Exposome Collector With Filter and Sorbent Cartridge Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personalized medicine lacks comprehensive understanding of individual environmental exposures, limiting effective treatment plans, as exposome analysis is underdeveloped compared to genomic analysis.
Innovation Solution
A collector device for environmental exposure that integrates with genomic and chemical analysis technologies to detect biotic and abiotic agents, using membrane filters and compound sorbent cartridges to capture particulate matters and analyze them, coupled with advanced genomic and chemical analysis platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If exposome analysis is developed to provide comprehensive environmental exposure information, then measurement precision and information completeness improve, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collector device is divided into separate functional modules: a membrane filter unit for capturing particulate matter and a compound sorbent cartridge for capturing chemical compounds. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall system precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces specialized intermediary components - the membrane filter as an intermediary to capture biotic agents from air flow, and the compound sorbent cartridge as an intermediary to capture abiotic chemical compounds. These intermediaries enable precise exposome analysis by mediating between the air sample and the analysis system.
2Loss of information
If multiple types of environmental agents are collected simultaneously, then information completeness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collector device is designed with multi-functionality to simultaneously collect both biotic agents (via membrane filter) and abiotic chemical compounds (via compound sorbent cartridge). This universal approach allows a single device to capture the complete exposome without requiring multiple separate collection systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The device segments different collection functions into separate but integrated components - the membrane filter for particulate matter and the compound sorbent cartridge for chemical compounds. This segmentation enables comprehensive agent collection while keeping each component's design relatively simple and manageable.
3Measurement precision
If advanced genomic and chemical analysis technologies are integrated, then measurement precision improves, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the collection function and the analysis function into an integrated system. The collector device is designed to work seamlessly with genomic and chemical analysis technologies, combining multiple functions into a unified platform that reduces operational complexity despite the advanced capabilities.
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 precise reconstruction of disease etiology and personalized treatment plans by providing detailed exposome information, enhancing precision medicine and disease prevention.
Implementation Method 1
A membrane filter (e.g. a polyethersulfone (PES) or a regenerated cellulose membrane filter) is situated in between the air flow from the front-end for air inlet and the air pump. The membrane filter has pores with a pore size ranging from 0.1 to 5 μm to collect particulate matters from the constant air flow.
Implementation Method 2
A compound sorbent cartridge is situated in between the air flow from the air pump and the rear-end for air outlet. The compound sorbent cartridge (e.g. made out of zeolite, graphene, or a combination thereof) has compound adsorption resin beads
Data Source
AI summary
A collector device of environmental exposure is provided. This device may be used to collect and, after technical upgrade, monitor environmental exposure in personal and stationary settings. By coupling with advanced genomic analysis and chemical analysis technologies, the device and its accompanying methodology are capable of detecting environmental agents of diverse nature, many of which could pose health risks if going unaware of or uncontrolled. This type of information provides much needed clues to reconstruct and pinpoint the course of disease etiology at both personal and epidemic scales. By combining personal exposome and personal omics analyses, we can recapitulate with the intention to then prescribe treatment plans with unprecedented precision.