Dissolvable Sample Carrier for Dried Blood Spot Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for analyzing dried biological fluids, such as dried blood spots, face challenges in detection sensitivity and ease of use due to variations in analyte concentration and the tedious process of punching dried spots, which can lead to carryover and reduced repeatability.
Innovation Solution
A sample carrier with dissolvable collection regions that can be easily extracted using solvents, eliminating the need for punching, where the collection regions are made of materials like cellulose acetate or polysulfone that dissolve in solvents like acetonitrile, allowing for efficient extraction and separation of analytes from unwanted constituents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If punching is used to extract dried spots from sample cards, then sample extraction is achieved, but the process is tedious and leads to carryover reducing repeatability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical punching system with a chemical dissolution system. Instead of using a sharp punch tool to mechanically extract dried spots, the invention uses solvents to chemically dissolve the collection membrane material, thereby releasing the dried spots into collection wells. This substitution eliminates the mechanical contact that causes carryover and improves repeatability while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the collection membrane by selecting materials with specific solubility characteristics. The collection membrane is made from materials like cellulose acetate or polysulfone that dissolve in specific solvents (e.g., acetonitrile, dichloromethane) at controlled temperatures, allowing selective dissolution and release of dried spots without mechanical intervention.
2Productivity
If conventional punching tools are used repeatedly, then sample extraction is efficient, but carryover occurs reducing detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical punching tool with a chemical dissolution process. Solvents are applied to the sample card, dissolving the collection membrane material and releasing dried spots into collection wells. This eliminates repeated mechanical contact that causes carryover, thereby maintaining detection sensitivity while preserving extraction efficiency through automated solvent application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable collection membranes made from dissolvable materials. Each membrane is designed to be used once and then completely dissolved in the extraction process, eliminating the need for cleaning or sterilization between uses. This disposable approach prevents carryover between samples while maintaining high extraction efficiency.
3Reliability
If entire dried spots are sampled to improve repeatability, then analyte concentration variations are reduced, but sample handling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sample card into distinct functional regions: dissolvable collection membranes that hold dried spots, indissolvable separator regions, and collection wells. This segmentation allows the entire dried spot to be automatically released into the collection well through selective dissolution of the membrane, improving repeatability by ensuring complete sample transfer while reducing handling complexity through automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The dissolvable collection membrane acts as an intermediary between the dried spot and the collection well. It holds the dried spot during storage and transport, then completely dissolves during extraction to release the entire sample contents into the collection well. This intermediary mechanism ensures complete and consistent sample transfer, improving repeatability while simplifying handling through automated solvent application.
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 method enhances repeatability and ease of use by avoiding the limitations of punching, providing efficient extraction and analysis of dried biological samples with improved detection sensitivity and reduced handling complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the collection regions comprise a material that dissolves in one or more solvents
Implementation Method 2
another solution, for example, water, is added to the vessel so that unwanted sample constituents (e.g., blood proteins) and collection material precipitate out of the solution
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~5D
Figure 4
AI summary
Described are sample carriers and methods of extracting a fluid sample from a dried sample on a sample carrier. The sample carrier has a first carrier portion that receives a fluid sample, and includes a material that adsorbs the fluid sample and dissolves upon application of a solvent. A second carrier portion is attached to the first carrier portion and includes a material that is indissolvable in the solvent. The first carrier portion having a dried sample is dissolved into a solution upon application of the solvent. The solution can be analyzed to determine constituents in the extracted sample. The sample carrier can conveniently be in the form of a card or a dipstick. In alternative embodiments, a carrier portion that includes the dried sample is indissolvable in the solvent but is released from another carrier portion through application of a solvent to an intervening dissolvable carrier portion.