Exhaled Pathogen Microfluidic Concentration for Rapid On-Site Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pathogen detection techniques are complex, time-consuming, and lack accuracy, especially for respiratory viruses, and require samples to be sent to laboratories for analysis, hindering timely identification and control of outbreaks.
Innovation Solution
An automated pathogen detection system using a microfluidic chip for continuous, rapid, and integrated collection, concentration, and detection of respiratory viruses through a gas pathogen recovery unit, pathogen concentration unit, and sample detection unit, utilizing fluctuating voltages and electrodes to enrich pathogens in a microchannel for efficient sampling and fluorescence detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional pathogen detection methods (gravity sampling, inertial impaction, filtration retention, electrostatic deposition) are used to collect viruses from air, then viruses can be transferred to a medium for subsequent detection, but the sampling efficiency is low and the process is time-consuming requiring culture before detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and concentrates viral particles directly from air samples using a microfluidic chip with electrostatic precipitation and centrifugal force, eliminating the need for traditional culture steps. The system directly detects viral RNA from concentrated samples, removing the time-consuming culture phase while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical sampling methods (gravity sampling, inertial impaction, filtration) with an electrostatic-based microfluidic system that uses electrostatic precipitation and centrifugal force within a chip. This substitution enables direct concentration and detection without culture, significantly reducing time from sampling to result.
2Measurement precision
If few viruses are collected from air samples, then culture must be performed first to amplify the virus, but this adds time and complexity to the detection process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary concentration of viral particles in the microfluidic chip using electrostatic precipitation and centrifugal force before detection. By pre-concentrating the sample, the system achieves sufficient viral load for direct RNA extraction and PCR detection without requiring subsequent culture amplification, simplifying the overall process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sample processing by using electrostatic fields and centrifugal force within the microfluidic chip to concentrate viruses. This parameter-based concentration approach enables direct detection with sufficient sensitivity without the need for biological culture, reducing both time and complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If long sampling times are used to collect sufficient viruses, then more pathogens can be collected, but humidity changes and evaporation affect collection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous air sampling and real-time concentration within the microfluidic chip. The electrostatic precipitation and centrifugal concentration processes operate continuously during sampling, maintaining stable collection efficiency by immediately concentrating captured viruses rather than allowing humidity changes and evaporation to affect prolonged sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a microfluidic chip as an intermediary device between sampling and detection. The chip's electrostatic precipitation and centrifugal concentration mechanisms serve as intermediaries that rapidly concentrate viruses from air samples, reducing the impact of environmental humidity changes and evaporation on collection efficiency.
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 rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective on-site detection of pathogens, reducing the need for professional handling and minimizing secondary infections, suitable for high-traffic areas like airports and stations.
Implementation Method 1
the gas inlet is provided with a cooling module, the outlet of the cooling module is in communication with the collecting bottle; the cooling module is used for condensing a sample from the exhaled gas
Implementation Method 2
the pathogen concentration unit comprises a microchannel, an electrode, and a filter element... under the action of the electrode, the pathogens in the sample are regionally enriched on the positive electrode side of the concentration channel
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic pathogen-from-expiration detection system includes a gas pathogen recovery unit, a pathogen concentration unit and a sample detection unit. The method includes making the sample recovered by the gas pathogen recovery unit enter the pathogen concentration unit; in the pathogen concentration unit, gradually biasing the pathogen particles in the sample to the positive electrode side into the concentration channel under the action of the electrode; applying a fluctuating voltage greater than zero to a single sub-positive electrode, and alternating the voltage of the sub-positive electrode adjacent thereto with the fluctuating voltage, so that a varying potential difference is formed between the adjacent sub-positive electrodes, wherein the pathogen particles are gradually enriched in the middle region of the two adjacent sub-positive electrodes, and the concentrated sample is driven to move to the sample detection unit; and immediately detecting the concentrated sample in the sample detection unit.