EIS Sensor Detection of Infectious Agent Susceptibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting anti-infective resistant infectious agents in healthcare settings are labor-intensive, costly, and require days to produce results, often necessitating broad-spectrum antibiotic use, leading to drug-resistant microbes and inefficient treatment.
Innovation Solution
The use of electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensors to detect the susceptibility of infectious agents to anti-infectives by monitoring electrical characteristics of fluid samples exposed to different solutions, allowing for rapid assessment of agent susceptibility without the need for bulky equipment or lengthy sample preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated inspection instruments are used to detect infectious agents, then clinician error is reduced, but device cost and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical inspection systems with simple electrical impedance measurement using EIS sensors. Instead of using cameras, microscopes, and optical filters requiring bulky equipment and power supplies, the invention uses electrical field interactions with microbial cells to detect their presence and susceptibility, dramatically simplifying the device while maintaining automated detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from optical properties (requiring complex optical systems) to electrical impedance properties (measurable with simple electrical circuits). By measuring changes in electrical impedance caused by microbial cells interacting with anti-infective agents, the system achieves reliable automated detection without costly optical instrumentation
2Extent of automation
If optical readout systems are used for sample inspection, then automated detection is achieved, but equipment bulk and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes optical readout systems with electrical impedance measurement systems. Instead of requiring cameras, light sources, and optical pathways that occupy significant space and require power supplies, the invention uses electrical field-based EIS sensors that can be miniaturized and integrated into compact portable devices
3Measurement precision
If microbial culturing techniques are used to isolate infectious agents, then susceptibility testing is performed, but time to obtain results increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by directly measuring the interaction between microbial cells and anti-infective agents using EIS sensors, bypassing the need for lengthy culturing and reproduction cycles. The electrical impedance measurement detects susceptibility effects immediately or within hours rather than requiring days of microbial growth
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming biological culturing processes with rapid electrical impedance measurement. By detecting changes in electrical properties caused by anti-infective agent effects on microbial cells, the system achieves susceptibility determination without requiring multiple generations of microbial reproduction
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 quick and effective detection of infectious agent susceptibility to anti-infectives, reducing the likelihood of drug-resistant strains and improving treatment efficacy by providing rapid, accurate results directly from patient samples.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring a first electrical characteristic of a first electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor exposed to the first solution sampled. The first electrical characteristic can be an electrical impedance
Implementation Method 2
The first electrical characteristic and/or the second electrical characteristic can be an electrical impedance, a voltage shift, a capacitance change
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Various devices, systems and methods for detecting a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective are described herein. A method comprises introducing a fluid sample to a first surface and a second surface; exposing the first surface to a first solution; exposing the second surface to a second solution, wherein the second surface comprises an anti-infective; sampling the first solution after exposing the first solution to the first surface; sampling the second solution after exposing the second solution to the second surface; monitoring a first electrical characteristic of a first electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor exposed to the first solution sampled; monitoring a second electrical characteristic of a second EIS sensor exposed to the second solution sampled; and comparing the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic to assess the susceptibility of the infectious agent to the anti-infective.