Dual-Heater Bio Detection for Low-Power Sample Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic devices for amplifying and detecting biological materials, such as those using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) or PCR, face challenges in power management and sample heating, particularly in providing reliable, fast, and user-friendly solutions for point-of-care applications, especially in resource-limited settings.
Innovation Solution
A device with a heating arrangement comprising two heating elements and controllers, which determines optimal power values by adjusting pulse width and source voltage to efficiently heat biological samples, using a method that includes ramping up heating element power, checking available source power, and maintaining target temperatures through PID control, allowing for efficient and accurate heating with minimal power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single heating element is used in portable diagnostic devices, then device complexity is reduced, but heating efficiency and temperature control precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating arrangement is divided into two separate heating elements (first heating element and second heating element), each controlled by its own controller. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each element's function - one for rapid heating and one for precise temperature maintenance - thereby improving overall heating efficiency while keeping each individual element relatively simple
2Speed
If high power is supplied to heating elements for rapid heating, then heating speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pulse width modulation (PWM) to control the heating elements, applying power in periodic pulses rather than continuous DC. The duty cycle of these pulses is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature feedback, allowing rapid heating when needed while reducing average power consumption during temperature maintenance phases
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the power delivery parameters by adjusting the pulse width (duty cycle) based on temperature requirements. During rapid heating phase, higher duty cycles are used; during temperature maintenance, lower duty cycles are applied. This parameter adaptation enables fast heating when necessary while minimizing power consumption during steady-state operation
3Ease of operation
If simple power control is used in portable devices, then ease of operation is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor the sample temperature and feed this information back to the controllers. Based on this feedback, the controllers automatically adjust the pulse width modulation duty cycles to maintain the desired temperature setpoint, achieving precise temperature control without requiring complex manual intervention from the user
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 achieves efficient and accurate heating of biological samples, optimizing power use and reducing user intervention, enabling reliable and rapid detection of pathogens or molecules, suitable for point-of-care use and remote operation with reduced complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating element, a second heating element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device to be used in amplifying and detecting biological material. In particular, the present invention relates to a device used for detecting methods, e.g., loop-mediated isothermal amplification, which may reveal the presence of a particular pathogen or molecule in a biological sample. The biological sample may be a human biological sample, but could also be a sample from an animal or plant.