false positives. This parameter flexibility enables optimization of both reliability and precision for different measurement scenarios.
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
Enables efficient and portable analysis of analytes, facilitating point-of-care diagnostics by generating signals from digital units that correlate with analyte presence and concentration, improving diagnostic capabilities in remote settings.
Implementation Method 1
each digital unit capable of capturing at least one analyte; binding a subset of said analytes to said digital units
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are methods, compositions, and devices for the identification and quantification of analytes, such as nucleic acids, proteins, cells or other biological samples. The methods, compositions, and devices are suited for accurate, portable analysis of small amounts of analyte.